Ducks ALIVE in 2025!

[ducks4you]

So...I ordered my year's worth of Fly Predators back in April. Wondering why I wasn't getting them so I called. My CC had been reissued since last year, so it didn't go through. No problem, they would just send extra shipments.
DH stopped at the Post Office last week and I had 3 packages of fly predators (along with Eva condolence cards, since I contacted everybody involved.) DD's were going away for the weekend, but Eldest DD put out one in the North pasture. Yesterday both DD's put out the rest everywhere else. They look like ants, but they are happy to fly away from you when you open the package. Eldest DD suggested blowing on an lingerers.
This is what it all looked like:

 

[Marie2020]

So...I ordered my year's worth of Fly Predators back in April. Wondering why I wasn't getting them so I called. My CC had been reissued since last year, so it didn't go through. No problem, they would just send extra shipments.
DH stopped at the Post Office last week and I had 3 packages of fly predators (along with Eva condolence cards, since I contacted everybody involved.) DD's were going away for the weekend, but Eldest DD put out one in the North pasture. Yesterday both DD's put out the rest everywhere else. They look like ants, but they are happy to fly away from you when you open the package. Eldest DD suggested blowing on an lingerers.
This is what it all looked like:
View attachment 76730View attachment 76731View attachment 76732

This is new to me.

 

[ducks4you]

There is a company, Spalding, that grows these. I have to assume that they are sterile, else they would breed, and then I would only have to buy them 1x/year, and they wouldn't make money.
These little bugs eat fly larvae and cut down on my property fly population considerably.
You tell them the number and type of animals, including dogs and cats, that you keep, and they send you the number commensurate with your number of pets.
One month per season you get a double batch, and you can choose which month it is. Also, I can order additional packages as needed.
I don't want to use pesticides, but they do recommend keeping the grass and weeds low, and using alternative fly abatement, like jugs with lure, to use alongside the fly predators.
I have the jugs but I haven't put out any this year, like a Lot of things that I have had trouble doing with a bum knee, and NOW a healing leg.
I also like to save plastic gloves from dying my hair bc if you get the lure on your hands it seems like you can't get rid of the stink! Easier to throw away the gloves.

 

[Finnie]

Let me try again...
Our atty friend is buying ME 2 female GS puppies.
Pictures WHEN I can find them--searched email, FB Messenger and texts, no luck!

This answers my question. I was going to ask, if the one of your attorney friend’s GSDs “blondes out” as you put it, would that DQ it for the show ring? Would there be a chance he would let you have that one? But I see now that these will be your puppies, not his! Do you have plans to show them? Off the top of my head I can’t remember if blonde hair in the saddle is a DQ, a fault, or doesn’t matter.

Yes, your knee DOES need to be ready to handle two puppies in 5 weeks! That’s a tall order! I’m sure you can do it if you follow Dr’s and PT’s instructions.

 

[Marie2020]

There is a company, Spalding, that grows these. I have to assume that they are sterile, else they would breed, and then I would only have to buy them 1x/year, and they wouldn't make money.
These little bugs eat fly larvae and cut down on my property fly population considerably.
You tell them the number and type of animals, including dogs and cats, that you keep, and they send you the number commensurate with your number of pets.
One month per season you get a double batch, and you can choose which month it is. Also, I can order additional packages as needed.
I don't want to use pesticides, but they do recommend keeping the grass and weeds low, and using alternative fly abatement, like jugs with lure, to use alongside the fly predators.
I have the jugs but I haven't put out any this year, like a Lot of things that I have had trouble doing with a bum knee, and NOW a healing leg.
I also like to save plastic gloves from dying my hair bc if you get the lure on your hands it seems like you can't get rid of the stink! Easier to throw away the gloves.

Oh ducky . I am so confused by this and deeply interested

Can we obtain these in uk? I've been bitten to bits and poor Oliver cat was driven away by bugs yesterday

 

[ducks4you]

Dunno about showing dogs--don't inTEND to ever do it--I Do know that Eva was coal black as a puppy. Some color Might indicate a very light colored GS when full grown.
Color isn't important, I just don't want to be raising a GS that looks like Eva's twin!
I have always loved GSD's. A family friend growing up had GSD's and they were quiet and obediant.
One of the things that we will be training is for the two girls to travel on car rides silent.
I understand that GSD's are vocal, but Eva proved that they can be totally silent, and she learned this from my other dog, Pyg, and we often had to check to back seat to see that the two dogs were There--they wouldn't even bark from the car.
All things are possible.
Also, I probably won't register either of them, they Will both be spayed and chipped and the current climate has made it so I will probably not even travel with them into town where I would have to leave them in the car unattended while I shop. Horrible people steal dogs to use in fighting as victims.
There is a grocery store 12 minutes WSW of us, little town, and they can sit in Their parking lot I think without any worries.
You need to think of things like this. I also have padlocks on ALL of my outward opening fences on the property to keep anybody from opening a gate and letting my horses out. When we went on our May/June Alaska cruise and Eldest DD housesat, I put an additional padlock on the gate that opens to the around-the-barn turnout, so she wouldn't have to lock the gate to the Inner Sanctum, or worry about that.
Anyway, DH is excited about the puppies!! Before Eva, I don't think he was really attached to Any of our dogs, growing up with cats--his mom wouldn't let them have a dog, although His rather raised Cocker Spaniels--but he has evolved.
He, an atty, a former History Teacher, doesn't even want to discuss the CSPAN2 Revolutionary War lectures I have been DVRing and watching, preferring to discuss puppy training and what we need to buy for them.
Btw, I asked him a question from one of the lectures: When do You think the American Revolution began?
He said, It began when George Washington had a military skirmish with a French garrison in 1754.
That would make Washington the cause of the War and the recipient of the Presidency 27 years later.
We are knocking down 250th milestones all of 2025 starting with July 4th, as Semiquincentennial celebrations are going on. Since this war has hardly been taught in our Public Schools, it is eye opening what you discover, Including a letter that Washington wrote to a fellow Colonialist in 1775, writing a*ms, instead of arms, being careful not to sound treasonous.

 

[ducks4you]

@Marie2020 , re: fly predators in the UK, gosh, dunno.
I suppose you could ask any horseman that you know, or vets.
Or...check the internet.

 

[ducks4you]

Since 2025 is more of a study and wistful thinking gardening year for me, I came across this article about treated corn seeds. I had a wonderful sweet corn harvest a few years ago and these were the factors, for what it's worth:
1) I planted treated sweet corn kernels
and
2) They were very viable even at one year old.

Treated seeds vs. untreated seeds: What’s the difference? | AGDAILY

Treated seeds are seeds that have been lightly coated with various fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, and other biological products.

www.agdaily.com