Archive for the 'Pets And Animals' Category

The Incredible Chicken Coop Plan

December 31st, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

To avoid any problems after the chicken coop is finished and ready, it is imperative to start out right. Before you go ahead with the construction, contact your municipality or local council and learn about the regulations on keeping chicken in residential areas and ensure that you are not breaking any laws.

Next, do some research on plans for chicken coops and shortlist a few that you prefer. You can find a multitude of options online, at the local library as well as the local bookstore. After this, try to get the plans for the chicken coops you like. Choose one and you can use this as the base for your coop plan.

Now go out in your backyard and decide where you will place your coop. Keep in mind the dimensions of the plan and ensure that it will fit. Each chicken needs 4 square feet of space to itself, and if you don’t plan to add a run, then make that 10 square feet.

Also consider the following factors:

1. Is there enough natural sunlight available for the coop? 2. The ground should be well drained and must not be damp or wet. 3. Check for the nearest water outlet for cleaning. 4. Will the coop be exposed to any drafts? 5. Check if the boundary or fence will be strong enough to withstand predators. 6. Are hawks and owls a problem? You many need a net on the coop for security. 7. The ground should slope so that water doesn’t collect in puddles. 8. The coop must not be too close to the neighbor’s house. 9. The coop should not stick out like a sore thumb in the surrounding area.

The next step is to sketch out the coop to figure out the technicalities of the plan. This must include:

Windows for sunlight

1. Vents 2. Feeders 3. Perches 4. Lights 5. Flooring 6. Nesting boxes

The placement of these must avoid:

7. Dampness 8. Lack of light 9. Moisture 10. Smell caused by the buildup of carbon monoxide 11. Feeder height should be appropriate, and 12. Safety

Now that these have been sorted out, you can now start with the coop plan. You might want to work out an estimated cost of the materials and construction. Once everything is sorted out, it is most likely that you will not face any problems with your coop.

Enjoyed reading this article? For more great information on building a chicken coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

The Best Chicken Coop Building Plans OnLine

December 16th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

Chicken coops are very straightforward to make. Chicken coop plans will of course make it a lot simpler, but at the end of the day it’s a straightforward job, especially if you are already familiar with hammers and nails. This article outlines what you want to think about before building a chicken coop.

To start off, you need to decide on how large your flock is going to be, so how important a coop you need. There are basically 3 sizes here : a portable triangular prism coop, a larger box-shaped coop, or a full-on premium coop with a run. I highly recommend kicking off with a medium coop, since you never know how big your flock is going to get, and they’re easily expandable in the future.

There’s a certain quantity of space that your chickens need to be healthy and content. You may allot four sq. feet of floor space per chicken.

Next comes positioning. Most chicken breeds need sunlight to stay in top laying health. Place the coop away from light blocking trees or walls, and attempt to position it to get as much morning daylight as possible. Placing your coop correctly can be the difference between 2 eggs a week and five eggs a week.

Your chicken coop needs ventilation to keep your chickens cool in the warmer months and to permit the chickens perspiration to evaporate and escape the chicken coop. You must confirm your chicken coop plans include ventilation in the form of vents in walls or tiny windows but you also don’t need it to be too drafty.

Research what type of predators live in your geographical area. You should build security precautions depending on what wild animals are around. For foxes you must bury a length of wire mesh round the fringe of your coop to stop them from digging underneath. There is not a lot you can do about snakes, but it pays to know what the risks are anyhow.

Chicken Coop Plans Online There are loads of options available when it comes to downloadable building plans. However , some plans are far better quality than others, and will offer you extra information about differing kinds of chicken coops.

Forget everything you thought you knew about chicken house designs.This website chicken coops building plans shatters all the current myths and gives it to you straight

Housebreaking Puppies – Just Say No To Pee Stains

December 1st, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

If you are serious about housebreaking puppies, then you had better take a hard long look at crate training. Here you will learn the finer points of crate training your puppy, which in turn will also allow you to housebreak it, and get rid of those nasty puppy pee stains.

One of the top ways to start in housebreaking puppies is crate training. This is a method of training where you put your dog inside a crate when you are out for the day. This will not only prevent puppy accidents inside, but it will also keep your place clean and tidy while you are out.

When done right, crate training is not only great in housebreaking puppies, but it training them to behave as well. And when done right, it is quite effective, however, it must be done right and done consistently otherwise it will not work.

You have to learn the proper ways to crate train your puppy, otherwise you may make it scared of the crate, and this will have the opposite effect that you want on it.

As soon as it has negative feelings towards the crate, it will not want to go inside, and you will not be able to use it again. It always has to be a good experience for the puppy, positive feelings always leads to a happy puppy, and a happy puppy always learns things quickly.

Tired of finding those pee stains all over your house? Tired of the smell it leaves behind? Then you really need to learn about housebreaking puppies. You will learn that, and much more when you go to this site http://www.behaviorofadog.com

Should Mankind become Extinct?

November 24th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

I read an article the other day outlining the eleven species that have been photographed alive before they went extinct. It is sad to know that in the last one hundred and fifty years eleven species of animals have went extinct as a direct result of man. Each one of these animals was hunted to extinction for food, fur, or considered a nuisance. How many more animals will be extinct in another one hundred and fifty years?

If you take a walk through your local zoo these days, slowing down to read the signs on each exhibit for the animals you will find that just about each sign has a word in red: Threatened, Endangered, and Critically Endangered. In the last one hundred and fifty years while we caused the extinction of eleven species we have put thousands more at risk of extinction. Didnt we learn a lesson with the first eleven? While we have now started trying to bring many species back from the brink, we are still driving them to extinction right along with many others.

I posted an article the other day on World Zoo Today (www.worldzootoday.com) about the poachers of Black Rhinos in this one area being so bad that instead of arresting the poachers they are relocating the rhinos. This is the effect mankind is currently having on this world. Have we become so narrow minded as a species that we destroy?

Species are being hunted to extinction for ancient beliefs in medicine, culinary delights, and money. Where do we stop? When there are no more animals to hunt? If you kill all the animals what do you hunt next? When all the animals are gone society will be forced to change. For the good or bad, no one will know but change will happen. Using animals to make money will be gone, so another form will be found. A good possibility will be trading in humans. Slave trade has been going on for thousands of years and still goes on today.

Maybe it is time for humans to become extinct. In the short span of a thousand years, the seas would be teaming with life once more. All trace of man would be gone from the land and a new world order of animal ecosystem would be in force. Animals would once again roam in vast herds across the land and in the skies.

Sara is the editor of World Zoo Today.

Diabetic Dog Diets

August 26th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

If left untreated, diabetes and dogs can be potentially fatal. Diabetes mellitus and inhibits the body’s natural ability to control blood sugar levels. Through diet, medication, and exercise, the dog owner can manage the dog’s diabetes.

Diet and exercise are essential components of the management of diabetes in dogs. If the diabetes is managed effectively, the dog can continue to live an active lifestyle for a relatively long time.

When a dog first develops diabetes, the dog owner may notice some symptoms. Two common symptoms are increased thirst and drinking and more frequent need for urination.

If the dog owner suspects that the dog may have diabetes, the governor needs to take the dog to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis. Because diabetes and other illnesses may show no noticeable signs, routine veterinary checkups are very important. The veterinarian may use a blood or urine test while the dog is fasting to diagnose diabetes mellitus.

A key feature of diabetic dog diets is routine. The veterinarian may prescribe a specific routine for feeding the dog and administering insulin if necessary. Often the dogs daily intake of food is divided into two or three portions given at different times.

Fiber and complex carbohydrates are considered the most important ingredients of a diabetic dog diet. If the dog needs to lose weight, the veterinarian may recommend a low-fat dog food that will enable the dog to lose weight slowly.

Diabetic dog diets need to be consistent. Feeding a dog treats, table scraps, or making homemade dog food are considered potentially dangerous for dogs with diabetes since these can cause too much variation in the contents of the dog’s diet.

Drastic changes in the dog’s weight should be avoided. Managing diabetes in dogs can be easier if the dog maintains an ideal weight. Any necessary weight loss should be done gradually.

Routine veterinary visits are important for a dog with diabetes. Questions concerning the dog’s diet, the care of the dog, or the administration of insulin can be answered by the veterinarian.

The veterinarian may recommend that the dog owner to use testing strips to test the dog’s urine for sugar. If the veterinarian wants the dog owner to test the dog’s urine, the veterinarian will show the dog owner how to use and read the testing strips.

Daily exercise is considered very helpful in diabetes management. Again, consistency is important. The dog owner should set a daily routine of exercising for a specific amount of time such as walking or playing catch for half an hour a day.

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Koi Pond Heaters – Are They Worth It?

August 20th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

Having a Koi pond heater used to be something you only found on very elaborate and large Koi ponds. Because of the expense, very few Koi owners could handle the cost. Also Koi ponds were mainly found only in the warmer climates where heating wasn’t thought about. Today Koi are being exported all over the world where heating can be much more a requirement. Most importantly the cost of heating a Koi pond is much less than it was just a few years ago.

When we speak of heating we’re not talking about just keeping the Koi pond free of ice in the coldest months. Heating a pond reduces dangerous water temperature fluctuations for your Koi. I would recommend you consider heating your Koi pond to keep it between 54 – 57F.

Remember that most of the fish that being imported into the colder climates have not been exposed to low temperatures in the cold months. Heating could prevent many problems and safeguard the health of your fish. You’ve made the investment, why not protect it.

There are two common ways to heat a Koi pond. The simplest way is to insert an in-line electric heater. The heater is inserted in the return line after the pump in a gravity-fed system. Figure on using about one kilowatt of electrical power per 1,000 gal. of water. Power requirements will vary depending on the ambient temperature of the water. I always suggest getting a heater a little larger than required so it won’t run all the time during the coldest period.

The other alternative is the heat exchanger. These are more expensive to put in but make up for it in operating costs savings. The heat exchanger is basically a radiator that that pond water is pumped through to warm. The radiator is fired by gas, oil, or electricity.

The Koi pond heater is fast becoming a very popular option for ponds. In fact, some would argue that it is no longer just an option but rather a necessity especially in the colder climates. Whether or not you decide to heat your Koi pond, you should cover it in the colder months. Just don’t make the cover air tight. You want gases that build up to be able to escape and you want access to the fish if you need it. The best covers have built in zipper openings just for that.

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Thinking Of Buying A Parrot? Here Are Some Tips!

July 27th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

Parrot care can be quite simple, as long as you’re dedicated to a regular grooming routine, which is generally the most difficult part of caring for a parrot. Parrot grooming can be more difficult than you might think, as most of the concentration is on the beak, claws, and wings. Just doing your fair share of research on the proper ways to groom a parrot can help take a great deal of the burden off your shoulders the first time you try to groom your bird.

There are many conditions that can cause cases of beak malformation, such as growing at odd angles. Many times an odd shaped beak can be related to birth, or even due to an accident in which the beak could not fully heal properly. Mites and fungus can grow in your parrot’s feathers and beak and you want to keep it as clean as possible so this does not occur.

It can be very dangerous to cut your parrot’s claws if you have never done so before and have not had the proper instruction. In such a case, it is best to take your pet to a professional who can safely trim his claws. It can also be harmful to let your parrot’s claws grow too long, as it is possible he could break a toe or develop problems walking and perching.

You must also be aware that a parrot bird will require his wings to be clipped a certain way so as not to injure himself when flying or landing. It may seem cruel to clip a bird’s wings, but in reality, you are doing both yourself and the parrot a favor. As your parrot is not in the wild, he does not require huge wings for flight and hunting. He can hurt himself by flying into items in your home, and you would no doubt have a miserable time cleaning up broken items.

As with any other pet, you are responsible for seeing that your parrot receives a well-balanced diet. Keep in mind when selecting food for your parrot that while seeds are an excellent source of protein and fats, they can soon make your parrot overweight, as he will not get enough exercise to work off such a fatty diet. Most pet stores sell pellets which provide an excellent amount of nutrition without the excess fat.

Before you look for a parrot for sale, be sure that you are aware of the parrot supplies that will be necessary for the maintenance of a bird. Some of the items you will find helpful in raising your bird are a parrot cage, food and water equipment, a spray bottle (with a mist setting), and even toys.

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Parrot Care Is The Key To Your Parrot’s Health And A Long Life Not To Mention A Good Relationship And Years Of Great Fun.

July 7th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

Having a parrot in the house is not all fun and games. It entails so much more than just teaching it to talk and feeding it regularly. Proper parrot care necessitates a great deal of patience, time and money.

You need to think hard about buying a parrot. Weigh it up as it does take a big commitment and a lot of dedication. Parrot can literally live as long as humans so if you really care for your parrot it will be truly rewarding. When you have decided to buy a baby parrot make sure you start with a reputable breeder.

Choose your parrot breeder well. Ask around, interview several and go to their aviaries to check out their parrots. The ones who really care will have happy, healthy parrots and you will see the level of relationship they have with their baby and adult parrots. It will be obvious and they will guide you in everything you need to know. This will help you avoid dodgy breeders.

The first thing you should verify about the parrot you buy is it’s proper age. Make sure you see the hatching year on the baby parrot’s leg band before making your purchase. Another thing to ask parrot breeders is if the parrot has been hand-fed or not. This can be determined if the bird readily takes food from you by perching on your hand or walking up your arm.

A hand fed parrot will be very different to one that isn’t. It will be much more friendly, social, well adjusted and naturally feed from your hand. A hand fed parrot will fetch higher prices because of the extra care and attention taken in raising them. An unscrupulous breeder might try to make a claim a parrot was hand fed when it wasn’t to make more money.

A reputable breeder loves parrots and will genuinely care for their baby parrots. You will find they will show you around, show you how they hand feed them and answer any of your questions so you can be best prepared.

Parrots are highly intelligent birds that will certainly attract the eye and become the focus of attention in any room. It is so important to know about parrot care as it can mean the difference between having a relationship that is fulfilling and having a problem child with the terrible twos to deal with.

When you first get your parrot you need to make sure that you are fully equipped with the knowledge to take them in as a member of your family and train them. This can be easier said than done.

It might be tempting to get your parrot home from the parrot breeder and put it straight into its cage and believe that your work is done… it isn’t. If you want to get the most out of your parrot and enjoy many happy years together you have to put some work in first. You need to know how to handle your parrot correctly. You need to know how to spot signs of boredom or irritability and do all you can to minimize stress and upset for your parrot. Otherwise you might end up with a parrot behaving very badly indeed.

With proper care, diet and exercise you can expect your bird to live 20 to 30 years or more. The best way to safe guard their health is to get to know your parrot’s habits when it is healthy. Any deviation from these patterns should be cause for concern. Symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, discharge from nose or eyes, or diarrhea are serious symptoms and your bird needs immediate professional attention from an avian veterinarian.

Early detection and treatment is the key to your bird’s longevity. Attention is essential to parrot care.

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Brittany Spaniel: A Sprightly and Good-Natured Breed of Dog

June 19th, 2009 -- Posted in Pets And Animals | No Comments »

Hailing from the region of Brittany, France, the Brittany Spaniel is a creature considered as an excellent gun dog and a very superb hunter. This French dog first appeared in the 1800s and gained recognition in 1938. The Brittany has been used and recognized as a working dog and until now, even though at most times it is adopted as a pet, its natural instinct to hunt is till strong inside of him.

This breed has an athletic, compact and solidly built body. This kind of body is never too heavy because it is still light enough to allow him carefree runabouts in the surroundings. Its head is well-rounded and its eyes are doors to an intelligent, active and curious mind.

Its legs are long and lean, perfect for perpetually running and chasing around the acreage of its surroundings. When it walks, it is always in a manner of flexible, long and free strides. As often seen, the Brittany Spaniel always has a short tail and this may sometimes come naturally or docked since Brittanies born with long tails undergo docking.

The two recognized varieties of the Brittany Spaniel are the French Brittany Spaniel and the American Brittany. The latter only accepts dogs with orange, white or liver markings while other combinations outside of these are considered disqualifications. The French variety, however, accepts all kinds of colors, even black.

The term spaniel for this breed has been the topic of many arguments because some experts say that this breed is actually of the pointer or setter type. However, the Brittany Spaniel looks like a spaniel although it does not flush out games just like any other spaniel breed would do. In the US, this breed is only called the American Brittany because the term spaniel has been fervently discouraged.

As a gun and hunting dog, the Brittany is very easy to train, obedient, sensitive and good-natured. It has a carefree and sprightly spirit and it loves to run free in the open. Because of its infinite energy, it is recommended to allow this dog to run with leash and without leash everyday.

If there are Brittanies that are obnoxious and incontrollable, they are proofof wrong trainings and mistreatments. Brittanies that are improperly and wrongly trained tends to become shy and scared of new people. However, if they are well-exposed and properly trained, they become sociable, sweet and obedient.

Just like any other breed, the Brittany strives to experience human companionship and love from the master always. If it is not given enough attention and love, it becomes a problem dog with destructive behaviors. Apartment or crammed-spaced dwelling does not fit this dog but rather a well-conditioned and wide spaced yard is best for it.

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