Horse Owners - ducks and horses?

[mlpkatie]

 Not aure if i am posting in the right place but... Hi all! I just recently got four ducks and they are ready to be released out into the wild. I have a pond that they're going to go in. is it safe for my horses to drink from that pond that the ducks probably use the bathroom in and such? Need advice fast! Thanks!

[kiwimlp]

Hi TheLoveForPonies

I can only tell you of an experience a few years back from a lady who had horses in our area.  She had a number of horse (around 14, I think) grazing in a paddock where the main water supply was from a pond that housed ducks.  She grazed them like that for a number of years with no problems.  Then, out of the blue a high number of them got very sick and despite vet treatment, about 8 of them died.  They later traced the problem back to something the ducks carried getting into the water.  The pond has since been filled in.

Like I said, she grazed them like that for many years with no problems, but personally I wouldn't risk it.  If you want to keep your ducks, run a strand of electric tape around the pond so the horses can't drink out of it. Ducks can foul up a water supply very quickly and I'm sure your horses will appreciate clean drinking water

All the best!

[StarDapple]

I agree with kiwimlp.  I wouldn't risk it.

[Stormness_1]

Yeah our two ducks are stanky! Wow do they make a mess! It all depends on the size and type of water they have as to whether or not sharing would be appropriate, but from what you're describing I'd say no in this instance. Also if your horses are playful like mine, watch they don't try to grab the ducks! Mine defend their dinner to the death, and like to snap vaguely at anything that wanders by!

[mlpkatie]

Thanks all for your answers! My uncle told me that his friend, who is a vet, will test the ducks for any sort of thing that could make the water bad or whatever. Thanks again! Looks like theyre staying in the stall a lil longer

Post Merge: May 10, 2013, 10:16:12 AM

Oh, and our pond is about 10,000 square feet if that changes anything!

[kaoskat]

Yeah, I don't have experience with it, but it's always a good rule to nt let your pets drink from water sources that have been fouled.

[cyberunicorn]

we have 1 lone duck on our yard (there was three originally they met very sticky ends sadly) and he is an absolute pain in the you know what. I start to fill up my water buckets leave them to do another job and when I come back he is sat on them.

as long as they are not carrying anything that could infect the horses there should be no problem.  like I said my duck goes on the water all of the time. and we have had no problems. I mean I can change the water if I see him on it but it is not possible at night and such.

[HavACrumpet452]

I would think with a very large amount of water and a very small amount of ducks you should be safe but there is a ton of stuff ducks can transmit to any mammal so you're right to look into it.

[pinkkittywinks]

if in any doubt, be careful  and research:)

ducks do carry salmonella, so wash your hands!

there were ducks on the yard zurrieq lived at for years and no horses got ill from them as far as i know, but we were all careful. the ducks would often bath in the well/spring were we got the animals (cattle, sheep and horse) drinking water from.

HOWEVER if the water looked foul (feathers, poop or grim looking and slow flowing instead of clear, fast flowing and sweet smelling), we would not give it to the animals. the ducks were not always to blame for the fouling of the water, heavy rain or too little rain cause cause the water to foul up or things happening futher along the springs track.

love pkw xxx

[Wrenn_Rosencrantz]

My uncle had all sorts of farm animals, but he kept the duck pond fenced off.  I never asked why, it was just something he did.  I wonder if this was why.

[Rainsong]

I think ducks can carry Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which aren't good things to have hitting your other animals. I've heard og giardia killing dogs and other animals.

[mlpkatie]

Thanks for all the replies! just to be safe, my uncle lives right down the street from me and he has a pond they will be able to stay in he has no animals that drink from the pond so it will all work out great. and i will still get to see them Thanks again!

[Kiwi]

Glad you found a happy safe home for them