If the duck is fully feathered then you don't need to provide any additional heat (except in winter for very cold areas). 65 degrees F. is not cold for a duck. A one month old duck can easily handle 65 degrees. You don't need to protect it from drafts anymore either. I'd be more concerned about the heat since waterfowl do better in cool weather. Make sure they have access to shade and never leave them without water. A friend of mine recently lost her goose on a hot day because he tipped over his water pail. Your duck is likely healthy since its so active and well cared for. You probably don't need to disinfect their water containers that often unless there are signs of disease in their environment--ducks are quite hardy compared to chickens. One thing to watch out for is mold though--don't let them have moldy food or straw. Also keep in mind that many antibiotics that are safe for chickens are not safe for waterfowl so you would need to do some research. I've occassionally used grapefruit seed extract (GSE)without any problems. Its always better to start a treatment earlier in an illness rather than later.

Putting goldfish in a bowl started out in asia where goldfish keeping first started. When company was expected they took their fish out of ponds and put them in bowls for the day so visitors can admire their prized fish, then returned them at night. Europeans who were knew to goldfish but interested in keeping them saw this and thought it was the norm. With the language barrier they didn't bother to get thorough directions on their care. This started the bad practice of keeping them in bowls. If kept in bowls or anything less than 15-30 gallons per fish depending on size stunts their growth. This doesn't mean a small fish, this means their organs are crammed into a body too small for them as the organs keep growing. It causes them to be sickly the rest of their lives as their immune system was compromised for too long a time. I have one goldfish the one that actually lived through my bad fish keeping days, due to my naivety of small tanks too little filtration, not enough water changes, once I started taking care of it right, always seemmed to have ich, turns out they were sores. Its body could not handle bacteria in the gravel as my other goldies kept in the right condition from day one, and if I do any less than near 100% water change every week the same thing. A 15 gallon tank couldn't cost more than $20 @ petco, you could prob find one for free if he were to use craigslist free section or join freecycle, which he won't do, maybe you can help him with this? Filtration needs to be 10x the amount of gallons, so if he gets a 10g, which is the bare minimum for 1 goldie, he needs a 100gph filter which costs about $15 at petco. Without a cycled filter he needs to do large, atleast 50% daily water changes or the fish WILL die. Fancy goldfish can't take as much of a beating as commons or comets. Salt will help with its fins and over all health but if there is an ammonia level in the tank it could be deadly. Here is a link about filtration: http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=aquariumfilter Here is a link about cycling your tank: http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/forum/index.php?/topic/3-cycling-of-the-tank/ Here is a good link for over all golfish care: http://www.flippersandfins.net/goldfishfaq.htm The only thing I would change about it is that goldies should eat 3 very small meals a day and that they can be petted just very lightly, for a short period, and not very often.

Seems like this is mostly a drink thread... but, if I may, I'd like to talk about my G'mas teacakes. They were little cookies that had the flackiness of pie crust. Just a little tougher (or more together, if you will - like a cookie). They didn't puff in the oven, were delicately crisp, very thin, slightly sweet, sprinkled with sugar, and shaped like hearts. The recipe died with her, unfortunately. In any case, everyone she ever gave the recipe to swore that she left something out. None ever turned out like hers. I was not a recipient of the recipe, btw. Let that be a lesson to stingy cooks. You may be the only one with the golden dish, but when you die it goes with you. Better to share, in my opinion, and be remembered that way. :) They were the best "sugar cookies" I've ever eaten. I really wish she would have shared. If any of you have something that resembles that description, I'd love it if you would post it. I've never encountered anything like it anywhere - be it home, bakery, or restaurant. G'ma was originally from Georgia. Her father from Ireland, and not sure where her mom came from - I think it was Georgia, as well.

Loved the man, too! What a team he and Tim were! Loved the CB show where Tim is the dentist and Harvey is the patient in the chair...he couldn't conceal his laughter at Tim shooting the novocaine into his own hand! Loved him in Blazing Saddles (that's Hedley!!!)!!! I was a young gal of 17 then!!!! And my fave is where CB comes downstairs wearing the green draperies, even the rod and tiebacks, sooooo darn funny (Gone With the Wind) and says to Rhett..."saw it in the window and HAD to have it" !!! Miss him for sure! RIP, Mr. Korman