Why Do Ducks Like To Dig?
Having ducks around as pet birds indeed teaches you a lot about things you’ve never seen before. But have you ever seen your ducks digging holes? This might come out weird to many if they don’t know the reasons behind it: why do ducks like to dig?
It’s the duck’s natural instinct to dig into the ground. They do so depending on many reasons, and some of the key factors are swimming, drinking water, foraging, bathing, and hiding eggs. However, unlike chickens, they tend not to dig deeper holes or scatter mud or dust around.
Knowing briefly about the facts won’t feed your curiosity. So, stay with us till the end of the blog while we break down these reasons and a lot more fascinating information.
Want to learn more about ducks fun fact:
5 Key Reasons Why Ducks Dig Holes – Explained!
If you have a garden, it’ll be upsetting to withstand ducks digging around your plants. But it will only be fair if you reach a conclusion after learning the reasons thoroughly. Let us walk you through the primary reasons so that you can find appropriate solutions later.
01. Swimming
Ducks are very fond of swimming in freshwater, especially in ponds. But if you don’t have a pond around, your ducks will start digging into the ground to create the pond they didn’t have access to.
Actually, ducks can sense water around. Therefore, when they start digging near a water area, water keeps coming up through the hole they dig.
Although the pond might seem to be a fascinating source to the ducks, it really is hazardous for humans. Ducks dig an area to create a pond large enough to swim.
But often, the pond becomes risky for humans since you might unknowingly step into it and get injured. Plus, the holes might wreck the beauty of your garden by ruining the grass.
02. Drinking Water
No matter how much we blame swimming or bathing, drinking water is the most obvious reason ducks dig holes in ponds. Whenever your ducks don’t get direct access to water, they start digging holes to collect some.
Now you might stress about the muddy water. No, it isn’t severely harmful to your ducks, but clean and fresh water is always preferable.
03. Foraging
Ducks also dig into the ground for food, including grubs, worms, and bugs. This mostly occurs if you have soft, muddy, and wet ground around since it’s easier for the ducks to get through the surface.
Often the holes fill up with water bringing bugs and worms along. However, due to this purpose, ducks dig small holes which are barely noticeable when the mud is still wet. These won’t damage your garden but can’t guarantee the looks!
04. Bathing
Ducks are obsessed with bathing. Thus, they often dig holes to create tiny ponds where they can bathe. But ducks often poop in these bathing holes, which causes odor and bacteria.
05. Hiding Eggs
Almost every duck does this often. They dig holes to keep their eggs safe. It’s entirely normal. They try to protect them from wild animals when they hide eggs.
Even often, they lay eggs inside the holes. After putting the eggs inside, they fill it a bit with mud. This isn’t likely to damage your garden but be careful while walking.
Are the Holes by Ducks Bad for Your Garden?
Holes dug by ducks aren’t that harmful to your garden. But often, the holes get large and cause you eternal misery when you fall or trip by stepping into them.
The wise thing to do is check for new holes every morning and fill these immediately. Being careful can save you from greater issues in this case.
However, here are some reasons why we believe the holes aren’t appropriate for your garden:
- The holes might invite insects into your garden
- Depending on the weather, the bugs might damage your plants or crops (mostly during summer)
- Ducks might end up digging areas with green grass
- Extreme digging can make your garden look messy
How Can I Prevent Ducks from Digging Holes?
Preventing ducks from digging holes is mandatory for those who are into gardening. Luckily, there are measures you can take to keep your ducks from damaging your garden by digging holes.
Ensure Access to Clean Water
This solution stands for three natural instincts of ducks, swimming, bathing, and drinking water. Consider creating a small pond in the corner of your garden; they won’t need to dig holes anymore. Make sure your ducks have easy access to this pond.
Creating a Foraging Area
A foraging area will keep the ducks from digging into your garden randomly. So, you can create a soft area with wet mud and put some bugs there. This way, you’re no longer required to keep an eye on your ducks.
Maintain the Diet
Make sure your ducks get enough protein and nutrition through their food. This way, they won’t be hungry and won’t dig holes into your garden in search of bugs or worms.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Can ducks ruin grass by digging?
Yes, ducks are likely to ruin grass by digging. Actually, ducks are very fond of digging lawn-type areas. So, using a fence and keeping your ducks away from those grass-filled areas is better.
02. Do ducklings dig holes?
No, ducklings (baby ducks) don’t dig holes since it’s a matter of strength and struggle on the ducks’ parts. So, it’ll be too hard for them to dig holes.
03. Does digging holes make ducks happy?
Yes, it does. While foraging (digging and looking for bugs and worms in the holes), they’re the happiest.
Wrapping Up!
Ducks are the cutest pet for bird lovers. But undoubtedly, owning these causes us some hassles too.
And whenever they start digging the ground or garden around, it’s hard to stand. However, while explaining why do ducks like to dig, we’ve come through the consequence as well as prevention of this.
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- Canva.com/photos
