Everything’s ducky

DEAR HELOISE » I live on a lake, and I only just learned that bread is bad for ducks. Why is that?

— Martha in Indiana

Martha, those of us who enjoy lakeside living need to be informed about the nutritional needs of our waterfowl friends. Popcorn, bread, crackers and other human snack foods are low in protein and minerals, so feeding them these foods can result in a number of health issues. Also, when ducks and geese rely too much on human food, they may not be motivated to feed on natural foods better suited for them because of their higher nutritional value.

It’s always fun to feed our ducks, but check with your local feed or pet store for food that is good for them so that these beautiful creatures stay healthy and active in their natural habitat.

P.S. Fun Fact: Many species of birds, including some swan species, mate for life! PET PAL Check out www.Heloise.com at the bottom of the page for our feisty and furry Pet Pals. This week, Suzie sent in a picture of her beautiful snow white Maltipoo, Charmin. Suzie says Charmin, having recently lost her main human, PawPaw, is grieving.

Yes, pets grieve. Let’s send some healing vibes to Charmin. Do you have a pet you’d like to share? Email a picture and description to Heloise@Heloise.com.

FAMILY JOB JAR

DEAR HELOISE » Our family started a new tradition — the Job Jar. We write down each household chore on a slip of paper and put them in a jar. Then, each family member, including Mom and Dad, grab a slip of paper and complete that task. Makes for a fun and fair disbursement of the workload.

— Sally in Texas

Readers, how does your family feel about allowance? Do Mom and Dad give an allowance automatically, or must the kids earn it by doing chores? This may be the way to get everybody onboard about keeping the home and yard tidy and earning a little bit of spending money, too.

MEDICINE TRACKER

DEAR HELOISE » Here’s the way I keep track of medications I’m taking: I store all medication names and dosage amounts in my phone. This includes any prescribed and over-the-counter meds.

This helps me when I go to the doctor or if I’m ever in an accident. First responders can check the list for any drug interactions.

— Shelly P., Omaha, Neb.

KEEP IT CLEAN

DEAR HELOISE » My washer and dryer are in the basement, so I have to carry laundry up and down. One day I realized I was putting my clean clothes back into the laundry basket that was used for dirty clothes. Now I keep disinfecting wipes in the laundry area to wipe out my laundry basket after I take out the dirty clothes.

— Mary Anna A., Omaha, Neb.