Duck deterrent!

elljay

Has anyone got any ideas for how I can deter ducks poo-ing around my front door.  I've recently moved into a country lane and the neighbour's ducks roam freely.  Which is great except that yet again I've come home and both the dog and I stepped out of the car into poo.  I noticed and took my shoes off quickly but unfortunately the dog didn't and walked it everywhere in the house. Major clean up indoors as well as the flags at the front  before I could even get round to unloading the shopping. 

There's no garden area at the front but there is space for a couple of troughs, pots so I thought there might be plants that ducks hate the smell of perhaps, or maybe I could spray something around that smells foul to ducks .  They're cute and I don't want to hurt them though I do wish the neighbour would keep them in his large and beautiful garden.

Has anyone any thoughts on how I can deter the ducks?

Thanks

Liz

Davesnave

The ducks should not be wandering about willy-nilly at present due to additional biosecurity measures in force to combat recent outbreaks of avian flu. Maybe this will help:(from Gov.UK)

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared across the whole of England effective from 5pm on 11 November 2020 with additional housing measures in force from 14 December 2020. The AIPZ means all bird keepers in England (whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock) are required by law to take a range of biosecurity precautions including from the 14 December 2020 keeping their birds indoors except in very specific circumstances.

Further details of the measures that apply in the AIPZ including housing measures can be found in the AIPZ including housing measures declaration (in force from 00:01am 14 December 2020 until further notice). This declaration revokes and replaces the AIPZ declaration (in force from 11 November 2020 to 14 December 2020).

twopenny

Wow imagine telling that to a new neighbour!

Though if you can keep a level head you could work it into a conversation such as 'oh aren't they cute, so nice to see them roaming around but I thought they had to be kept indoors because of bird flu'

Or 'I love your ducks but they are making a mess, do you know how I could deter them from my path'

Or 'I love your ducks and I'm so worried my dog may try to catch them'

A bit passive agressive but it is a way of turning the tables from your problem to his.

Got to say there don't seem any obvious soloutions for semi tame ducks just wandering around. Are there any cats in your locality? You could perhaps plant Cat Mint in the hope of bringing them to the garden and putting off the ducks. Though then the dog would have a field day.

elljay

Thanks. I'm sure they must know about the law as we all do, though it's not as if anyone is going to inform on them.  I don't really want to raise it however, just in case someone does 'tell on them' and they might then think it's me. Also the farmer whose lane this is, has had to keep his flocks of hens in and usually they're wandering in the fields so they must know.  It seems a shame as the ducks only have a little house but the risk is that they might get ill.  I do have a dog and on one of the first days here he went after the ducks and there was nearly a disaster.  Since then he's generally on a lead though he's pretty biddable and seems to be getting the message that they're not for him. I've put mesh all round the back garden fence so at least they can't get in there.  Next door's dog did kill one once apparently so that neighbour ensures her dog doesn't go out now.  We all have cats and they all just ignore the ducks so no help at all!!

Google suggests cayenne, cinnamon or after shave.  Hmmm!! Thanks anyway, I think I'll just have to put up with the duck poo on the doorstep.  Yuk!

Davesnave

Be grateful it's not geese. My daughter had wild ones destroying her front garden a few years ago in Birmingham!

twopenny

It seems this neighbour has everyone taking action except himself. Not an unusual situation.

Try mixing the Cayanne heavilly into a spray and spray around your step - though I would have thought the stuff you buy in this country doesn't have much smell. And do ducks smell well? Also be careful it doesn't go on your dogs paws and he/she licks them.

Wonder if you can get Cayanne essential oil? So you could put pungent drops around the step. I used Eucalyptus or Sandlewood oil to stop the neighbours cats spraying my front door.

You could try a mirror. Many animals don't like reflective surfaces.

Or a windspinner, a large one. The movement might distract them  https://!!!!!!.com/y43py8ha

I've got a black and yellow crow that stares at you and a ladybird. Something with eyes and movement. The cats hate them. The birds aren't so keen either. You can get reflective ones at beachside type shops. Poundland is good for them too. Or you can get some lovely smart ones. Just be sure it has a face with big eyes.

Or this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-X-Scare-Eye-Balloon-Yellow/dp/B000RUI87A

silverwhistle

Well, I immediately thought of damson sauce, but that may not be appropriate in your situation..

Black_Cat2

twopenny said:

I've got a black and yellow crow that stares at you and a ladybird. Something with eyes and movement. The cats hate them. The birds aren't so keen either. You can get reflective ones at beachside type shops. Poundland is good for them too. Or you can get some lovely smart ones. Just be sure it has a face with big eyes.

Or this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-X-Scare-Eye-Balloon-Yellow/dp/B000RUI87

Lol tp, that would scare off everything from insects to small children!  That's what nightmares are made of! *rings therapist* 😉

Apodemus

Ignore me...feeble attempt at humour which was not worth it. 

Black_Cat2

Apodemus said:

Ignore me...feeble attempt at humour which was not worth it. 

? Are you okay A? 

Apodemus

Yes,  I had responded to your post with a comment that was intended to be humorous but on re-reading it was clear that the chances of it being seen as funny by others was lower than the chances of it being seen as offensive!   Deleting the post completely would, of course have been the more sensible approach, but I am too used to forums with no delete button, where editing is the only option available.

...meanwhile back at these ducks, would a poster of this do the trick?