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There are a couple of ducks in my yard (male and female). I think they have come to my backyard to make a nest. I fear that if this happens half my backyard will become off-limits due to an angry duck-mom. I also worry that they will munch on my seedlings in the spring. How do I get rid of them?

I have read that hanging CDs on trees could deter them. Does this work?

I know a dog would do the trick, but I don't want a pet. Also, both of my neighbours have dogs and the ducks do not mind them so far.

I want to stay away from pesticides, but if that is my only option I will use it.

winwaed
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Om Patange
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7 Answers7

10

I've had a pair of mallard ducks come to my yard. (Unlike you though I welcomed them...)

In any case - they did not take residence - they just liked to visit often. I wish they had stayed to lay eggs - and nest

They did not damage my garden

They returned the next year and hung about - no nests, no "angry duck mom".

If you don't want wildlife perhaps move to an urban area?

Tim
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9

Here are some often repeated remedies. However ducks are like people with individual likes and dislikes. What might terrify one duck could be "ho-hum" to another.

  • a plastic owl: usually available at birding stores, sometimes outdoor/hunting stores. Get the better quality ones with a head that moves or the deluxe versions with wings that move. (I'm not making this up!)
  • any bright object like CD's on a string or bright reflective streamers
  • as a temporary solution string fishing line across your yard near where they land above head height. All birds don't like to hit things when they are landing and fishing line will not hurt them, only surprise them.
kevinskio
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5

Mylar balloons should take care of the problem. We anchor them to a brick. I read somewhere that the balloons interfere with their landing mechanism. We used old balloons, but once they have been inflated, they can sometime take a second inflation. After that, they are done!

Our ducks came back after a few years. So this evening, we have posted 3 mylar balloons.

Good luck!

Marie
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4

Try dusting the area with cayenne pepper. I seem to recall hearing that some animals respond to the heating effects by moving on.

John Dahle
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We have a pool and twice a year ducks try to nest around it. They make a mess of the pool. My solution was hi-tech. I went to Leslie's and bought a battery operated boat. I rigged up the battery wires to a home made motion sensor. When the ducks landed in the pool the waves started up the boat and scared them away. Hee hee.

user3172
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Here in NZ, one is allowed to shoot them in the hunting season. I only have to shoot them to kill once a neighbour had fed them. Then they see people as food sources and pollute the yard and decks. And it cant be undone.

However, the two most successful methods that have worked, for scaring them.

  1. Shoot an air rifle in the air. They dont like the noise and soon know what a gun looks like, if they dont already know. After 3 or 4 shots, they move elsewhere. Commercially, the farmers use what they call cannons, and shoot in the air randomly.

  2. Playing a recording of a hawk swooping down, followed by sounds of distressed ducks. I was able to buy this at a farm store.

Another thing that might work for you is my humane method of culling ducks and geese.

  1. Use a soft bristled broom and push the bird off the nest.
  2. Take all eggs but one and discsrd them. I used to leave them in the middle of the padfock for hawks etc.
  3. Do not take all eggs, otherwise they will find a more secluded spot to nest.
Rohit Gupta
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A hunting rifle would probably solve the problem.

If you're looking for non-lethal methods, you could probably shoot them with a BB or pellet gun, and encourage them to go somewhere else that way.

baka
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