9 Ways To Keep Ducks Out Of Your Swimming Pool

Ducks are pretty cute swimming around in the local duck pond and waddling around the edge of the water. The kids love ‘em!

So, why wouldn’t you want them swimming around cutely in your backyard pool? Two words…

Duck. Poop.

That’s right.

Just like other birds and animals, they poop where they land, and I don’t know about you, but I’d rather that not be in and around my pool.

And let’s not even talk about the nasty parasites some of them carry and can drop off for you to babysit.

Ducks and other birds fly south for the winter, so it’s inevitable that at some point, they will probably attempt to land in your yard if you have a body of water.

But there are a few things you can do to prevent it.

How To Keep Ducks Out Of Your Swimming Pool

#1. Use Animal Pool Toys

Leave your shark floaties and flamingo inner tubes floating in the pool when you’re not in it and while it is uncovered.

Most of the time, ducks will see them as potential threats and fly on by.

#2. Cover Your Pool

There are lots of reasons to keep your pool covered when you’re not using it and keeping ducks out is one of them. 

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily keep them out of your yard altogether. If they’re still a problem, try one of the other methods in addition to the cover.

Also, make sure when you are cleaning the duck poop off your cover, that you are careful not to dump any in the water.

#3. Use Sprinklers

An automatic sprinkler system is a great deterrent for ducks; they don’t like getting pelted with water unexpectedly any more than you do.

You can also just use a good old fashioned sprinkler near the pool and turn it on during times when you’ve noticed the most activity.

#4. Run Your Automatic Pool Cleaner

Having a machine running in the pool is probably a good deterrent, so make use of your robotic pool cleaner another way. 

Ducks will have to wonder if it is something that poses a threat and will probably just keep moving.

#5. Install Bird Netting

If you have a usual problem with ducks and birds, it might be beneficial to install some bird netting above the pool.

You can either use some as a pool cover when you’re not in it, or install some kind of tent of it at a higher level.

This will also help keep out other debris that can contaminate the pool.

#6. Put Your Pets To Work

Consider getting a pet that will stay in the yard during ducking hours.

There’s not much a dog enjoys more than scaring and chasing off other wildlife, and if you already have an indoor pet, all the better!

You might just think about letting him enjoy the great outdoors during the day.

#7. Use An Ultrasonic Pet Repellent

There are electronic machines made specifically for keeping away all kinds of pests, including rodents, ducks and other birds.

They emit a high-frequency sound that humans can’t hear but that is highly irritating to birds.

Some also have lights that flash to scare them away when the sensor detects movement.

#8. Use Duck Repellent

There actually are chemicals you can buy to repel ducks.

Some products are made for vegetation, so you can spray it on the grass or shrubs near your pool to help keep the pests away.

But you can also buy a product called Duck-Off that you add directly to the water.

Both are supposed to be completely harmless to both humans and the ducks, but I only recommend using Duck-Off if you have a severe problem that you can’t eliminate any other way.

The reason for this is that you are adding extra chemicals to your water that may affect the chemistry balance. 

#9. Fill Your Pool With Eyeballs

No, not in a Jeffrey Dahmer kinda way.

I’m talking about the big inflatable balls you can buy that are covered with eye-like patterns.

They confuse birds and ducks by making them think they are predators watching and waiting for them to land. 

Creepy, right? Apparently ducks think so too!

Bottom Line

Don’t be discouraged by a pesky duck infestation.

Just get proactive with one or more of our tips to keep them away.

They are only a problem if you let them stick around!