The Quack Shack

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I've been saving the seeds from squash and pumpkin (which is a type of squash anyhow). I just have to stop *myself* from eating them!

Do the peppers work on foxes?

They do! - Just prepare some bits of meat with hot peppers. I will never forget that trash-panda which "found" the meat-ball with the habañero pepper inside. That one never came back.

One of my colleagues told me that the people in rural communities in India use the Bhut Jolokia peppers to keep Elephants out of their villages and away from their fields. Remember, an elephant's trunk is their nose!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have not read thoroughly through that thread, just my two cents:
Me, wanting to do the ducks a favor once used self-harvested hay in their house during the height of winter. They really liked it, until it all got wet and became moldy. Really, really moldy! I had to wear a mask while removing it from the duck-house and despite protecting me i was coughing my lungs out for the next couple of days…

How was the aspergillosis diagnosed? - A vet our just you drawing the conclusion?

After my hay incident, i went to my doctor - also thinking of aspergillosis - and was told that it is very rare. Contrary to the common believe, aspergillus is not black mold, aspergillus fungii are either green or transparent and they only grow in starch-rich environments (like bread!). Aspergillus simply cannot survive in straw. - Other fungii do, but they won't be able to survive in animal-lungs. Fungal lung-infections of poultry are very rare and unfortunately very deadly, wiping out the whole population of shoebox-chickens in egg-"farms" within hours…

Looked up Oxine AH and what i found is that this is a solution of Chlorine-Dioxide in water [ https://www.heartlandvetsupply.com/p-5139-oxine-ah-disinfectant.aspx ]. Who told you to make your duck inhale this?
The standard application of Chlorine-Dioxide is as a disinfectant for drinking water and to remove bio-films, there was no reference for any benefit of inhaling that stuff, on the contrary:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_dioxide#Safety_issues_in_water_and_supplements

What if you pause with her inhalations and see how plenty of fresh air works out for Poppy? - Her lungs might have been irritated

My doctor told me, that there is a situation, called »Farmer's Lung« which is a reaction against the pathogens in moldy straw, hay or similar materials that can turn chronic.
https://nasdonline.org/41/d001609/farmer-039-s-lung.html
Treatment for this condition as described on the web-site above: »…avoid further contact with moldy dust.« And »…bed rest is recommended and oxygen therapy…«.
You already did the right thing and removed the moldy stuff, now start with the Oxygen therapy and let her breathe in fresh air. As many asthma sufferers can tell you cold air is best to soothe down an asthma flareup, so it is the right time for Poppy to go outside.

Just my 2 cents…

https://shagbarkbantams.com/the-many-uses-of-oxine-ah-animal-health/

 

[Luv Ducks]

Had to buy

You amputated a drake's penἱs?! - I would not have a clue at all how to perform any kind of surgery on one of my ducks… r.e.s.p.e.c.t.

As for the Blanca Duck's attitude: She is over five years old and during her life she has seen a raccoon taking one of her sisters away, a hawk killing and dismantling a young drake, foxes sneaking around the duck-house in twilight, ducks being dognapped at least three times, crows and hawks taking out ducklings and ducknagers, even more raccoons, feral cats and and and…
She saw a lot and she learned a lot, especially she learned that when you are a duck you may only have one chance to defend yourself, so she immediately goes for the most pain and/or damage. Erpelchen Drake can tell you a story about her…
In the meantime, she hast started to enjoy cuddling with me for some minutes after her bath, curiously watching a duck video on the computer, while i apply GoldBond to her right foot. She has managed to create a scab on her right foot joint…

I know how to pinion my own ducklings and did amputate the end of a penis thanks to You Tube. I watch something and automatically get my Vets degree and do it with great success, lol. I sterilize everything I use and have never had any problems when it comes to doing surgery that I feel the need to do. I had to tell myself if I did not cut the diseased part off of my Little Call Drake I was going to lose him and that was enough to make me brave enough to do it. Doing nothing meant certain death and acting on it meant a chance for life which is exactly what he ended up getting. That was earlier this year and he is just fine and still alive with no other problems. I was so happy that I got up the guts to do it and I have no regrets. I totally understand Blanca Ducks personality now. That had to give her PTSD for sure. Your ducks have been through a lot and mine through the Grace of God have only had one Raccoon attack and it ate those two babies I had back in August. We got the two that did it though and all has been well so far. I am getting two little Call Ducklings from Metzer Farms the end of March and I will keep them inside until almost full grown. No more putting them out smaller even if it is terribly warm and they were doing just fine. Thanks for the insight on Blanca Duck Frank. I totally understand now.

 

[Canadian Wind]

That is correct, but you can shake the snow off the tarp much easier than shaking your car…

You know how much snow weighs, right? Right??! Might be easier to shake the car!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I know how to pinion my own ducklings and did amputate the end of a penis thanks to You Tube. I watch something and automatically get my Vets degree and do it with great success, lol. I sterilize everything I use and have never had any problems when it comes to doing surgery that I feel the need to do. I had to tell myself if I did not cut the diseased part off of my Little Call Drake I was going to lose him and that was enough to make me brave enough to do it. Doing nothing meant certain death and acting on it meant a chance for life which is exactly what he ended up getting. That was earlier this year and he is just fine and still alive with no other problems. I was so happy that I got up the guts to do it and I have no regrets. I totally understand Blanca Ducks personality now. That had to give her PTSD for sure. Your ducks have been through a lot and mine through the Grace of God have only had one Raccoon attack and it ate those two babies I had back in August. We got the two that did it though and all has been well so far. I am getting two little Call Ducklings from Metzer Farms the end of March and I will keep them inside until almost full grown. No more putting them out smaller even if it is terribly warm and they were doing just fine. Thanks for the insight on Blanca Duck Frank. I totally understand now.

That is exactly the reason why i have that duckling box! The little ones are protected against every thread and the flock can see and talk to them but cannot touch or injure anybody.
And they are protected against predators when i am inside the house.
This way the integration with the flock will be much easier for the ducknagers.

And yes, its called »West Virginia, wild and wonderful« for - reasons. Though we are just 15 minutes away from Charleston's center, we have a lot of wild-life here. Just remember, i have over 20 Mallards visiting here at some times.

 

[Luv Ducks]

That is exactly the reason why i have that duckling box! The little ones are protected against every thread and the flock can see and talk to them but cannot touch or injure anybody.
And they are protected against predators when i am inside the house.
This way the integration with the flock will be much easier for the ducknagers.

And yes, its called »West Virginia, wild and wonderful« for - reasons. Though we are just 15 minutes away from Charleston's center, we have a lot of wild-life here. Just remember, i have over 20 Mallards visiting here at some times.

I have had lots of ducklings hatched out by my Mallard before but these two were from Rural King. They were Runners and had gotten so big and never having a problem in over three years I was too trusting. It's called learning the hard way for a reason and trust me, I have learned. I cut the tree down that gave it access to where they were never guessing that they would climb the tree and drop on top of the pen they were separated in to get to them with netting above and everything I thought was keeping them safe. They were outside with the others only separated from them for over 3 weeks and were fine but then it happened. Predators can be ruthless if they want something bad enough. I was fortunate that was all it took and ate that night. It could have been worse. These little guys will stay in the house until they are about full grown. Then they will join the others and be safer rather than be isolated by themselves.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I have had lots of ducklings hatched out by my Mallard before but these two were from Rural King. They were Runners and had gotten so big and never having a problem in over three years I was too trusting. It's called learning the hard way for a reason and trust me, I have learned. I cut the tree down that gave it access to where they were never guessing that they would climb the tree and drop on top of the pen they were separated in to get to them with netting above and everything I thought was keeping them safe. They were outside with the others only separated from them for over 3 weeks and were fine but then it happened. Predators can be ruthless if they want something bad enough. I was fortunate that was all it took and ate that night. It could have been worse. These little guys will stay in the house until they are about full grown. Then they will join the others and be safer rather than be isolated by themselves.

Raccoons are the most intelligent and dedicated predators that i know. I had stored my layer-pellets on my work-platform in the beginning and they chewed through the tarps, the smallest one somehow got through the chicken-wire and the pallets and ripped open the pellet-bags. Then it stuffed itself and handed food out to the whole family…
I had raccoons opening those little bolts that come with the pre-built coops, fortunately there were three bolts on that door and the trash-panda missed just the third one…

I never left duxlings out in the duxling box over night, they were always safe in their brooder on my patio. The sides of the box are made from hardware-cloth and the top is made from two layers of chicken wire- i could not find hardware-cloth wide enough.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

You know how much snow weighs, right? Right??! Might be easier to shake the car!

Hmm! - What if you grease up your car before covering it with the tarp?
That way you can tie the tarp to a tree and just drive out.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Hmm! - What if you grease up your car before covering it with the tarp?
That way you can tie the tarp to a tree and just drive out.

@WannaBeHillBilly I believe you have earned the honor of removing the wannabe from your name now, my redneck friend.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I know how to pinion my own ducklings and did amputate the end of a penis thanks to You Tube. I watch something and automatically get my Vets degree and do it with great success, lol. I sterilize everything I use and have never had any problems when it comes to doing surgery that I feel the need to do. I had to tell myself if I did not cut the diseased part off of my Little Call Drake I was going to lose him and that was enough to make me brave enough to do it. Doing nothing meant certain death and acting on it meant a chance for life which is exactly what he ended up getting. That was earlier this year and he is just fine and still alive with no other problems. I was so happy that I got up the guts to do it and I have no regrets. I totally understand Blanca Ducks personality now. That had to give her PTSD for sure. Your ducks have been through a lot and mine through the Grace of God have only had one Raccoon attack and it ate those two babies I had back in August. We got the two that did it though and all has been well so far. I am getting two little Call Ducklings from Metzer Farms the end of March and I will keep them inside until almost full grown. No more putting them out smaller even if it is terribly warm and they were doing just fine. Thanks for the insight on Blanca Duck Frank. I totally understand now.

Blanca - having PTSD? Nooo! - She is causing PTSD!
The condition Blanca has is UCMWA!

Spoiler: What does UCMWA mean?

Un-Curable Meal-Worm Addiction!

Still, i envy you: I doubt that i would be able to give one of my birds an injection...