Well, this post will be a little different as it is more about ideas rather then a concrete plan. We currently have a small stock pond on the property, only about 1/10th of an acre in size, so when I say small I mean small. The pond is spring feed (although I could not give any of the details on that, just know it stays about the same water level). My hopes for this small pond however are much grander then it current size will support! Let me list what we want this pond to be able to support and then what I am thinking, hopefully you some of you will have some experience in this and can give me some more input on feasibility.
1. Need to be able to run water from the pond to livestock grazing areas, year round.
2. Needs to be able to support farm geese and ducks with their needs to include reproduction
3. Be able to support some wildlife without becoming fouled. (not thinking wild waterfowl)
4. Would like the pond to be big enough to sustain a small fishery, most likely pan fish and northern or walleye and maybe a few catfish.
The fishing portion is actually kind of a more then a like, myself and my in-laws really enjoy the fishing and it would be nice to be able to do it right there plus the fish bones and offal would provide a different type of protein for the pigs and chickens. The idea of enlarging and stocking the pond was actually my brother-in-law Jared's idea and went on to further feed the idea of my own!
The pond area will be fenced off to keep livestock other then water fowl from accessing it directly, the duck and goose house will be in this small pasture area. My thoughts are currently to expand the pond to about .4 of an acre with a depth of 8-10 feet following the underground spring line. The duck and goose house will be on the northern end of the pond (opening south) and will also house a Solar powered Generator (with the panels on the roof that will power an aeration system such as this one (http://www.livingwateraeration.com/sentinel-pond-and-lake-aeration-system-half-to-1-acre-ponds.html) as well as the pump housing to provide water to the pastures. What I am not sure of currently is if the noise produced from the pumps and Aeration system will bother the ducks and geese.
My hope is that the aeration system will prevent freezing enough to continue to access the pond water year round despite the Minnesota temperatures. I have included a map of the pond and the proposed expansion area of it. What do you guys think?? Am I missing any homesteading opportunities?
1. Need to be able to run water from the pond to livestock grazing areas, year round.
2. Needs to be able to support farm geese and ducks with their needs to include reproduction
3. Be able to support some wildlife without becoming fouled. (not thinking wild waterfowl)
4. Would like the pond to be big enough to sustain a small fishery, most likely pan fish and northern or walleye and maybe a few catfish.
The fishing portion is actually kind of a more then a like, myself and my in-laws really enjoy the fishing and it would be nice to be able to do it right there plus the fish bones and offal would provide a different type of protein for the pigs and chickens. The idea of enlarging and stocking the pond was actually my brother-in-law Jared's idea and went on to further feed the idea of my own!
The pond area will be fenced off to keep livestock other then water fowl from accessing it directly, the duck and goose house will be in this small pasture area. My thoughts are currently to expand the pond to about .4 of an acre with a depth of 8-10 feet following the underground spring line. The duck and goose house will be on the northern end of the pond (opening south) and will also house a Solar powered Generator (with the panels on the roof that will power an aeration system such as this one (http://www.livingwateraeration.com/sentinel-pond-and-lake-aeration-system-half-to-1-acre-ponds.html) as well as the pump housing to provide water to the pastures. What I am not sure of currently is if the noise produced from the pumps and Aeration system will bother the ducks and geese.
My hope is that the aeration system will prevent freezing enough to continue to access the pond water year round despite the Minnesota temperatures. I have included a map of the pond and the proposed expansion area of it. What do you guys think?? Am I missing any homesteading opportunities?
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