Ducks ALIVE in 2025!

[heirloomgal]

Eva is on another medication. I ran out of the cheapo cheese, so I tried thinly sliced ham, and that worked to get pills into her.
I went to see a different Vet bc she has had bad nasal discharge for several months now, my Vet had her on 2 weeks of antibiotics. New Vet has her on 2 medications, for one month, then a checkup appt in February. I am giving her pills that taste bad 2x/day, and I am on strict 7AM and 7PM schedule.
No bad physical reactions. So Far, the discharge has slowed down.
Please pray.

Could be a sign of allergies? Lots of allergic ingredients in modern dog food, and allergies among pets right now is through the roof. My vet tells me she should rename her place to the 'allergy clinic' because most of what she deals with is complications from allergies. My dog has them too. Chicken, and birds in general seems a bad one among dogs. Pistachios made his little head the size of a football, gave him instant hives and sealed his eyes shut until I got the antidote in him.

 

[AMKuska]

Could be a sign of allergies? Lots of allergic ingredients in modern dog food, and allergies among pets right now is through the roof. My vet tells me she should rename her place to the 'allergy clinic' because most of what she deals with is complications from allergies. My dog has them too. Chicken, and birds in general seems a bad one among dogs. Pistachios made his little head the size of a football, gave him instant hives and sealed his eyes shut until I got the antidote in him.

One of my dogs also has bad allergies. We make all their dog food now and it has genuinely seemed to help with one of the dog's health problems. Another is on an anti-cancer supplement for life after having a bout with it, so I just add it in while cooking to make sure I never forget it.

 

[heirloomgal]

One of my dogs also has bad allergies. We make all their dog food now and it has genuinely seemed to help with one of the dog's health problems. Another is on an anti-cancer supplement for life after having a bout with it, so I just add it in while cooking to make sure I never forget it.

Your dogs are lucky to have you. Such a wonderful choice, modern dog food is just so riddled with issues. There is something to be said for the fact that the longest lived dog in the world lived on homemade food.

 

[ducks4you]

I have been studying up on Winter Sowing for the last year. Now is the time for me to start, and I hope to get at least 6 containers out by the end of this weekend. My 100yo+ home has 7 cement window wells, 3 full south, and one west facing, and I am opting to put them in those instead of exposed to the winds we have been getting, 35mph+ gusts this winter! All of the other articles tell you that the snow and rain in the winter will keep the jugs/seedlings watered, but I'm not so sure about this.
It's better for ME to check them 1x/week and add water, if necessary. My window wells, about 18 inches deep, are under the roof eaves, so only heavy rain/snow would water them, anyway.
THIS is the best article that I have read, bc it suggests checking them to make sure that they don't dry out.
NONE of the other articles even talks about this.
I have a collection of distilled water jugs, opaque but I don't have to wash them beforehand.
I Will document my efforts.
https://www.botanicalinterests.com/community/blog/winter-sowing-guide/

 

[ducks4you]

OK, dimensions are 18 inches from the window out to the edge, about 30 inches wide, and 4-5 inches lower than outside of the window well. People will often buy those plastic covers for the winter--never got into that.
They have been screaming at me to "use me!!!" for years now, just couldn't figure out how to do so.

 

[flowerbug]

...THIS is the best article that I have read, bc it suggests checking them to make sure that they don't dry out.
NONE of the other articles even talks about this.
...

if you have wind and sun of any kind you may want to check more than once a a week.

 

[ducks4you]

Agreed.

 

[ducks4you]

This probably belongs in the Concerned about growing old thread, BUT, DH drove me in today. He had court at 1:30PM and I had a scheduled echocardiagram scheduled for 2:30. He was apologizing for dropping me off at 12:30PM and that I had to wait so long.
I brought the Seed Savers 2025 catalog with me and a printed 2025 year calendar for calculating the squash vine borer season and preliminary calculations for when to start zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon, and canteloupe, since I have the seeds already for all of them. I have seeds for Moon and Stars watermelon which I am anxious to grow this year.
I double checked the squash vine borer season. THAT begins with hatching last week of June-1st week of July. I didn't grow more than one pumpkin last year--pumpkins started in July produce fruit for me by September--and I started Fall cucumbers in 2024 after squash vine borer season was over, so this is no issue on My property, yet these nasty bugs can fly up to several miles away, so best to be prepared.
Anyway, if there are any moths, I should expect to see the larvae by July 8th, and I won't want any flowers on affected plants to be around between July 8th-August 18th.
I also discovered a new (to me) product, Kaolin clay. I can purchase a small amount, it is a dissolvable powder that you can spray on your vegetables and on your fruit.
Non toxic, unless ingested, you can exfoliate your skin with it, too.
NOW, I have to figure out where I can buy smaller than 25 pounds worth.
Still, I spent my 2 hours waiting time wisely, I had checked in early, didn't get in early bc they do a LOT of these daily, BUT, I was out and ready to leave by 2:45PM, now home.
Once I double check when to germinate the seeds for each of these, I can write in my new garden planner and use my $1 (Dollar General) 2025 calendar to keep on track. I have calculated a full week to start their seeds.
These are the specialty seeds for this year. I have a starting calendar for everything else.
Just some FYI of why it's good to get to dr appts early.

Kaolin Clay for Use with Cucumber Beetles and Corn Rootworm

Kaolin clay is a non-toxic, environmentally friendly way to get rid of cucumber beetles and corn rootworm. Kaolin clay for integrated pest management.

www.groworganic.com

 

[ducks4you]

RE: Eva--the medication has greatly reduced her nasal discharge. Still, I need to wipe her nose a few times/day and it was looking so raw so I have been treating her nosey with vasoline, and that has helped a LOT.
We find out on Feb. 17th if she will need to be scoped.
Thanks for the continued prayers!!!

 

[ducks4you]

My stint with the Title company, December through January 31st, easy peasy Notary witnessing jobs, paid same day, same to an end last week, with the hiring of a new closer for their loans.
God really blessed me with a stash of cash in my business account, so when I go online this week to order a new background check, now mandatory every Year, I have plenty to cover it.
As one does, I emailed great thanks to the closer in their Chicago office who hired me in the first place, and when she asked about future availability, I Definitely will be available.
I go out today to try to spot clean 2-3 wheelbarrows full of used stall bedding. Ponies remain outside, but I am watching in the case that we have some bad ice conditions, and I would like to have the stalls all ready to go.
I have trained them so that I open the gate from their around the barn turnout and they go right to their respective stalls. Still, after DD's cleaned the barn they put back the 3/4 inch mats in my now deceased mare's 10'x13' stall with a 13' gate and I am keeping all stall bedding, pellets and shavings and straw and hay on pallets with the gate closed so that neither of the boys can trash them, as they do. DD's thought that there were holes in last year's pine shavings from mice. I said, no, from the horses playing with them over their stall sides, 5 ft tall.
I believe that I have enough bedding to see me through the rest of the winter.