Bird Feeders - Bird Feeding Tips for the Newbie

By Terrance Wottson

Are you new to bird feeding? If so, then you may be happy with the fact that having bird feeders in your garden or close to your home will give you a source of natural music however conjointly a ornamental fixture that you just and neighbors can surely love. Needless to mention, the kind of bird feeder you choose will make a ton of birds happy. If you would like to grasp more regarding bird feeders and bird feeding, then read on

First of all, a bird feeder provides your garden or area with functionality and ornamental elements. Since feeders return in numerous styles, designs and materials, you can opt for one that is suitable to your home's general theme. To be closer to nature, though, you can opt for the natural-finished wood bird feeders. If you have got no plan how to form your own bird feeder, then it might be nice news to say that you can easily get one currently in the planning and size you prefer. You can select to by fro the usual pet search, home supply store or maybe from various specialty stores online. Shopping for online can also offer you with additional advantages as you're given additional selections and better costs without having to hop from shop to shop.

Here are some helpful bird feeding tips for newbies such as you:

1. Select your location carefully. You should not place your bird feeders on wide open spaces that are simply seen by bird predators. There ought to be one thing (a tree, a bush or maybe an out of doors ornament) that can enable them to fly to and from your feeder while taking cover from predators. You need to additionally select your location fastidiously therefore you'll be able to avoid places with high traffic or abundant noise and pollution.

2. Select prime quality bird seeds. If you want your bird feeder to figure by attracting the most doable range of birds, then you must choose your bird seeds carefully. For starters, you'll be able to continuously use whole sunflower kernels. Choosing top quality bird food can attract the well-liked song birds. Normally of the thumb, you should continuously choose the better forms or bird seed as birds tend to travel to a bird feeder that provides better meals. Therefore if you wish your bird feeders to serve their purpose by attracting a smart variety o birds, then create certain that you invest in sensible bird seed.

3. Build water always accessible on your bird feeders. Another reason for birds to come back to your bird feeder is when you have got sufficient supply of clean water. Also, it is necessary to use heated water (in the right temperature, please) during the winter season.

4. Practice patience. You can not your bird feeders to right away attract a throng of birds. Like in virtually everything, you need patience for this to happen. Relying on the world or the overall location, birds will visit your bird feeder in an exceedingly matter of days, weeks or maybe months once set up. You have to remember that birds conjointly would like familiarization with a brand new feeder as they are creatures of habit. - 30447

About the Author:

Terrance Wottson can be found enjoying online games at just about any hour of the day. If not enjoying the game, Terrance is reading up on the game, figuring out how to level up quickly. After feeling like he has mastered the game, Terrance has written about Mafia Wars codes. Read some free tips, strategy, guides, and Mafia Wars cheats.

Treating Parrot Feather Plucking

By Cornelius Lewis

Feather plucking is a behavioural problem, which once started is very difficult to stop. Not only is it distressing for the bird who looks like a plucked chicken, but it is also distressing for the proud owner who feels as if he has failed in some way and also the appearance of such a bird is not a pleasant sight.

Parrot Plucking

If your parrot has chest feathers missing then this is a sign that they are a plucker, and you need to take steps to prevent the problem getting worse. You need to do more to socialize with your bird, and move it to a busier part of the house. The best thing you can do is provide more toys for the parrot to play with and make sure it is well socialized.

Besides feather plucking you also need to be on the look out for other illnesses. If you think your bird is not well then you need to act right away. If you have brought home a hand reared parrot then it is quite rare for them to be ill, but you should keep an eye out just in case. You should check your bird's droppings every day and if they suddenly change, without there having been a change in the parrot's diet, then this is a sign that they are ill. The problem with parrots is that once they get sick they soon become a lot worse.

Finding a good avian vet is extremely difficult and before any problems loom on the horizon, it is worth checking out vets and establishing their track record in regard to parrots. Ensure you have available the appropriate pet carrier to take your bird if he requires any vetinary care. Intraveniously is the only way to treat a pet parrot. They are so aware of the slightest changes in their diet, i.e. the water tastes"funny" and he will not drink it or food which normally has the taste of fruit changes slightly. This can be offputting for a bird, particularly if his appetite is poor. Fortunately, with good management visits to the vet should be few and far between.

So there you have it in a nutshell. Making sure that your parrot does not turn to plucking means that you have to spend a lot of time with them, and make sure that they have plenty of distractions. Beyond that you must keep an eye on your bird's droppings for the first sign of illness. - 30447

About the Author:

For further details on parrot care please check http://hubpages.com/hub/Parrot-Care-How-to-Care-for-Parrots-in-the-Wild After you learn how to care for wild parrots you will better appreciate their domestic needs

Pet Insurance Advice - Get Peace of Mind For Your Pet's Health With A Pet Insurance Plan

By Josh LaForet

It's hard to imagine life without our pets. They're now such an integral part of our family that we have to watch out for them as much as possible. In addition to giving them healthy food, it's also important to take care of their general health and well being. That's why so many pet owners are securing insurance for pet owners. Like any insurance, there's a process involved in finding the right coverage for the right price. Read on to find out how to choose the best policy for you.

The first part of your research process should be checking the different pet insurance websites. You'll want to get an idea of what's available before you even start to get quotes. Looking at a few different options will help you to put together a list of the different features you would like included in an insurance policy.

Buying insurance for your pet is not so different than buying insurance for you and your family. That's why you'll want to start with getting a variety of insurance quotes to compare prices and coverage available. These quotes will take into account different factors such as the age and breed of your animal as well as what type of coverage you'll want. Just remember that the lowest quote isn't always the best one.

Of all the different insurance policies available, pet insurance is still relatively new on the market. The problem with this is that there are companies who are now seeing an opportunity in this market and are promising a lot. However, when you look at their experience, you see that they haven't even covered a single pet for the duration of its lifetime. This is something you'll want to avoid as much as possible.

One of the most essential parts of choosing pet insurance is reading the fine print. You never know what might be excluded from the coverage and it's your responsibility to find it out. In fact, it's always best to ask your potential insurance company what is excluded rather than what's included. This will help you from getting distracted by fancy offerings but neglecting important ones that could end up costing you thousands of dollars.

You'll save yourself a lot of frustration if you ask the different insurance companies what their claims process is like. When your pet is sick, the last thing you want to worry about is having to make hours worth of calls that lead nowhere. A streamlined claims process will have you getting a reimbursement in a timely fashion without loads of frustration. - 30447

About the Author:

To take the first step in finding the right pet insurance plan, I invite you to get a FREE, instant, no obligation quote today by visiting http://www.BestPetInsuranceQuote.info immediately to secure the best deal.

Some Questions to Ask Your Parrot Breeder Before Buying

By Dante Reid

The following are some simple guidelines that are going to make it a whole lot easier for you to go about choosing your pet parrot. Basically you just need to take the time to ask the breeder the right questions. A good breeder is going to want to make sure that you are a careful owner so the breeder is going to be really happy that you are taking the time to ask these questions.

When were these birds hatched? You want a baby bird who is old enough to leave the nest. If he's not old enough a good breeder will tell you this. He'll also tell you when you can return to adopt your friend.

Closed aviaries help in the prevention of diseases so you should ask whether your breeder kept your parrot in one. There is nothing worse than paying a lot of money for a sick parrot and bringing it home to die.

Ask whether the bird has been tested for any diseases, and if it has ask to see the documentation from the lab at which the tests were undertaken. It is common for disease checks to be undertaken at the same time as sexing, so if your parrot has been sexed then it is quite likely that this disease check has been undertaken and a certificate will be available.

Has the parrot's sex been determined? The sex matters little when it comes to the quality of your companion pet. Both a male and a female make wonderful companions. But, to many individuals the sex of the bird really does matter. This is especially true if you're taking the bird home to be with other parrots.

Make sure that you ask what your parrot has been eating and continue this diet once you bring it home. It is very important that you don't cause a baby parrot undue stress by bringing it home and making sudden changes in its diet.

Can I view the baby's parents? You'll probably discover that, indeed, the baby's parents are on the premises and you can view them. But the odds are very unlikely you'll be able to hold them. Many breeding parrots are not raised as pets and the parents of this bird may not be tame. In the parents, if they look generally healthy, then they probably are. And healthy parents most often produce health babies.

Finally, you should ask whether the baby has been hand fed or parent raised. Even if the bird has not been hand fed, don't worry as long as it has been socialized. - 30447

About the Author:

If you are into sexing parrots then visit http://ezinearticles.com/?Sexing-Parrots---How-to-Tell-If-Your-Parrot-is-Male-Or-Female&id=2257223

Chicken Coop Building- The Must Have Guidelines

By Fred Baker

One thing you have to understand when getting your chicken coop building program started, is you need to stick with the guidelines.

The first thing requires you to survey the area. The chickens need to have a sense of security, feel comfortable where they sleep and lay eggs, as well as finding an area that is clean.

If you want a successfully built chicken coop, follow these guidelines below:

Planning and Designing. Since you already know how many chickens you have or plan to have, this will determine the overall size.

Think Ahead. Always keep in mind that there is something else to be done. There are 2 areas you should specifically think about: *Realize that 4 heard of chicken per feeder is the golden rule. *Save time by building the nest boxes at the same time you do your chicken coop building

The Positioning. When you are looking at the positioning, the biggest thing to worry about is the sunlight. Your chickens need a good amount, but without the coop being directly in it. Plus you have to think about predators who may try to get in and take advantage of your chickens.

Save Yourself Some Money. If you're on a budget or just want to save some cash, we highly recommend looking in second hand shops. You will be surprised at all the deals you can find for your chicken coop building plans.

Then of course you can think even farther ahead and make room for future additions. After a couple years you might see that it's getting too small for all the the chickens you have accumulated. If you take this route you'll already have the materials at a discounted price.

Just Have Some Fun. In the end it starts getting fun when you actually get to start working on it's creation. The chicken coop building process can be easy or difficult. It all depends on you and what course of action you take. For instance; you don't want to forget the little things like notes, the plans, measuring tape, sander, power saw, work bench, face mask, gloves, and anything else you need. All you have to do is follow the guidelines we've given you today and you'll have fun creating your chicken coop building.

So good luck. Just stick to these chicken coop building guidelines and you'll be fine. - 30447

About the Author:

Want to find out more about Building Chicken Coops, then visit Fred Baker's blog. Best tips on How To Build a Chicken Coop topic.

Portable Chicken Coop

By Kor Rassad

It is easy to construct a small chicken coop that is portable so that you can move it around in your yard. Look for plans for chicken coops online and you will find a multitude of options to choose from.

A major benefit of having a portable chicken coop is that when you move it around in your yard, you are fertilizing your yard, along with offering your chickens a feast of bugs, weeds and other insects.

Mobile chicken coops provide easy access when you want to collect eggs and you can also place them where you can watch over them to keep them safe from predators. They will have access to fresh air and you can also put the coop under a tree in the shade on hot summer days.

These coops are great for children because they can feed the chickens with ease and also look for their eggs. Simply build an average sized coop and house a small number of chickens when you begin to raise them. They are inexpensive and are typically small or medium in size.

As chickens are so prone to falling prey to predators such as rodents, foxes and other domestic animals, the coop you build must be strong enough to withstand them. You can also put wire fencing around, even on the bottom, to keep these predators from digging their way through the ground and reaching your chicken. Secure the coop with to make sure the chicken stay inside at night.

Chicken enjoy being able to freely roam around a large area and setting them free in your yard will be a good idea. This way, they will be able to find worms, weeds and more insects to consume. However, clip off their flight feathers to ensure that they don't fly away and make certain that you have a wire mesh guarding your entire backyard to stop them from escaping and also to keep predators from getting to them.

Before you start making a chicken coop, you must be aware of the local rules and regulations for housing chickens in your yard. The portable coop must abide by the regular requirements such as constructing with proper dimensions in accordance with the quantity of chickens you intend to have. It is always a good idea to have a look at chicken coops plans and designs beforehand so that you have a proper idea of what is needed. - 30447

About the Author:

If you enjoyed reading this article, and for more great information on the chicken coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

The Incredible Chicken Coop Plan

By Kor Rassad

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. - 30447

About the Author:

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

Pet Birds And Their Benefits

By Brenda Briggs

When you put down your little backyard ecosystem with flowering bushes, a tree and a patch of grass, you might have hoped for a better class of animal visitor than moles and the odd rabbit. But we just need to look heavenward and there is an astounding variety of birds that flit in and out, hoping to be seen only by people who want to, badly enough. The Discovery Channel keeps zooming in on little birds and animals and using human emotions to describe all that they get up to. Is it possible for the casual animal lover to see all these emotions on display in the antics of our backyard birds?

Bird courtship is about the most rewarding area to deal in for the watcher of backyard birds. Mating season for birds is the colorful in the year, a time when birds sing and dance around each other hoping to find the best possible mate. Even the common species you find around your backyard, woodpeckers, orioles, buntings, cardinals and others have fascinating mating behavior. Even people unfamiliar with birds tend to recognize the woodpecker's courtship ritual, noisy as they are: they drum out a beat around lose roof tiles, rain gutters and such in a really noisy way. Among the cardinals, the ritual happens around how the male brings tasty morsels to feed the coquette he fancies. The gravity-defying hummingbird weaves wonderfully complex patterns flying around the female. In their varied individual ways, these birds do their very best to win a smile of approval from the ladies they set their cap on.

Once partnerships have been established and an egg is on its way the hectic activity begins of birds staking out territory and building individual nests. Some birds, the nighthawk for example, do not even bother to build nests; they will just hop on to your roof, find a non-sloping surface, and set their cargo down right there. But the birds that build cute little nests are much more fun. The hummingbird has that well-known cocoon-like creation made out of straw and mud; sparrows and pigeons have untidy-looking little nests of sticks, and odds and ends; they make up for their humbleness with endless sentimental family play though. Some birds have taken to the 21st-century, and scavenge for modern household waste to carry over to their construction sites. Discarded napkins, rubber bands, shredded paper, the odd piece of shiny tinsel and jewelry, have all been found in nests built on the roofs and trees around homes by backyard birds. Of course it would be no use building a home if a bird were not willing to defend it. Birds can often be remarkably territorial; some birds, the robin for example, have trouble standing the sight of any other robin in the entire plot of land. But they can be very welcoming of their friends, once the nesting season is over with. Sparrows happen to be much less ambitious, and don't mind other sparrows building in the vicinity. You should try to see birds of every feather sing and dance around their domicile, to advertise that no one is to have ideas about their area.

After this, begins the actual hatching process and all the wonderful family drama that ensues. The parents anxiously keep guard all the time; if you want to lean in for a closer look, make sure you don't touch anything. Parent birds are known to often inexplicably abandon their hatchlings if humans disturb them. Feeding the hatchlings of your backyard birds might seem quite adorable: but that really is a strict no-no. Sometimes a parent birds seems to keep their fledglings half-starved; but that is only to make sure that they work up the motivation to go out and forage for themselves.

An important part of gazing at our backyard birds is to know where to draw the line with your passion. Just the thought of knowing that your home gives shelter to a few little flying angels can be precious; as long as you leave well alone, there is no reason why the whole family cannot participate. - 30447

About the Author:

I enjoy writing about pets and christian books on my free audio books online website daily.

Five Crucial Elements of Building a Chicken Coop

By Kor Rassad

When constructing a chicken coop, you should follow these guidelines:

Appearance and Design:

Your first step should be to put your design on paper. Plan out all the details, including the colors for the roof and walls and the materials you wish to use. The design should be aesthetically appealing, always be considerate that if your neighbors can see the coop, it should not be a defacement or distraction to its surroundings. Once it is finished, try to remove any garbage or weeds that may grow around it. You could also maintain a pleasant landscape around the coop in order to enhance the overall appearance.

Use Sound Judgment:

Using sound judgment is essential when you are planning out your chicken coop. For example, the building materials you use must be easy to clean and disinfect. All doors must open inwards, and it is preferable if all the windows are sliding ones so that the chickens don't roost on them. A tip to avoid puddles when you hose down the chicken coop is to make the floor slightly sloping. In doing so, the water will flow out and will not collect in puddles.

Protection:

A well-constructed coop will shield your chickens from elements like bad weather as well as hungry predators. Make a draft-free coop with doors and windows which can be closed and opened when needed. These windows and doors should have wire mesh screens. The coop can also be elevated from the ground. Also, the chicken wire that goes around the run should be buried at least a foot deep to keep away predator that might dig their way through.

Light Source:

Our chickens will need a healthy source of warmth and light on cold days and a proper ventilation during the warmer months. If the coop faces the couth side, it will get direct sunlight all day. However, if your aim is to produce eggs all year, then you could consider electrical lighting inside the coop.

Placement of Water and Feeders:

Your chicken must be able to access the feeders and water easily. However, be careful of their placement as chickens make a mess out of everything because of their scratching habits. To avoid this, put the feeders at the same height as the chickens back so that their feet can't reach them. Follow the same rule with the water, and be sure to keep them filled throughout the day. - 30447

About the Author:

To Learn more about mychicken coop, please visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

Tips for Chicken Coop Construction

By Kor Rassad

Having a chicken coop in your backyard may be a profitable idea, but there are a few guidelines you must follow to be successful with this venture. If you don't, it is most likely that your chickens will not lay eggs and you will become frustrated. Here are the factors you must be aware of.

Positioning the Coop

This is the first thing you should take into account before you begin construction. You want to position the chicken coop in a spacious area, where the chicken are exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight and fresh breeze they can get. If they are unable to get this, they will not be happy with the coop and will therefore not lay as many eggs. Of course, there are many areas which do not have as much sunlight as others, so a better option in that situation will be to install electric bulbs in the coop. The basic idea is to ensure that the chickens do not remain in darkness for the larger part of the day.

Coop Dimensions

Another important aspect is the size of the coop. Chickens are extremely picky when it comes to comfort and if they are not happy with the coop size, they will surely make it obvious. Furthermore, if you don't take into consideration the size of the chicken coop in relation with how many chickens you want to have, you may end up with a too large or even too small space, and both of these will cause problems.

If you intend to have a portable coop, keeping it small will be a better idea. However, if you want a large coop, then it is advisable to search for plans online which have a run included in them so that your chickens can get some exercise as well as fresh air.

Climate and Flooring Choice

The third thing you must look into is choosing between the options of flooring for the coop. You can have dried grass, sand or sawdust. Your choice mainly depends on your local climate, for example, sawdust does not do well in rainy climates. Here, a better choice would be sand, as this will drain water efficiently.

Once you have all this factors sorted out, you are ready to go ahead with the construction. There is a multitude of plans available online for you to choose from. Once you have selected what you want, be sure to use quality materials. - 30447

About the Author:

For more great tips and advice on Chicken Coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

Chicken Coop Plans - Elements for Success

By Kor Rassad

There is much more to selecting a chicken coop plan than just the aesthetics of the designs. It is essential that the design fits into that of your backyard, but there are other factors that you must take into account while choosing plans.

You chickens need a particular amount of space to be happy and healthy. Each chicken should have at least four square feet of space all to itself, as overcrowding often results in feather picking as their quality of life is reduced, and is even known to cause cannibalism.

Light is another important factor in chicken coop plans. Light is needed to stimulate the laying of eggs in the coop, and is important if you want your chickens to lay eggs throughout the year. Electric or tungsten bulbs should be placed inside the coop to provide light. These even serve as a source of warmth on colder days.

Chickens possess a natural instinct to perch, hence it is necessary that you give perches so that they don't perch on the feeders or nesting boxes as this leads to these areas being covered in chicken droppings, which you don't want. Eight inches per chicken is enough.

As strange as it may sound, chickens sweat. Chickens can live in cold conditions but not in moist ones so it is essential to their health that you add vents to your design. They can be in the shape of small windows or vents in the walls, but it shouldnt be windy inside the coop. you can make this possible by ensuring that the side which has the vents doesn't face the wind. By doing this, you will allow fresh air and oxygen to enter the chicken coop while letting the moisture and stale air escape.

You will also need nesting boxes if you want your chickens to lay eggs. Six chickens can share one nest, but these must be dark. Make sure that they are four inches deep and fill them with wood shavings or straw.

Your chickens must be safe from predators such as hawks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and rats. Ensure that the structure is strong and that it is impossible to be knocked over by a person. Add wire fencing around the coop, up to one foot deep underground so that rodents and foxes cannot dig through.

Remember that these predators can be quite cunning so be certain that your coop is safe from them. - 30447

About the Author:

Enjoyed reading this article on Chicken Coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com for more great tips.

What is a Chicken Ark?

By Kor Rassad

A chicken ark is a particular kind of housing for chickens that is a bit different from a regular chicken coop. In the United States, this kind of housing is often referred to as a chicken tractor instead, but the building is the same thing. It's just the name that's different. Essentially, it is a portable chicken coop without a floor. This makes some things, like cleaning, much easier, because most chicken droppings will simply fall directly to the dirt.

The most common design for a chicken ark is an A-frame, which is kind of the same structure as a saw-horse. For this kind of ark, you attach two end-pieces with a long horizontal beam at the top. The end-pieces consist of two beams put together with roughly a 45 degree angle (or greater). These vertical beams are then connected to each other with a cross-piece, forming roughly the same shape as a capital A, hence the name A-frame.

Once you have the frame constructed, you can attach walls, chicken or similar wire, and nest boxes and a roost within the frame itself. Since there is no floor, and not a whole lot of heavy wood attached to the chicken ark, this type of house for your birds is usually more easy to move around your garden. You can attach wheels to it to make the process even easier. This type of design is not perfect, though, because the lack of floor makes it a bad choice for cold environments. If you live somewhere that gets extremely cold, you may wish to consider using a different kind of portable chicken coop instead, or your birds will get sick from the temperature.

A different design looks more like a wheel-barrow or hand-cart, with a more traditional coop on the end in place of the cart. This design is still very portable, and still has a wire walls at the bottom with no real floor on the coop part of the ark, but provides a little bit more protection from the heat. They are also heavier, though.

Another problem with using a chicken ark instead of a traditional coop to house your poultry is that they are not very predator-proof. Since the construction of the bottom part consists largely of wire mesh, your birds will not feel very safe if there are animals prowling about which want to eat them. The lack of a floor means that if any predators manage to get in through that wire, your chickens will be in dire straits indeed. Make sure you don't have large numbers"or ideally any"natural predators of chickens if you construct an ark.

However, if predators and temperature are not big problems where you live, then a chicken ark may be the ideal solution if you plan on raising chickens. They are very easy to clean, and most designs come with detachable walls to make this even easier. They can also help to let your chickens range the yard without walking completely free, which while nice is not always an option. For instance, if you live in a suburban area but have a very large garden, this kind of housing is probably a much better bet than a larger coop and just letting your birds walk free, where they will probably get into your neighbours' gardens as well. - 30447

About the Author:

Kor Rassad is a chicken coop enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on chicken coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

Chicken Coop Designs

By Kor Rassad

If you've taken an interest in chicken-raising, either as a hobby or a way to acquire eggs and chicken meat without having to buy them from the grocery store, how to house your new birds will be one of the first things you want to tackle. The standard for housing poultry is to build them a comfortable chicken coop to live in. Of course, how you construct it will vary depending on your specific scenario, how many chickens you plan on keeping, what kind of area you live in, and so forth.

Regardless, though, there are some aspects of chicken coop designs that are identical no matter the circumstances.

* Make sure your birds have enough living space. Inside the coop, you'll want to give them at least 4 square feet each in total area. This means if you have 5 chickens, you need to have at least 20 square feet for them to live comfortably in the coop.

* Make sure you leave room in the plan to attach a chicken run outside the coop itself. Chickens need 10 square feet each to walk around in, otherwise they will feel cramped.

Other than these space concerns, much of what you look for in your chicken coop designs is up to you. You can design the exterior of the coop to look like anything you want, from a victorian house or a greek temple to a functional and minimalist wooden box. One thing you should make sure to keep in mind, though, is that your coop will need to be big enough for you to get inside for cleaning purposes. If you can't get into it, your job of keeping your chickens healthy and happy will be that much more difficult.

A few other things you want to include, regardless of your chicken coop designs are adequate ventilation and predator protection. There are many animals which prey on poultry, from foxes and hawks to wolves, wild dogs, and even wild cats. With all this to worry about, your birds will feel much safer"and thus, will be much more productive and healthy"if you ensure that their home is solid and hard for wild animals to get into. Use solid wooden walls instead of a wire frame mesh. Of course, you shouldn't use wood to frame your chicken run; for that job, wire frame mesh is just fine.

Ventilation is important because chickens do not like extremes in temperature regardless of whether it's too hot or too cold. They prefer cool weather, but if it's too cold they will get just as unhappy as if it's too hot. Make sure you include some windows when planning out your chicken coop designs to account for this preference of your birds. A window towards the top is a good idea, because the hot, stale air will go out of it naturally, and you won't have to worry about installing some kind of mechanical system to circulate air.

Other ideas include adding nesting boxes for your hens to lay eggs in, roosts for them to sleep on, and easy-to-clean bedding boxes for the chicken droppings to fall into. Roosts are especially important, because chickens do not like sleeping on the ground. Regardless of how you make your chicken coop designs, just make sure your chickens have enough room and stay comfortable. They'll thank you for it. - 30447

About the Author:

If you enjoyed reading my article on chicken coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com for more great info.

What is a Chicken Ark?

By Kor Rassad

A chicken ark is a particular kind of housing for chickens that is a bit different from a regular chicken coop. In the United States, this kind of housing is often referred to as a chicken tractor instead, but the building is the same thing. It's just the name that's different. Essentially, it is a portable chicken coop without a floor. This makes some things, like cleaning, much easier, because most chicken droppings will simply fall directly to the dirt.

The most common design for a chicken ark is an A-frame, which is kind of the same structure as a saw-horse. For this kind of ark, you attach two end-pieces with a long horizontal beam at the top. The end-pieces consist of two beams put together with roughly a 45 degree angle (or greater). These vertical beams are then connected to each other with a cross-piece, forming roughly the same shape as a capital A, hence the name A-frame.

Once you have the frame constructed, you can attach walls, chicken or similar wire, and nest boxes and a roost within the frame itself. Since there is no floor, and not a whole lot of heavy wood attached to the chicken ark, this type of house for your birds is usually more easy to move around your garden. You can attach wheels to it to make the process even easier. This type of design is not perfect, though, because the lack of floor makes it a bad choice for cold environments. If you live somewhere that gets extremely cold, you may wish to consider using a different kind of portable chicken coop instead, or your birds will get sick from the temperature.

A different design looks more like a wheel-barrow or hand-cart, with a more traditional coop on the end in place of the cart. This design is still very portable, and still has a wire walls at the bottom with no real floor on the coop part of the ark, but provides a little bit more protection from the heat. They are also heavier, though.

Another problem with using a chicken ark instead of a traditional coop to house your poultry is that they are not very predator-proof. Since the construction of the bottom part consists largely of wire mesh, your birds will not feel very safe if there are animals prowling about which want to eat them. The lack of a floor means that if any predators manage to get in through that wire, your chickens will be in dire straits indeed. Make sure you don't have large numbers"or ideally any"natural predators of chickens if you construct an ark.

However, if predators and temperature are not big problems where you live, then a chicken ark may be the ideal solution if you plan on raising chickens. They are very easy to clean, and most designs come with detachable walls to make this even easier. They can also help to let your chickens range the yard without walking completely free, which while nice is not always an option. For instance, if you live in a suburban area but have a very large garden, this kind of housing is probably a much better bet than a larger coop and just letting your birds walk free, where they will probably get into your neighbours' gardens as well. - 30447

About the Author:

Kor Rassad is a chicken coop enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on chicken coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

Small Chicken Coop Secrets

By Kor Rassad

A Better Small Chicken Coop

Today, an progressive number of individuals are getting interested in constructing chicken coops, and with different plans and designs for DIY coops becoming accessible in the marketplace, you can pick out special characteristics and produce a hencoop that is custom made for your own individual demands. For newbies, however, it is incessantly a better idea to create a small chicken coop first and then advance to a greater one with more chickens after they have gathered some experience. Here are a few reasons why making a small chicken coop is better than a large one.

Lower Constructing Material Prices

Everyone wishes to generate the most out of the smallest sum of investment. The basic grounds why you must prefer a small coop over a large one is the lower cost of material required to fabricate the coop. Moreover, maintenance will likewise cost much less for a small coop and you will before long realize that smaller coops will save you rather a lot of money initially. Also, a smaller coop will be ready in lesser time and it will also need less effort, so you may want to consider keeping a small coop instead of a large one.

Upkeep

Maintenance is also much easier for a small chicken coop. You will be able to clean the coop on a regular basis and quickly with ease, and this is definitely a better choice for you if you want to maintain the chicken coop as a side project and not a full-time one. If the coop is small, it will take less time to clean, and you will have more time to spend on different activities or work.

Portability

Lastly, smaller chicken coops give an advantage over large ones in terms of mobility. If you move a lot, it will be a much lesser hassle to have a small coop. Another advantage of a small coop is that you can move it around in your backyard so that the grass doesn't become dry. The chickens will also love searching for weeds and bugs and different insects in the land. Also, you can move the coop to position it in sunshine or even in the shade of a tree, leaving you constant options for emplacement.

An progressive number of individuals are selecting small coops over large ones so study your essentials and find out the most suited alternative for your demands. Think Of, the security and comfort of your chickens is of utmost importance, and whatever plan you prefer must fulfill their needs for comfort as much as yours. - 30447

About the Author:

If you enjoyed reading my article on chicken coop, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com for more great info.

A Kookaburra with a Message

By Damian Papworth

The day started like any other, up at 6am and straight to the computer and work. 7am arrives finally, the caf is open. I dress my daughter quickly and head off for my coffee. Today was a bit different to most though, as I pulled up sharply once I got to the front gate. There, a mere two feet from us was a magnificent Australian kookaburra.

I could not believe it let us get so close without flying away. These wild birds are not used to humans. Getting so close to one is so unusual the memory will stick for a long time. I slowly went back into my home, got my wife so she could enjoy this calm presence too. So the four of us stood there for nigh on 5 minutes, enjoying each other's company with wonder, before our friend finally flew away.

Having had my coffee now though and reflecting on the experience, I realize I blundered my way to the gate, to within two feet of this bird without even knowing it was there. I know the kookaburra was aware of me, was I really that caught up in my own little world though that I did not see this creature till we were almost butting heads? Did I really need to get close enough that we were eyeballing each other before I even noticed he was there?

One more step and surely I would have sent the kookaburra to flight. I would have missed this wonderful start to the day; it would simply have been sacrificed to inattention. What a terrible loss as these magical moments with nature are so rare. It was really a little bit of a wakeup call. Slow down and smell the roses. There is so much happening right now, yet we are all rushing to tomorrow, eyes so focused on the future we forget to enjoy the present.

From my home on Australia's Gold Coast, my young family of three are blessed with the song (or laughter) of kookaburras quite regularly. Never have I experienced one in such a personal way as I did today. I know from today too that the kookaburra's song will have a special meaning for me; there will be a message in every verse. "Slow down Damian" it will sing. "Enjoy what is in front of you right now". A message perhaps we all can benefit from. - 30447

About the Author:

Damian Papworth is a committed father. He recently went looking for baby high chairs. He found the Fisher Price high chair products were very impressive.

Things To Remember When Designing a Bedroom

By Dirk Williams

As we begin our discussion about room design, we should probably determine the difference between designing a space and decorating one. I will be talking about interior design, not differing decor tastes. Interior design really refers more to the functionality and physicality of the room. Decorating is what is done after the major design is laid out. In addition, it is based more on individual preferences. I would like to present you with a list of what I consider to be the most important and basic components of designing a room.

1. Probably the most important piece of our design puzzle is that the room must be proportionate to those who will use it. This is not nearly as complicated as it sounds. It just means that all the parts should match in size relative to each other. Say you are designing a room for a toddler. A king size bed in his room that measures 10 by 12 would be the definition of disproportionate. That bed does not fit in that room or with that person. It is not a matter of taste it is just true.

2. Always remember to let that sun shine in! Nothing compares to natural lighting. It makes any room come to life. When making sure that your room lets in enough sunlight, keep in mind this is one time that there is no such thing as too much!

3. Lets stop here for a little breather. Take a deep breath. Now let it out slowly. Okay, now that was not just a recess. It is our next big piece. We need air. Design your room with that in mind. Give ample space for airflow. It makes the room cooler and more crisp and fresh. If you obeyed guideline two, then your ample light-providing windows can also get that air moving. If you were unable or unwilling to have many windows installed, then do not forget that there are other options for creating airflow. Fans placed strategically can increase the flow. In addition, there are some great rooftop ventilation systems available.

4. Everyone needs their space. Design must reflect that need. You should be able to move about freely in your room. We have many doors in bedrooms. Just the entrance and a closet are basic. If you have a suite with a bathroom attached or have an outside door, it becomes more challenging to design a room that allows free movement. Just remember that a challenge does not mean it is impossible. Working within limits, can still provide enough space with some smart planning.

5. Although I did mention earlier that interior design was different than decorating, there are some points where the two can intersect. You need to remember that there are certain things that should be included or at least left room for in your design plan. This is definitely one place where you can express a bit more creativity. Simple things like light fixtures and window dressings can be included. They can add to the design and the decor at the same time.

I hope that this list gets you excited at the prospect of designing a bedroom. This is only a short overview of some of the important basics of interior design. There are many resources out there if you would like to delve further into this topic. If nothing else, I know that the next time you are visiting someones house, you will be looking to see if they read this article, too. If not, you may want to show them. - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

Great Places to Search for Furniture on a Budget

By Dirk Williams

There are plenty of people at one time or another that find themselves having to live on a tight budget and you will often find people who are first time homeowners that fall into that category as well as people who might be going through career or lifestyle changes.

Believe it or not, it is actually very easy to come by furniture that does not look like what I call early marriage, you know the hand-me-downs and the garage sale items or the culmination of what you had or your spouse had before you got married, the stuff that really clashes. It is very simple to find furniture that does not cost a fortune and can add a more coordinated, mature look to your home.

As a single parent at one time, I had a very tight budget and post divorce, you do not necessarily want to keep furniture items that remind you of the union of marriage that has now been dissolved, so I had to find ways to make my very tight budget stretch in order to get some new furniture when I moved.

I do not want to mislead you into thinking that these ideas will instantly lead you to the perfect piece of furniture you are looking for because chances are, it wont. In fact, you will probably have to do a lot of searching to find everything you want and are looking for, but its not too hard to have a good time doing this because the trips you take to look for furniture can be quite interesting and comical as well.

One of the best places to look is at garage sales. Depending on the time of year when you are shopping, you can find some great deals on some very well taken care of furniture that people just have either no room for or just do not want anymore. The last couch I found at a garage sale was well maintained and had no flaws or stains and it was very close to what I was looking for and I was able to pick it up for $25.00. Now, seriously, how can you beat $25 for a very well maintained couch? I have not been able to find that great of a deal since, I have found some great deals, but none as great as that.

Flea Markets are another good choice because there are tons of communities that have a flea market on the weekend and vendors who are looking to make you a deal to get rid of their stock are usually bountiful at a Flea Market. Just because their furniture might be cheap does not mean it is cheaply made, remember, these vendors do not have the overhead that the owners of a furniture store do and this is why they can cut you a great price break.

Thrift stores, consignment shops, scratched and dented rooms in the bigger furniture places are all great places to look for your next piece of furniture on a tight budget. Keep these tips in mind when you are looking and also, keep in mind that you might want to discuss this with family members, they might have a great piece of furniture to add to your home that they are willing to part with or have no use for. - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

Best Practices for Making Floors Look Great

By Dirk Williams

Beautiful carpet is something that can be enjoyed for many years and there is a lot to be said for the plush fibers that allow many days and nights of resting on the floor or rolling around with your kids having a great time.

Over time though, those carpet fibers wear down and your once beautiful carpet can lose its plush feel and also the clean appearance it once had. In high traffic areas such as entry ways and exits or rooms that are used frequently such as the living area or family room can see the most of this wear and can start to look rather drab. There are also home owners who have nothing but hardwood flooring and even those hardwood floors are prone to high traffic breakdown.

One of the best ways to solve a high traffic floor problem and to be able to maintain the beautiful appearance of your floors is to purchase a few area rugs for these high traffic areas. Sometimes, we also view the floor as a decorative piece and an area rug can add an excellent accent piece to the ambiance of any room.

Selecting a rug is not just as simple as going into a store and seeing a rug that is not hideous and buy it. There are several things you should consider when you are looking to purchase an area rug and the following are some of the more popular examples of the type of rugs that you should consider when looking to purchase an area rug or two.

Depending on the room you are planning on placing the rug in and your budget, this can be a fairly easy choice as long as you take your time and look at all of the different styles that are available to you. One style would be a faded oriental rug that you can purchase at an almost any furniture store because they usually use these rugs as part of their displays as well, and there is typically nothing in a furniture store that is not for sale. If you state that you are interested in a rug, most places will sell it to you. The faded type of Oriental rug will add class to just about any room, but make sure it does not class with the room decor, for example if you have an English country room, you would not want to put an oriental rug in there because it does not stick with the theme of the room.

Another good rug would be one that has a floral design that is hooked for a more Victorian type of room or a more antique room, maybe even an old-world style of room. There are so many different floral designs to choose from and it would be difficult to not be able to at least find one that will go with just about any decor that is in this style.

Another good place for this type of rug would be in a breakfast nook or on most dining room tiles or hardwood floors. Typically, these rooms have a bland color on the floor and adding a floral area rug will give the room a very welcoming feel. - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

Tips on Choosing the Right Oriental Area Rug

By Dirk Anderson

The beauty of having an oriental area rug is having it be the centerpiece of a room so that it can add style and comfort to a room where you spend a good majority of your time at home in. There are several quality oriental area rugs that you can find that are affordable as well as make a great heirloom to pass on to your future generations. In the quest of searching for the perfect area rug, there are definitely some things you need to keep in mind and this article is going to focus on some of the more important aspects of shopping for the right oriental area rug.

One of the first things you are going to want to focus on in your search is to pay attention to the material that the rug is made with. There are generally two types of material used for making oriental rugs, one is a made from synthetic material and the other is made from natural material. The thing you need to keep in mind most when choosing the rug and the material it is made with is to make sure that where you intend to put the rug plays a big factor on which type of rug is going to be best. If you are buying the oriental area rug for a high traffic area, you are going to want to spend a little more and invest in the ones made with natural fibers because they are more equipped to handle the high traffic.

The next thing you want to look at is the KPSI factor. KPSI stands for knots per square inch and the higher the knots, the better quality of rug you are looking at. Additionally, there are a lot of people who own oriental rugs that are always on the look-out for new rugs and these people are very well versed in what it takes to search for that perfect rug and they also will tell you that having a handmade rug versus a machine made rug is the best kind to find. It is easy to tell whether or not you are looking at a handmade rug because you will find tiny flaws in the overall character of the rug, whereas a machine is programmed to design the rug with zero flaws.

Of course this is all subject to you and your preference and personal style. There are some people that would rather have a rug that has no flaws in it, regardless of how small the flaw might be.

Lastly, you want to make sure that the oriental area rug you choose is authentic. Once again, another step that is easy because each authentic rug will come with a certificate of authenticity that will contain details on it such as the size, the origin of the rug, how old it is, the materials it is made with and the KPSI. It is important to also keep that certificate for insurance purposes because an investment like this is not going to be cheap and should something happen to your rug, you will want to have the peace of mind that it can be replaced. - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

Making Your Own Hand Crafted Braided Rug

By Dirk Williams

Rugs have been used for many centuries to accent a room or provide a place for a pet to call home, or even to relieve the stress that furniture can put on carpet or bare flooring. Making your own rug is not only rewarding because it is something you make with your own hands, but it is rewarding because it can dress up just about any room and also, provided you follow instructions and your craftsmanship is impeccable, can be passed down to other generations as well as making a great gift.

The first thing you will need to do is take a trip to the fabric store to choose the colors of fabric and style that you want. You will need to choose a very sturdy fabric because remember, this is an area rug or a rug that might have a lot of traffic on it and you do not want it to fall apart in a year. Fabrics that are made of strong material such as denim or very strong cotton are both good choices. Keep the decor of the room in mind too. You do not want to make a purple and pink rug for a room that has primarily neutral colors in it so stick with the color of the room, but you can be creative in design.

The next thing you will want to do is make sure that you purchase enough material to create the size of rug you want. Most braided rugs are typically either 2x3 Ft. or 3x5 ft. and you can shape them either oval or round depending on your needs. Obviously, there are rugs that are quite a bit larger than this, but for making your first rug, I recommend choosing one just this size to start out with so that you can get a feel for what it will take to create a braided area rug much larger. So with that said, you will need to purchase enough material to cut strips of fabric at least twice that amount because you will be braiding and coiling this rug, it is better to have too much than not enough.

When you have your material ready to go, you will want to cut 3 strips of each fabric into long strips that are approximately 3 inches wide. If you are going for the alternating color look, then make sure that you have the colors in a row the way you want them to appear in the coil. For example, if you are doing a red, white and blue rug, it is best to put the stripes in a red, white and blue order instead of red, blue and white. You will achieve a more flow-like look by doing this.

Next, you will want to sew the ends of each strand together at one end and you can refer to that end as the top of your braid and then once you have sewn them together, you can start braiding until you reach the end. Once you reach the end, you will want to sew that end together to complete the braid.

The final step is going to be coiling and sewing the coil to finish the area rug. You will coil the braid just like a snake would coil and make sure that you start from one end of the braid and place the color you want visible in the center of the rug up.

You will need to hand stitch the inside of the coil with nylon thread because this will be the strongest holding thread. Each time you coil the braid around to the spot where you made your first hand stitch, you will want to make another hand stitch in the same spot for each coil around.

When you reach the end of your coil, you will tuck in the ends between the folds of the previous coils and sew that down firmly. Now you are ready to check the rug for any frays or loose threads and trim them off or sew them down.

You project is complete and you now have a new accent piece to place in any room you choose! - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

How To Bring Fashion in Home Decor

By Dirk Williams

Over the years I have become keenly aware at how a persons individual style for fashion does not always spill over into the way they decorate their homes. I have met several people in my lifetime that I like to refer to as Fashionistas who have a great style for fashion and are always up "to-date on the latest trends and they usually have to have an excellent job or career to go along with those fashionable tastes. With that said, those same people have invited me over for a dinner or just to visit and I walk into their homes and I am completely shocked at the lack of attention they give their decor or the out-dated way they have decided to decorate.

I am the last person who will judge a person based by what they wear or what their home looks like, so I do not want you to misunderstand what I am saying when I make that previous statement. It just comes as a shock when you see someone who is so into fashion neglect the fashion of their own home. There are also others who think they have a flair for home decor but really do not have the first clue as to some of the dos and do nots of home decor.

This article will focus on some of the fashion rules that you should follow when choosing the style your home is going to present to the people who live there and to your guests. I would have to say that first rule of home fashion is to make sure that you purchase at least one piece of furniture that is going to stand the test of time, such as your dining room table, an oriental rug or area rug or something antique like and armoire. Area rugs specifically will add just the right touch to any room without overwhelming the room with a cluttered feel and an area rug is also a great accent for any room that has a high traffic area to be able to protect the flooring underneath.

Instead of keeping every room in a neutral color, you need to spice things up a bit and add some brilliant colors to certain rooms of the home such as a bedroom or breakfast nook. This will take away the constant need to redecorate or add too much clutter to a room to spice it up when you get bored with it. Taking the time to initially add bright color to a room will keep you satisfied for a very long time.

Using the right type of lighting in each room is going to make a major difference in the feel of your home. If you have a large living area, for example, using two floor lamps or two end table lamps to light the entire room is not going to give the proper light, nor will it do the room justice. Instead you should opt for track lighting in large rooms or even recessed lighting.

When you are ready to get caught up on fashion for your home and are ready to start to decorate or re-decorate, do some online research or pick up a home decor magazine and you will be sure to find some great ideas and even some ideas that with a little bit of your own imagination, you can expand on. - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

5 Simple Tips To Make a Perfect Chicken Coop And Save Money

By Deepak Aggarwal

I recently build a chicken coop for my four hens. In this article I would like to draw a plan for building a small chicken coop for your garden.The plan can be used for a homemade chicken coop to house any number of birds you plan to have.

The outlook and appearance and outlook of your chicken coop, the design,
the paint to be used inside the coop. Plan everything before building by taking guidance from someone who knows to draw layout plan for the chicken coop. The plan should be made according to the space you have to build the coop

The coop should be planned in such a way that it is easy to apray the pesticides and insecticides inside the coop. You dont want to to get annoyed while cleaning it. The chicken coop must get sunlight and fresh air. You can put an electric bulb for the light. The insulated walls help to keep the chicken house dry. You can put these things at any time in a homemade chicken coop. In a pre-built coop you dont have such luxury.

The coop should get a lot of fresh air. The openings of the coops should be well thought of for drawing eggs, putting feeders and waterers at the right place (usually at the height of the back of the chicken). You must have heard of chicken feeds, as they are available in many variants. But if you want to save more on feeds then Bill's book has valuable information.

These birds like to live on perches. When you are building a chicken coop be sure to make enough perches for all of your chickens. They tend to fight for space in a small coop. The roosts and perches give them a natural environment to play.

The coop must have a small opening for chickens to move in and out of their house. It can be just a simple hole with a door of-course, but make sure that the door can be locked with no space underneath. You may not need a door in case it is leading to a closed run. Then the coop must have another door for you to get into the coop for supplying feeds and collecting eggs and cleaning.

These are very important points to remember while building your own chicken coop. In this way you can buid a comfortable chicken coop. These birds need little care but they will supply healthy eggs for you everyday. - 30447

About the Author:

Learn more about Building a Cheap Chicken Coop. Stop by my site where you can find out all about Homemade Chicken Coops and grab a free gift. Your chickens will love you for this.

Successful Chicken Coops

By Kor Rassad

Before you start the construction of your chicken coop project, it is vital to remember that planning beforehand is essential for your success.

It will save you hours of extra work and plenty of money because you will have planned what you want with absolute precision. You will be fully aware of how you want you coop to be, the number of chickens you plan to house in that coop as well as the kind of chicken you want to raise. Remember that the main purpose of this coop is to provide the chicken with a comfortable place to live, so do not try to reduce costs by using cheaper material.

A well-constructed, properly planned coop is the key to raising healthy chickens. Here are some guidelines you should follow for the construction.

Avoid overcrowding the coop. each chicken needs around 3-4 sq feet. Make sure that the chickens have ample room outside the coop. 8-10 sq feet would be enough. There should be a place for you to enter the coop as well, for egg collection and regular cleaning. The coop should be tall enough for you to enter.

Take care that predators cannot get in.

Keeping in mind these practical matters, you are free to build the coop however you want. Ensure that the materials you are using will last long, keeping into account the climate of your area. Though wire mesh is an option for those who live in warmer climates, a cooler climate requires solid walls and even insulation to keep the chickens warm.

You can also consider constructing the coop elevated from the ground. This will not only keep water from flooding the coop, but it will also keep out weasels and snakes. To enable your chickens to enter the coop with ease, you can add a ramp that leads up to it.

Now that everything has been planned properly, you can start with the construction process.

Remember to avoid trying to cut down on costs with poorer quality materials, because using better quality materials will ensure that the coop is sturdy and that will be able to withstand the weather as well as predators. It is alright to re-use what other people have discarded. You can find cheap but good quality construction materials from local recycling centers. If the chicken coop design has been properly planned, construction can be a lot of fun as well as being easy - 30447

About the Author:

If you enjoyed reading my article on Chicken Coops, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com for more great info.

Chicken Coops

By Kor Rassad

I first heard about people raising chickens in their own gardens back in 2004, when a friend of mine started doing it because he liked organic food and knowing that the eggs he ate came from animals that were treated and raised in a humane manner. He decided the only way to know for sure about that was if he raised the chickens himself. He did a lot of research on the different aspects of chicken coop design, and then he built two pretty decent-sized coops in his back garden, since it's pretty large. A few weeks after that we went over and my wife heard about it, and then nothing would do but that we raised some chickens of our own.

I was okay with it, I guess. We have a pretty big garden ourselves, but I couldn't see needing that many eggs so I managed to talk the missus into only one coop. Fine, she said, and then she left me to get started on the chicken coop design, going off with a big book under her arm called how to care for chickens. Well, I wasn't about to do all that research myself what with my friend already having done it, so I gave him a call and asked him to come over.

He did, and ran over the basics with me in the little shed I use as my workshop. First, he said, chickens need enough space to be comfortable, or they won't lay as many eggs as they should. I asked him how much space was enough, and he gave me these guidelines:

* Inside the coop " at least 4 square feet per bird

* Outside the coop in a run - at least 10 square feet per bird

* On roosts " 3 horizontal feet per bird.

Other than that, he said, I also needed to make sure there was enough ventilation in the chicken coop design to keep the chickens healthy. They naturally like temperatures that are neither extremely hot or cold, so adding windows into the top of the coop would allow air to circulate and keep the temperature in a range the poultry would like. With that in mind, I put in one that I could control how much it opens, since sometimes it gets cold here and a wide open one would let in drafts that the chickens would find just as uncomfortable.

He also told me about how chickens like to roost off the ground. Apparently this is because in the wild they sleep on tree branches to avoid predators, so that adding roosts into a chicken coop design that lets them do something similar will make them feel safer. I ended up choosing, at his recommendation, 2 x 2 boards with the sides rounded a bit to make it easier for my birds to grip them.

The last thing to consider was protection from some of the chickens' natural predators. Since there are so many, of so many different kinds"such as birds of prey, wild cats, and wolves or foxes"you need to consider all angles of attack when making your chicken coop design predator-proof. Make sure the walls of the coop are solid enough, and that any chicken wire you use has a small enough mesh to prevent them getting into the run. - 30447

About the Author:

If you enjoyed reading my article on chicken coops, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com for more great info.

Building Chicken Coops

By Kor Rassad

If you are planning to build your own chicken coop, you will have to find some plans online. An alternative would be to design the coop yourself. However, if you haven't kept chickens before, there are some guidelines you should keep in mind which will help you with decision making when you are choosing the type of coop most suitable to you and the chickens. Here are some things you should know before building a chicken coop.

Chickens produce a surprising amount of waste. You will have to clean regularly, which is why the coop must be easily accessible for you. This could be a rear door, separate from the run because entering through the run will be difficult for you.

This external access will also be important when you want to collect eggs daily. Leaving the eggs in the coop may cause problems, as the chicken might start eating them if they are left there for too long. The entrance is also helpful while changing the water and for feeding.

One more aspect to consider before you begin to build a backyard chicken coop is whether it will be portable of fixed. Smaller coops take less effort to clean but they house very few chickens. So keep in mind the number of chickens you intend to keep and then decide on the portability. Large chicken coops are obviously not portable. If you want to keep around six chickens, it is advisable to build chicken coop which can be moved around by two people. An advantage of portable coops is that you can move the coop once the grass under it begins to get bare so that it can grow again.

You must also consider the placement of the coop. Twenty feet away from your house is quite suitable. It is not too far and not too close either. Keeping the coop too close to the house causes unpleasant odor while placing it too far away can make egg collection a chore.

Building chicken coop yourself is not a difficult task. However, you should be careful to study the plans properly, and make sure that you understand them. Many of the plans available on the internet are too complicated for someone with average skills, and such plans consequently lead to abandoned projects, wasting a lot of time, money and effort.

Nevertheless, look for an understandable plan and you will have your very own chicken coop in your backyard in no time. - 30447

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For more great tips and advice on Chicken Coops, visit http://www.chickencoopadvice.com.

Want to Learn How to Have Fun with Hummingbirds at Home?

By Brannon Bert

You can do various things to your garden to make it hummingbird friendly and attract more of these birds. Even if you stay in the city's middle and didn't have any luck getting these birds in the past, you can soon have them around your garden by following some simple steps.

As most of the birds, hummingbirds virtually have no sense of smell. Apparently, these birds depend on sites and are directed by the flowers to find their nectar source. Some of the plants which you can consider to plant in your garden to attract the birds are, cardinal flowers, bee balm, columbine, cypress vine, honeysuckles, petunias, geraniums, fuchsias, Indian paintbrush, salvia, mimosa, azalea, manzanite, butterfly bush, etc. If you are having any doubts regarding their growth in your area, check with the local nursery to find which of them will grow in your garden.

The hummingbirds are attracted to the red color, so any feeder having red on it will attract the birds. If your feeder doesn't have the red color, an artificial red flower can be tied to the feeder and stay away from using the red food coloring in the sugar water which is harmful to them. You must also remember that the hummingbirds are very territorial. Male hummers may show their dominance by hovering or chasing away the other hummers from their feeders. So you can add other hummingbird feeders to your garden and thereby attract more of these birds.

You should use the standard sugar water solution for feeding the hummingbirds. Make this solution at home which you can store in the refrigerator for a week. Avoid using honey or sugar substitutes for feeding the birds which can harm them, as honey promotes a fatal fungal disease and sores in the mouth of hummingbirds. Placing the feeder in a shady and cool spot will prevent the nectar's spoilage.

Hummingbirds are habitual creatures and will be discouraged from returning to the feeders in your garden if the nectar is bad. Thus, it is important to keep the feeders clean as sugar water ferments in hot weather. The feeders have to be cleaned every 2-3 days using hot water with a little amount of white vinegar instead of soap. The hummingbirds don't like soap traces left in the nectar. You should also remember to clean not only the bottle, but also the bottom and ports of the feeder.

Avoid using pesticides in your hummingbird garden as they can kill or sicken the birds if consumed. Also, the insects you want to kill off can serve as good protein source to the birds. Sometimes, the male hummingbirds may try to chase away the other hummers from the feeders. To prevent this you can add several other feeders to your garden.

Planting some of the favorite plants of hummingbirds will also attract them to your garden. Some of these plants include honeysuckles, petunias, trumpet vine, fuchsias, lilacs, bee balm, geraniums, manzanita, azaleas, butterfly busch, mimosa, columbine, salvia and Indian paintbrush. You can ask your local nursery or garden store for the other plants which grow well in your area. Do not use pesticides on these plants as they can sicken or kill the hummers, if ingested. - 30447

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Finding the best information about Attracting Hummingbirds at Home can be overwhelming at times. One of the best places we found online to get the straight facts is Hummingbirds.

Why a Good Feeder Important Is.

By Bryant Theodore

Hummingbirds usually get all their energy they need from flower nectar and sugar. These birds have great metabolism and they are active throughout the day. The birds rely on the proteins and nutrients that they get from the nectar to aid their thirst to fly and navigate continuously. Humming birds are actually flycatchers and go after flies; they need the sugar as a fuel to go after their actual target. Hummingbirds are hungry most of the time, this is the main reason that people have found that the best way to invite these birds near the house is to have feeders and other devices that can dispense sugar and nectar to get these birds to eat and fly around them.

Hummingbird feeders have come a long way since their inception. Many research projects have given way to good styled efficient feeds that can invite the birds near these feeders in large numbers. The first hummingbird feeders were made of glass. Nowadays the feeders come in various different materials that give you choice to choose from. The feeders that are manufactured now are made of plastic, glass and ceramics. Since these feeders were only invented recently many birds do not come to know them as food source but most of the birds tend to learn soon and invite other birds too. The birds also learn to use these feeders effectively. In case you find the birds near your home to be more familiar with one type of feeder to the other, then it is because they are familiar with that. You can change and try many feeders before you settle upon one.

Placing the feeder is as important as the choice of the feeder. Many feeders are of different designs that support only a few places. If you make the feeder an uncomfortable place for the hummingbirds to feed, they would rather go to a place that is much more comfortable for them. Many new models of Hummingbird feeders have different kinds of feeding units to make life comfortable for the birds.

There are several different kinds of feeders available these days. The one kind of feeder that is still in use is the basin type of feeder. The basin type of feeder has been here for a long time. The basin type became popular because it is easy to clean and maintain. The other types are a bit difficult to maintain and look after. The materials used to make these feeders are also changing rapidly. Many new kinds of materials like plastic and fiber is used to manufacture these kinds of feeders.

Many innovations are made in the hummingbird feeder industry every year. The humming bird feeders are evolving rapidly as we find new and innovative methods to lure the birds. More and more people want to have these feeders at their homes in the United States of America. The feeders are also designed so well that you can easily hang one in your garden and it would still look great. - 30447

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Limited time only! Get unheard of deals on Hummingbirds before supplies run out. Visit Hummingbird Feeders today!

Best Practices for Making Floors Look Great

By Dirk Williams

Beautiful carpet is something that can be enjoyed for many years and there is a lot to be said for the plush fibers that allow many days and nights of resting on the floor or rolling around with your kids having a great time.

Over time though, those carpet fibers wear down and your once beautiful carpet can lose its plush feel and also the clean appearance it once had. In high traffic areas such as entry ways and exits or rooms that are used frequently such as the living area or family room can see the most of this wear and can start to look rather drab. There are also home owners who have nothing but hardwood flooring and even those hardwood floors are prone to high traffic breakdown.

One of the best ways to solve a high traffic floor problem and to be able to maintain the beautiful appearance of your floors is to purchase a few area rugs for these high traffic areas. Sometimes, we also view the floor as a decorative piece and an area rug can add an excellent accent piece to the ambiance of any room.

Selecting a rug is not just as simple as going into a store and seeing a rug that is not hideous and buy it. There are several things you should consider when you are looking to purchase an area rug and the following are some of the more popular examples of the type of rugs that you should consider when looking to purchase an area rug or two.

Depending on the room you are planning on placing the rug in and your budget, this can be a fairly easy choice as long as you take your time and look at all of the different styles that are available to you. One style would be a faded oriental rug that you can purchase at an almost any furniture store because they usually use these rugs as part of their displays as well, and there is typically nothing in a furniture store that is not for sale. If you state that you are interested in a rug, most places will sell it to you. The faded type of Oriental rug will add class to just about any room, but make sure it does not class with the room decor, for example if you have an English country room, you would not want to put an oriental rug in there because it does not stick with the theme of the room.

Another good rug would be one that has a floral design that is hooked for a more Victorian type of room or a more antique room, maybe even an old-world style of room. There are so many different floral designs to choose from and it would be difficult to not be able to at least find one that will go with just about any decor that is in this style.

Another good place for this type of rug would be in a breakfast nook or on most dining room tiles or hardwood floors. Typically, these rooms have a bland color on the floor and adding a floral area rug will give the room a very welcoming feel. - 30447

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If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

Today's Tips for Interior Design

By Dirk Williams

Who does not want to go to a wonderfully decorated home after a hard day of work? The mere thought of waking up on a Sunday morning and walking through a hallway that has been meticulously decorated, on your way to the kitchen to grab a fresh hot cup of coffee, even if living in a small rental apartment, is everybody's dream. Unfortunately, not everyone has a flare for interior design. Not everyone is good at picking out just the right type of home decor which will look amazing and not clash with anything else that they own.

Making sure that it does not end up looking like a nightmare in the end, is probably what scares people the most when it comes to do it your self interior design. It is true that not everyone can afford a fabulous interior designer who can easily make the magic happen for them. But one must not despair or give up on the idea of shopping for some affordable home decor and doing some interior design of their own.

The first thing that someone could do is pick up at least six magazines which show different types of home decor and interior design. This will give anyone a great idea as to what style they like the best. Once a few designs have been chosen, then finding a way to start eliminating a few is great idea, in order to end up with the one you really like. Perhaps eliminating those which have home decor that would ultimately prove to be overly expensive, or even eliminating some interior designs which look too complicated, should help with the selection process.

The most important thing is, that regardless of the interior design which is chosen, one must be able to imagine themselves in that environment in a way of both enjoyment and delight. Next comes the fun part for most, which is the shopping. Keep in mind that everything does not have to be done at once and when it comes to decorating, the first thing to do is paint a room. Painting a room opens the door for any future home decor of your liking and gives a room an immediate face lift!

While shopping for home decor, make sure to try and match the pieces found in the picture of the room you chose as your interior design guide. Hunting for bargains and similar items, even if not exactly the same as the one in the picture is ok, as long as the size, scale and colour remains the same. Concentrating on a corner, or one single space of the room to start your interior design, is not a bad idea, especially if on a budget. By following these simple decorating tricks, anyone can make their house or apartment look amazing! - 30447

About the Author:

If you are looking for new ways to decorate your home. Check out Birdhouses and more at this website. They have a fantastic selection of home decor.

Dog Bark Collar - Not as Inhumane as You Would Imagine

By Hannah Scott

Owning a dog can be great; they provide you with a lot of unconditional love and are always happy to see you when you get home. However, that can soon become stressful when your precious dog is barking and causing your neighbors problems. Barking is an everyday normal activity; however, there is a fine line between excessive barking and normal barking. A dog bark collar is a great way to help train your dog to stop his excessive baking.

Dog bark collars are not as inhuman as you would imagine. There are two main types of dog bark collars on the market. A static dog bark collar is the main collar that is used for many dogs around the world. This has a small box attached to a collar, when your dog barks; it picks up the noise and the vibration from your dog only, and corrects his behaviour with a vibration that will give him a fright. A static collar contains no electricity, so it will not hurt your dog at all.

A Citronella dog bark collar is the other main type of collar. This is a great option if you really do not want to use or if you do not like the idea of the static dog bark collar. Dogs really hate the smell of citronella, and when he or she barks, the dog bark collar sprays a burst of citronella near the dogs face and the dog will soon learn what happens when he or she barks.

Are you trying to train your dog to stop barking and finding that all you do is scream and yell at him or her?? This is very common, dogs are so easily trained, but its hard to sometimes break them out of their routines they have created themselves. A dog bark collar is great for training your dog quickly to stop barking. The best thing is you can train your dog to stop barking even when you are not home.

Every day there are neighbors out there suffering from barking dogs. Many of them are nice and might come and talk to you about your barking dog. But there are many neighbors out there that will not come to you and instead head to animal control in an attempt to have your dog taken away from you. Keeping your neighbour onside at all times is a must, especially if you are dealing with a dog that is barking excessively. - 30447

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This is a trick Ive tried and tested repeatedly, it works like a charm. I almost hate to share it - but here it is anyway visit Dog Bark collar. Do NOT let your neighbors decide your dogs Fate visit:Dog Bark collar