Duck pond that flushes like a toilet

[Messiah Jones]

 I spend countless hours online and can't find anyone who has ever tried this. BTW I wish there was a "Homesteading" category to put this in. The idea was to use a metal stock tank, also referred to as a "swimming pool" in poor suburbia where I was raised. Install a float and valve from a toilet, and a drain in the bottom. I don't see why I couldn't flush the tank and keep it full like a toilet. The only down side is water consumption. I live on a steep hill with chickens and ducks halfway down. Past that is where I want to plant an orchard. Up top at the house I have a couple of "ICB Totes" that hold 550 gallons of rainwater combined. So I can take at least 550 gallons off the water bill a few times a year.

 Just spitballing ideas. There's a lot of drama and chore lists online about caring for ducks but I've never of heard anyone just flushing the duck poop like a toilet. I can't be the first to think of this? And I assume the water would be good for the trees?

 Ideas? I'm also interested in automatic coop doors and feeders. I think I've got the free feeding down but I'm always open to ideas.

[panoz77]

How big a "pool"?  How are you planning to make it swirl, LOL.

But seriously, just install a flanged valve in the side, open to flush and you made need a pressure washer to hit the stuff that's stuck on.

It ain't going to be as easy as pull the handle.

[Lostinspace]

We raised ducks for years when I was growing up.  If you ain't flushing it every week well you're gonna end up with a tub full of duck crap.  If you have the area to do it you should dig a pond of about 1/2 acre in size and at least 8 feet deep, that will take care of your problem and it's a great place to put catfish, bass, crappie and bream in and have a steady supply of fresh fish when you need them.

[1mlt]

How big a "pool"?  How are you planning to make it swirl, LOL.

But seriously, just install a flanged valve in the side, open to flush and you made need a pressure washer to hit the stuff that's stuck on.

It ain't going to be as easy as pull the handle.

I agree, but, it may work if it is "open the valve", as in a gate or ball valve. Assuming the duck waste is heaver than the water it 'should' sink to the lowest point in the 'pool'. Also assuming, you can get to the lowest point to open the valve. Perhaps elbow it out to the side so you have easy access to the valve. Just some thoughts.

[Toad]

Is this the same property that had the stream that you were looking to implement a hydraulic ram pump to move water?

[Messiah Jones]

Is this the same property that had the stream that you were looking to implement a hydraulic ram pump to move water?

 No, we sold that place and settled somewhere that already had a house on it.

[panoz77]

You could just do this with the ducks, problem solved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Sb8t4xJuZOc

[Messiah Jones]

You could just do this with the ducks, problem solved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Sb8t4xJuZOc

 I wish I could get my 11-year-old to do that instead of crapping on the floor every day

[Toad]

I "think" i understand what you are trying to do. Why do you need it to "flush" or drain all at once? Why not simple PVC, a valve and let gravity do the rest?

[Messiah Jones]

I "think" i understand what you are trying to do. Why do you need it to "flush" or drain all at once? Why not simple PVC, a valve and let gravity do the rest?

 Well I'm trying to make it very low maintenance. Easy enough to get it to stop filling at a certain level with a float valve. Not as easy to make it auto flush every couple days. This is so we can leave for long periods of time. I have them in a predator proof coop with an automatic door. (Still in testing phase) That leads to a predator proof atrium dome. When we're home I let them free range. The only thing missing is a way to auto flush the pond. - And when I say pond I mean a small, shallow stock tank.

[Rocketvapor]

Alexa, flush the pond

If you can keep it full and shut off with a float you can time a valve to open once a day for x minutes.
Programmable timer, electricity and a solenoid valve. 

[Toad]

I "think" i understand what you are trying to do. Why do you need it to "flush" or drain all at once? Why not simple PVC, a valve and let gravity do the rest?

 Well I'm trying to make it very low maintenance. Easy enough to get it to stop filling at a certain level with a float valve. Not as easy to make it auto flush every couple days. This is so we can leave for long periods of time. I have them in a predator proof coop with an automatic door. (Still in testing phase) That leads to a predator proof atrium dome. When we're home I let them free range. The only thing missing is a way to auto flush the pond. - And when I say pond I mean a small, shallow stock tank.

Sorry, i'm still trying to understand. You got ICB Totes totes filled by rain water. I'm assuming some sort of building roof, gutter system is filling them? If so, why the toilet valve? Let the water flow into them. If they overflow, who cares?

[Messiah Jones]

I "think" i understand what you are trying to do. Why do you need it to "flush" or drain all at once? Why not simple PVC, a valve and let gravity do the rest?

 Well I'm trying to make it very low maintenance. Easy enough to get it to stop filling at a certain level with a float valve. Not as easy to make it auto flush every couple days. This is so we can leave for long periods of time. I have them in a predator proof coop with an automatic door. (Still in testing phase) That leads to a predator proof atrium dome. When we're home I let them free range. The only thing missing is a way to auto flush the pond. - And when I say pond I mean a small, shallow stock tank.

Sorry, i'm still trying to understand. You got ICB Totes totes filled by rain water. I'm assuming some sort of building roof, gutter system is filling them? If so, why the toilet valve? Let the water flow into them. If they overflow, who cares?

 I guess the simple answer is that other people care. I live in a subdivision where people have 8 acre lots but I still have to worry about the "Home Owners Association". So I'm trying to live as free as I can under scrutiny. This thing is built in the center of "mind your own business" yet close enough to the edge of the "commune" to make me want to take precautionary measures.

And you know... All this would be a lot easier if I didn't have to jump through 37 hoops to post some pictures. I tried over and over to do it and apparently since photobucket quit hosting the entire internet started sucking. I'm not tech saavy enough to know where the blame lies, but it's annoying as hell when I try 37 times to post a pic and every time the format isn't accepted. The Sksboards seems to have some type of hosting capabilities but I've never been able to make it work.

[Messiah Jones]

This is not my pic. Just some random one that worked. I have the same setup.

[panoz77]

This is not my pic. Just some random one that worked. I have the same setup.

The ducks will need an elevator