The Quack Shack

[Supercow]

Blanca Duck's disappearance has really de-motivated me today, but i started to dig-up the veggie bed, that is full of Asian-bug larvae before the frost. I wasn't planning on finishing the whole bed today, but the Mr. Boots brought in his five Support-Ducks:

I will be in so much pain tomorrow! - I dug through the whole bed today, 16m² (172sqft) and it is still heavy loam in some parts. We found earthworms the size of small snakes and the ducks spreaded their fertilizer generously.

Very sorry about Bianca it's cold ... maybe she's hunkered down somewhere and can still surprise you by reappearing...

Over here I also did some orchard work today, cleared out the other half of previous season's blackberries (Triple crown - they produce bamboo size canes), piled up various dead wood lying around, hopefully there will be no wind tomorrow and I can burn it and then use the ashes for the veggie beds.

Instead of Asian bug larvae we have the really thick yummy ones - https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/cetonia-aurata/?lang=en , scroll down - usually in containers (grow bags, barrels etc) and the ducks really love those.

 

[Luv Ducks]

It affect one farm at the hatchery and they destroyed all fowl at that operation. It was mostly ducks grown for the spring hatch. They will be short for a while. They do have other farms but still a big loss. If you have only 1 bird positive they destroy the whole flock and all eggs. A loss of 13000 birds hurts

I believe they only have one other farm and it is in Tennessee. I pray that those birds stay healthy. I was just shocked that they got bird flu as I thought it was only from the wild birds that got in with a person's flock and I know they take all kinds of precautions against that. It breaks my heart that all of those birds had to be put down.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Man I just hate these headlines. First off I'll bet money it did not infect the entire operation. They destroyed them before it

I agree but since they had it they could not take the chance of selling any of them to anyone and getting sued for giving someone else's flock bird flu. It's a sad situation. I just pray that they can recover from this loss and don't go under over it. They still have their plant in Tennessee but this is a major loss for John Metzer.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Insurance, subsidiaries and they get paid a reparation for every bird.

Yes but how well we all know that insurance companies hardly ever give you what something is worth. I know when a Semi hit my car I got peanuts for it just because it was older, even though it was good running but because of miles on it they wouldn't pay for what it was worth to me.

 

[Luv Ducks]

15 ducklings I didn't count right or take into consideration I got 4 packing peanuts. I'm so stupid and infected with duck mania of some kind. Just two weeks ago I was trying to get rid of my last 3 now I have 15 new ones. They are hard to count with the zoomies.

It is such an addiction. I can totally understand as I started out with 2 and have had as many as 28 at one time. Now I have 19 but I am always lookin at what I am missing in the flock so I can get another one!

 

[Luv Ducks]

And this is so unnecessary and dumb!
There is a vaccine available for the bird flu - which must not be used for birds that might be used for humon consumption.
Eggs cannot be infected, there is nothing more sterile than a bird egg. - if it isn't compromised.
Because the bird population is not allowed to fully experience the infection they cannot develop a natural resistance against that virus.
Once cleared, Metzer will start with a "clean" flock of ducks, likely from their facility in Tennessee, that will again be vulnerable for that virus.
Yes, most likely there were some wild ducks joining their flocks and spreading the virus. Wild ducks are mostly immune against bird flu…

Whenever I have looked up pictures of Metzer Farms the birds all seem to be in pole barns running around with lots of shavings under them. That is why I thought they were protected from the wild birds. Evidently they must have exposure to them somewhere if this is where the flu came from.

 

[Supercow]

It is such an addiction. I can totally understand as I started out with 2 and have had as many as 28 at one time. Now I have 19 but I am always lookin at what I am missing in the flock so I can get another one!

We have 16 at the moment, I wanted to sell down to 12 but got vetoed... Welsh Harlequin eggs are arriving at the beginning of March and then we'll have to count and ponder again

 

[Canadian Wind]

Blanca Duck's disappearance has really de-motivated me today, but i started to dig-up the veggie bed, that is full of Asian-bug larvae before the frost. I wasn't planning on finishing the whole bed today, but the Mr. Boots brought in his five Support-Ducks:

I will be in so much pain tomorrow! - I dug through the whole bed today, 16m² (172sqft) and it is still heavy loam in some parts. We found earthworms the size of small snakes and the ducks spreaded their fertilizer generously.

I would need a jackhammer to get through the ground here!!! And not just because of the bedrock.

Currently a -27 Celsius windchill. Supposed to 'warm up' to -13 by late afternoon but going down again over night.

Only got half the chores done so far, had to come in and warm up before braving the bitter cold once more. Ducks and chickens still inside their coops for the time being. Probably go out again in a half hour or so.

So sorry about Blanca. Her screeches will be missed.

 

[Jenbirdee]

i am counting down to return of @Miss Lydia In good faith I have started tagging her in duck posts that need advice and I am believing she will be back SOOOOON

 

[Luv Ducks]

We have 16 at the moment, I wanted to sell down to 12 but got vetoed... Welsh Harlequin eggs are arriving at the beginning of March and then we'll have to count and ponder again

I love my female Welsh Harlequin. She ended up having a dark green shade in her black bill which I thought was unusual but she is marked beautifully. Such a Sweet Duck too. Loud at times but Sweet. Good luck with your eggs. How many did you order?