Pet & Animal: How to Keep Ducks Out of a Pool

Ducks are a massive annoyance to pool owners around the world, as they love few things more than a nice place to float and swim in. On top of this, they'll go to the bathroom in your pool and make it unhygienic for you to swim in it. Some ducks also carry parasites and some of these parasites will be left behind in your pool when the ducks are long gone. Using a pool cover is by far the best long-term measure you can take to keep ducks out of your pool. More temporary solutions include leaving inflatable "predators" in the pool and using ultrasonic devices.

EditSteps

EditInstalling a Pool Cover

Measure the size of your pool. Before you go out and buy your pool cover, you need to figure out what size your pool is. If your pool is square or rectangular, measure the length and width and multiply them. That will give you the area of your pool.^[1]
- If your pool is circular in shape, measure the distance from 1 side of the pool to the opposite side. This will give you the diameter. Divide the diameter by 2 to find the radius. To find the area of the circle, use the equation 3.142 multiplied by the radius squared.
- Other shapes like ovals and pools with curved walls are very difficult to measure. If you have a pool that's not square, rectangular, or circular, get a professional to measure the pool.
- Search online for pool installation companies in your area or use the phone book to find them. Ask them if they could measure your pool as you're considering getting a cover. It shouldn't cost more than $80 or so for a professional to measure your pool.
Opt for a mesh safety cover for basic protection. These are the most common pool covers and will keep children and animals out of your pool. These covers are easy to store and clean. If you can't decide which cover you want, get this type of pool cover.^[2]
Get a heavy-duty safety cover if you want a more durable cover. These covers are similar to the mesh safety covers except much thicker and much heavier. Heavy-duty covers are much more expensive than mesh safety covers but are also more durable and long lasting.^[3]
Buy a solid safety covers for maximum protection. These covers will prevent all light from reaching your pool. These are by far the strongest type of pool cover. It's overkill to get this type of cover just to keep ducks out of your pool, but if you have other problems with things getting into your pool, this type of cover might be worth it.^[4]
Buy the pool cover at the local pool store. Bring the measurements of your pool to the local pool store and tell them which kind of cover you want for your pool. They will make your cover and should deliver it to your home when they are done if you ask them to.^[5]
- Search online to see if you can order a cover from a manufacturer. If you have a square, rectangular, or circular pool, it will be easy to order a cover for your pool.
Get the tools you need to install the pool cover. You will need brass concrete anchors to install the cover. You will also need a very powerful hammer drill and a drill bit. Get buckets or brick to hold the cover in place while you work.^[6]
- You can rent the drill and drill bits from a local tool hire store instead of buying them.
- Get 20 to 25 buckets or bricks at the local hardware store.
Drill the center strap and attach springs to the cover. Find the center strap of the pool cover and drill holes about from either side of the cover. Drill 1 hole on each end of every strap on the pool cover. Put the concrete anchors in the holes and secure them using cement. Once they're secured, attach the straps.^[7]
- Follow the cover's instructions to attach the springs to the cover. Covers will have different instructions depending on the manufacturer.
Lay the cover over the pool and hold it in place using the buckets or bricks. Get a friend to help you place the cover over the pool. Make sure that you lay it out so that it's fitted properly on all sides.^[8]
- Place the buckets at equal spaces around the cover to hold it in place.
Drill holes near the other straps and attach them to the concrete anchors. After you've attached the center strap, drill 1 hole at each end of every strap. With the cover laid over the pool, find each strap and drill a hole about away from them on each side. Hammer the brass concrete anchors into the holes you've drilled. Secure them in place using cement.^[9]
- After you have 3 or 4 straps installed lengthwise, install 3 or 4 width-wise before returning to the lengthwise straps. This will make sure the cover doesn't develop wrinkles.
- Straps come in different shapes and types. Some straps have buckles on the end. Place these buckles around the anchor and secure. Other straps have loops at the end which can be placed over the anchor to secure the cover.
- Once your cover is completely attached, you should put it over the pool whenever you're not using it. This will stop ducks from entering your pool.

EditUsing Other Devices

Put inflatable toys in your pool to scare the ducks. Ducks are scared by inflatable toys that look like predators. Beach balls and other toys won't work anywhere near as well as toys that look like predators.^[10]
- Buy toys that look like crocodiles, snakes, dolphins, or whales to keep ducks away from your pool.
Buy an ultrasonic pest repellent device to frighten the ducks. These devices will play the noises of predators at ultrasonic levels to scare away pests. You can also switch the device so it makes noises that you can hear. Each device is different, so you'll have to read the manual to find out which settings scare which pests.^[11]
- Most of these devices come with motion detectors. If the device detects movement or sound in its proximity, it'll play the noise of the predator to keep pests away from your garden.
- Place the device in the branches of a tree to make it difficult for the ducks to see where the noise is coming from.
- If you don't have a tree in your garden, place it in any area that's hard to see, like a flowerpot or in a hedge.
Keep your pool clean to make it look less like a pond. Floating leaves and other debris will make your pool look like a pond to nearby ducks. These types of debris will make your pool smell like a pond as well and dilute the smell of chlorine. A clean pool will smell like chlorine and this should deter ducks from swimming in it.^[12]
Set up plastic owls around the perimeter of the pool to keep ducks away. Owls are a natural predator of ducks and the sight of an owl from distance should be enough to keep ducks away from your pool. Buy plastic owls at your local garden store and set them up in visible areas.^[13]
- You can also buy electronic owls. Electronic owls will hoot and turn their head which will make them seem more realistic to ducks.
Get a dog to scare the ducks. Dogs don't like other animals intruding on their property and ducks are afraid of dogs. If ducks land in your pool, your dog might bark at them and chase them away. The sight alone of your dog should be enough for ducks to steer clear of your home.^[14]
- Obviously you can't keep your dog near your pool all the time to keep ducks away. However, dogs are a great preventative measure for when you're at home.
Add a duck repellent chemical to your pool to make it difficult for the ducks to swim. You might want to use this as a last resort if you can't keep ducks away from your pool by using the other methods. These chemicals break the surface tension of the water in your pool and make it incredibly difficult for ducks to float or swim in your pool.^[15]
- Duck repellent chemicals are actually safe to use in your pool, but it's understandable if you want to steer clear of chemicals.
- You can buy these chemicals online or you might be able to find them in your local garden center. Follow the instructions on the side of the container to find out how to add it to your pool.