Ducks and bugs

[fisharescary]

An inquiry in two parts:

First: Storey's Guide made a brilliant suggestion; turn on a light outside in the evening, just above duck head level, and allow your ducks to catch the moths etc that inevitably will come to the light. Does anyone know if mosquitos are attracted to light at night? If not, what else could we attract them to that is safe to be around our (future) ducks? (and not 'humans'

)

Second: I know ducks love bugs, but are the serious stinging/biting/venomous/poisonous ones safe for them to eat? If it isn't obvious, I mean the ones that are stinging/biting/venomous/poisonous to humans. Can they safely eat wasps and bees, or will they get too stung in the throat? What about the spiders that we consider deadly? I recall finding on the internet one woman's tale of having been possibly saved by her duck- she had a Brown Recluse spider fall out of her mop when she went to use it, and before either she or the spider could act, her duck swooped in and ate it. The story didn't tell whether the duck was all right later.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[jsvand5]

Mosquitos are not attracted to light. They are attracted to the CO2 animals breathe out and I think some other odors but I can't remember what they are right now. They do sell a chemical to attrack mosquitos but I am not sure if it is duck safe and I also don't think your duck will eat many of the mosquitos anyway.

 

[lovesduckies]

i tried to ask if it was safe for ducks to EAT black widows once and no one answered my question. good luck, i hope someone answers cuz i'd sure like to know. we have tons around here and i hate them. i hate spiders all together and my only duck who eats spiders is broody. duckie the drake is retarded lol and i guess doesn't know to eat them lol

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I saw my duck grab a bee out of the air once! I waited to see if he was going to die or something but he just went on with his day!
I picked up a cheap solar powered light to put in the duck pen when bug season start. It's on a little post you just stick in the ground, it will be fun to see if it works.

 

[katharinad]

I've seen ducks eating bees, and nothing happened. Not sure if they just don't respond to the histamine/poison or if they kill it with their bill to the point that is can't sting anymore. I think they have a high immunity to all of those, so I would not even worry if they east black widow spiders. They are smart animals which will avoid thing that are nor working out for them. I like the idea of the light, and I do have some solar lights along the side of the duck house. I've seen my duck jump at things flopping around the lights. Give them plenty of entertainment.
Mosquitoes are attracted to body heat, co2, and a chemical called octanol. They sell octanol for the mosquito magnet machine at the hardware store, but it does need the heat produced by the machine to work. These machines are expensive and do work, depending on which direction the wind blows. LOL I have one of those machines, but stopped using it. It was just not that effective. I've added lots of nesting boxes onto the fence poles. These are full with tree swollows, and they are doing a really good job. BTW, only the female mosquito bite, the males are 100% vegetarians. Female mosquitoes are also attracted to water, because that's where they put their off springs. So you could have some water around. You ducks will dabble any mosquito larvae they find out of it. Up here in the Oregon mountains we have something called a tree mosquito. These can lay their eggs into trees and only one drop of water is needed to have them hatch. Wild world!
Katharina

 

[trentoncook]

My 8-9 week old yellow duck Clyde just ate a large millipede I looked it up and it said they release poison glands when crushed, is he going to be ok??!! Urgent