Chickens can make great pets with the obvious bonus of providing you with your breakfast eggs. If you are thinking of buying some then our handy guide will help you decide.
How big should the hen house be? – It is said that you should allow one square foot per chicken so a chicken shed of 4’ x 4’ should in theory hold 16 chickens.
Do chickens need nest boxes? – You can provide nest boxes in the hen house but chickens are prone to laying wherever they feel like it. This could literally be anywhere!
How big should the chicken run be? – Four chickens should have a minimum of a 6’ x 3’ run but the more space you can give them the better.
Do chickens feel the cold? – Chickens can normally keep themselves warm by fluffing up their feathers or perching close to other chickens. If you take in battery chickens they may need some time for their feathers to recover.
If you see your cat scratching or biting its fur it could be that it is suffering from a flea infestation.
Sometimes you can see the fleas if you run a fine toothed metal comb through the fur but often they are hard to spot. Cats can show signs of having fleas but by the time you check their coats the cat has groomed them out itself.
To do a flea check on your cat sit it on a large piece of white paper then rub its fur vigorously. Any flea faeces should drop out onto the paper.
Remove any fur from the paper then dab the contents with a damp cotton wool ball. Any flea faeces should dissolve and turn red. If this happens then your cat has definitely had contact with fleas and should be treated for them.
Many little girls beg for a pony from their parents. After being given the book, Black Beauty, for Christmas when I was seven I dreamed of nothing else.
I was so desperate that I would come home from school and fantasize that one would be stood on the drive waiting for me when I got home. I left no opportunity unturned to make it clear to my parents how much I needed a horse.
I would browse horses for sale in the local papers and dream about going to view them. I didn’t have anywhere to keep one but that didn’t purturb me.
I often left little notes around the house saying that if I had a pony I wouldn’t expect a birthday or Christmas present ever again!
I eventually got my pony at the age of twenty nine. I had to buy my own of course. Unfortunately I no longer own him but I do still browse horses for sale websites just to keep an eye on the market.
Snakes are fascinating creatures and can make great pets but there are some considerations to be made before you commit to owing one.
Snakes can live for a very long time, often over twenty years so be prepared for a long term commitment.
Make sure you are willing to feed prey to your snake. Some food such as rodents are already dead and pre frozen but there are live options to consider such as bugs.
Ensure that your snake tank (vivarium) is escape proof. Snakes are persistent and will look for any small gaps which to squeeze through.
For your first snake don’t buy something large or venomous. Something like a grass snake would be a perfect choice.
Pages and pages have been written about how to make burglar proof you home but have you ever thought on how to rabbit proof your home too – look no further!!!!
Look though the eyes of a Rabbit Eyes
Get down on your hands and knees and look around the house. You don’t need to make squeaking noises or even jump across the floor but look at wires and items they could possibly chew and things that you can hide behind!
Nibble Proof Plants
Many ordinary plants can extremely harmful to rabbits, to be on the safe side hideaway or make sure they are out of reach but be aware of the falling leaves!!!
Carpets beware!!!
Long pile carpets will be chewed and can be dangerous to the rabbit’s digestive system so again restrict the area and keep just too wooden falls. If you house is full of laminate flooring make sure your floor cleaner does not contain any harmful materials such as bleach
Litter Box Training
If neutered, you have a better chance of litter box-trained – a litter box can be packed with hay or with recycled newspaper pellets.
Domestic cats have some very interesting ways and are the subject of many myths. Below are some that you may or may not have heard of already:
Cats were a sacred animal in Egypt and their history dates back about 8,000 years.
The Maine Coon is the largest breed of cat and can weigh up to eleven kilos.
Cats on average can sleep from twelve to fourteen hours per day.
The sense of smell in a cat is fourteen times stronger than a humans.
Cats have 30 vertebrae whilst a human has only 25.
Cats can live up to twenty years.
…and perhaps most interestingly… cats can have a top speed of up to 30 mph!
Dogs reach sexual maturity around six to eight months old. For female dogs some vets say it is advisable to have it neutered before its first season. Other vets advise six to eight weeks after the first season.
Male dogs are normally neutered at around six months old.
There are many benefits to having a dog neutered. For female dogs it obviously removes the possibility of them becoming pregnant. In male and female dogs the risk of cancerous tumours is also lowered.
Unwanted sexually activity such as wandering in males can also be reduced. Behavioural problems such as mounting and marking territory can become less of a problem.
animalreliefcenter.org will provide various articles, stories, and help on pet health care. Many dogs, cats, rabbits, and various other animals fall by the wayside. They are either treated well living a happy life or treated badly and often abandoned. We aim to try and educate you in pet training, behaviour, and helping animals in all communities.