[Helenaj]

As some of you know, I'm looking to dig out a duck pond. The area I am putting it in has a natural spring that will need to be moved back to its original course - over the years it has become silted up and has spread across the area rather than running through its true course, so I intend to remedy that before I dig the pond. However, because the area has become marshy over the years there are quite a lot of reeds - I don't know which species they are but they are the long needle type reed which when you peel them have a white, almost spongy centre that you can pull out - almost like a white shoelace. My question is - are these poisonous to ducks and the occasional hen that may wander over? Because I don't know the variety, I can't look them up because some call them reeds, others bulrushes.

Many Thanks

[ANHBUC]

I believe they are actually edible and taste starchy.  Think I saw it on a Ray Mears programme.   

[grinling]

most ponds have them and the ducks survive. Hens and ponds don't tend to mix as ducks filter water and chooks can't resulting in runny bums and flies.

[Helenaj]

most ponds have them and the ducks survive. Hens and ponds don't tend to mix as ducks filter water and chooks can't resulting in runny bums and flies.

That's what I suspected, being marshy plants. It's nice to be re-assured though!

[8doubles]

Sounds like Common Rush to me, the only thing i know of that eats them are Water Voles.