How to keep birds out of the swimming pool

Apr 23, 2019 | swimming pool construction

Every year there are a few people who ask me, “how to keep ducks out of my pool?” It’s hilarious to think that ducks are using your pool — perhaps they’re sipping drinks on your floating pool lounger or playing Marco Polo. Either way, they need to go!Here are 5 tricks for keeping ducks (and other birds) out of your swimming pool all season.1. Use a Solar CoverSolar covers not only keep your pool heated and free of debris, but they also keep ducks from swimming and pooping in your water (or can at least keep the poop from fully mixing in).If you already have a solar cover (and you should), then good for you! You don’t have to worry about ducks if you keep your solar cover on when you’re not home. However, if you don’t have a solar cover, here is a link to purchase your very own:2. Use an Automatic Pool CleanerDucks are easily frightened creatures. They fear predators, and nothing looks more like a predator than a moving, underwater automatic pool cleaner.Again, if you already have an automatic pool cleaner (and you should), good for you! If not, I invite you to check out the best robotic pool cleaners on the market (and here are some for above ground pools too).Frustrated by adding chemicals and trying to keep your pool clear all the time?We cut out all the fluff and confusion of pool maintenance and stripped it down to the bare bones in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course.CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE3. Inflatable Pool ToysThis is by far my favorite method for keeping ducks out of a swimming pool. Just keep a few inflatable pool toys in your pool when it’s not in use. However, not any pool toy will do the trick, only specific ones that look like other predatory animals, including:AlligatorKiller WhaleSnakeBobbing Dolphin4. Get a DogDucks hate dogs and vice versa. Dogs are one of the duck’s natural predators, and their bark alone will scare them away. This is more of a reactive method than a prevention method, but it does the trick. Hopefully your dog(s) can see the ducks in order to bark from inside the house.5. Duck OffThe Lo-Chlor company makes a pool chemical called Duck Off that breaks the surface tension of the water. This chemical makes it so the ducks cannot successfully float on the surface.However, I don’t like the idea putting unnecessary chemicals in the pool. So my recommendation is to use this option as a last resort.To better explain the science behind this chemical, I’ll turn to your elementary school science class:Take a bowl of water and sprinkle a bunch of cracked pepper on the surface. Then, lather up your index finger with dish soap and submerge it in the center of the bowl.What you’ll see is the pepper magically race to the edge of the bowl, like roaches scattering when the lights come on. It’s a cool trick and does well at parties to impress new friends — I should know because I did this trick a few months ago at a party.“Daffy Duck Ain’t Got Nothing On Me!”If you have ducks in your pool, I hope one these tricks will work for you.

Song birds may sound beautiful and seeing birds flitting around your yard or spending time on the birdfeeder in your yard is ideal. What you don’t want are birds in and around the swimming pool. Gross! How to keep birds out of the swimming pool is something the swimming pool contractors from Tipton Pools in Knoxville, TN get asked all the time.

Birds can leave their droppings all over and you definitely don’t want to be stepping in that when you’re trying to get into or out of the pool. Additionally, if they’re hanging around the pool, they may get into the water and not be able to get out and no one wants to see bird carcasses before they swim.

How to keep birds out of the swimming pool

Here are some suggestions for keeping the birds away from the swimming pool and hot tub.

  1. Use a cover. Using a swimming pool cover is one of the best practices you can get into. When you use a cover you’re helping conserve water, and that may mean your pool needs fewer chemicals. A cover will keep the birds out of the water. Even if you don’t want to put the traditional cover on every time, you can invest in a solar cover. These solar covers will help trap the heat from the sun into your pool water and will keep birds out of the pool.
  2. Put in an automatic pool cleaner. These devices will float around the pool, cleaning as it goes and that will cause a disturbance in the water — something that scares birds. It will see the motion on the water and the object moving underwater and may give them pause for getting into your pool.
  3. Inflatable toys. We usually caution people to keep all floating toys out of the pool when they aren’t using the pool so children aren’t tempted to scale the safety fence and get into the pool. If you have bird problems, though, and your safety is as heighened as possible, leaving brightly colored toys floating on the water may scare birds away. Because the toys will be in constant motion because of the filter, it will work as a great deterrent.

If you have other ways you keep birds away from your swimming pool we’d love to hear!