Author Topic: Drinking from the pond !!! (Read 3901 times)

jools66 · « **on:** May 24, 2012, 09:11:28 pm »

Hi
Had the girls out in the sun and caught 2 of my Light Sussex drinking from the Koi pond!
I try and keep them from doing that by putting a stand with fresh water and feed out when they are FR but these 2 keep drinking from the pond. I worry because sometimes there is green algae in pond and the koi are large (up to 14ins) and they like to come up and catch bugs from the surface. I dont know who would get biggest fright

We call these girls the twins as its hard to tell them apart and they do everything together

deepinthewoods · « **Reply #1 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:12:14 pm »

mine do that, so far theyre fine.

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:18:59 pm »

They look like they enjoy it, I wouldn't worry too much. I don't know much about koi but it is advised to place a ball of barley straw in a wildlife pond to help with aeration which reduces algaE build up. May be worth looking into if it is the algae you are worried about.

Bangbang · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:28:35 pm »

Our chicken always drunk from our duck pond which has
algae, and she lived to a ripe old age of 11. Passed away last
week though.

doganjo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:30:58 pm »

Quote from: Mammyshaz on May 24, 2012, 09:18:59 pm

They look like they enjoy it, I wouldn't worry too much. I don't know much about koi but it is advised to place a ball of barley straw in a wildlife pond to help with aeration which reduces algaE build up. May be worth looking into if it is the algae you are worried about.

I need to find some barley straw for mine - and soon

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:33:16 pm »

Sorry to hear your loss bangbang

that is a good, old age, hope my girls live that long.

doganjo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:40:32 pm »

Quote from: Mammyshaz on May 24, 2012, 09:18:59 pm

They look like they enjoy it, I wouldn't worry too much. I don't know much about koi but it is advised to place a ball of barley straw in a wildlife pond to help with aeration which reduces algaE build up. May be worth looking into if it is the algae you are worried about.

Just spotted this - http://www.sovereignty.org.uk/features/eco/barstraw.html

Bangbang · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2012, 09:43:39 pm »

No, she'd been drinking the pond water for the last 5 years, her
problem was old age.
all the small birdies and our disgusting dog drink from it, dog just suffers from
bad breath.

With the sunlight and warm temperature increasing the algae will flurish,
we have a trickle feed system to our pond but we do a full change and gunk
clean-up 3-4 times a year.
We also found though once the water was changed our ducks took up to 2 weeks
before they started using it again.

doganjo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:07:50 pm »

I'm keeping my ducks in the front paddock - they have access to a burn if they want. This pond is for me to enjoy - and make use of a hitherto wasteland!

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:09:28 pm »

Barley straw was made illegal for a very short while but I'm pretty sure it was reinstated for use as an algaecide in late 2004-2005 but a license must be sought to sell it as such.

robert waddell · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:16:47 pm »

what

Mammyshaz · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:55:52 pm »

Sorry robert

,the legal requirement to sell is USA.
It was mr huhne who opposed the banning of barley straw apparently but cannot find the link to post it.
It seems very much legal to use now even under the environmental health and on scottishgov.co.uk website.

There was a lot of hooha I remember at the time the government were considering banning it's use.

We were given some by a wildlife enthusiast as she explained due to government changes we probably couldn't buy it.
Could have got a bundle from a nice, understanding farmer I'm sure

Lots of links about it's usage on the net if anyone is interested.