Tips on How to Maintain a Bird Feeding Station Properly

You’d think that once a bird feeding station is up and running, your task is over. It’s not. A bird feeding station requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Here are some practical tips on how to maintain it the right way.

• Replace water every day. It’s a must to provide birds with a daily supply of fresh water. It’s also good to experiment with various types of foods like bird seeds, fruits and vegetables to attract different species of birds.

• Store the bird food in a clean and dry environment. This is to lower the risk of bacterial contamination, which can bring illness to birds. Remember that moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria.

• Keep the feeding station clean at all times. Again, this is for the sake of the birds’ health. After you’re done cleaning the station itself, move on to the ground beneath the feeders. Use a rake to get rid of spilled seeds, hulls, dead grass or other debris that may have accumulated underneath the feeder.

• Buy your food from a reputable source, this way you can be sure that you are giving the birds the right type of food.

• Practice proper hygiene when handling the feeding station. Don’t forget to wash your hands first before and after cleaning the station or stocking it up with new food or water.

• Check for defects. Find time to look around the feeding station. Look at the feeder and see if there are any cracks or chips. This may cause for moisture to seep in and seeds to get spoiled, spreading disease to birds. Look for signs of insect damage, rust, flaking, loose connections, or loose screws. Perches should be stable and secure, as should the feeder. An unstable one can easily collapse. Replace anything that’s broken or defective before it causes injury to birds.

Maintaining a bird feeding station isn’t as hard as some people think. With these tips, you can keep one running properly and attracting a wide variety of bird species into your backyard.

Gorilla Strength and Other Fascinating Things about Gorillas

Gorillas are typically portrayed in movies as dangerous, violent and aggressive animals. In truth, these large apes from Africa are actually quiet, gentle and peace-loving vegetarians that will not attack unless threatened. So, where did this wrong notion come from? People probably made this conclusion after discovering about gorilla strength. 

We all know that gorillas are extremely strong. But how strong are they? Think about this: one gorilla is 20 times stronger than one strong human. An adult male Silverback gorilla, which is one of the strongest mammals on the planet, will not have any difficulty snapping tree limps, ripping human arms apart, and ripping car doors open. That’s how strong gorillas are. 

Gorillas are the strongest primates alive. Despite that, they’re not aggressive and ferocious like other strong animals. They use their strength only for defending themselves, and never for hunting, killing or attacking. Yes, their fierce looks can be deceiving. One look at them and you’d think they’re violent and ferocious creatures. 

With their enormous power, it’s also easy to imagine gorillas feeding on other animals, which are essentially high in protein. Surprisingly, they’re mostly herbivores, meaning they eat plant materials such as leaves, fruits, tender plant shoots, seeds, tree barks, and even flowers. It’s only very seldom that they eat ants and termites. An average gorilla eats about 50 pounds of food per day. 

One way they show off their strength is through brachiating and pulling. An average silverback gorilla is six foot tall and 300 to 500 pounds. Their amazing ability to pull themselves from one branch to another with such ease is another testament to their extreme physical power. Even the world’s strongest human rock climber can never match the upper body strength of a gorilla. 

It’s not only the physical gorilla strength that is noteworthy. Gorillas are also popular for their high intellect that enables them to complete complex tasks. Some gorillas have been successfully taught sign language, and can communicate with people using simple sentences. And though they have never been seen using tools in the wild, they were able to learn after being taught to use tools in captivity.

Important Rabbit Accessories for Your Pet Bunny

Caring for a pet rabbit can surely be rewarding. It’s hard not to fall in love with these adorable furry creatures that make great companions. As a pet rabbit owner, you need to ensure that your bunny is taken care the best way possible. One of the ways to do that is to provide all the important rabbit accessories and supplies such as the ones listed below:

Hutch

The first thing to buy is a rabbit hutch. Find one that’s large enough for your bunny. There should be enough wiggle room to move and play around. Get one with a sturdy bottom. Avoid a wired bottom that may hurt your bunny’s feet. Include a comfortable resting place inside the rabbit hutch. Straw mats available in many pet stores are some of the best options. 

Litter Box and Scoop

You need to buy a litter box and train your pet to use it as his bathroom. This would make cleaning an easier task for you. It’s a good idea to buy two, one inside the hutch and the other in the room where you’d let your rabbit roam freely for playtime and exercise. 

Food, Food Dish and Water Bottle

Nutrition is an important part of your rabbit’s health. Feed your rabbit with hay, vegetables, and pellets. Make sure you provide a fresh supply of food and water inside the rabbit hutch. Keep the food dish and water bottle clean at all times. 

Carrier

This is especially useful for pet owners who travel a lot. Even though you don’t plan on traveling in the next few years, it’s still a good idea to invest on a high quality carrier that you’ll need for transporting your bunny like when you’re visiting relatives for the weekend or when you need to take your pet to the vet. 

Brush

Good grooming habits are essential to a rabbit’s health. Whether your bunny has short or long hair, it’s handy to have a brush to prevent hairballs. 

Toys

Keep your pet entertained with a variety of toys that can stimulate him both physically and mentally. Chew toys are great choices. Since a rabbit’s teeth are constantly growing, they need to chew on objects to wear them down. Opt for bunny-safe toys made from nontoxic materials. 

So that wraps up the list of the essential rabbit accessories that you need to buy for your beloved pet. Have fun with your rabbit!

Natural Mosquito Repellant for Your Home

As tiny as they are, mosquitoes can bring huge trouble. Apart from the annoying stinging bites, mosquitoes also cause a myriad of serious deadly illnesses like malaria, filaria, dengue, brain fever, and yellow fever, among many others. Every year, mosquito borne diseases affect 300 to 500 million people worldwide, causing about one million deaths. Natural mosquito repellant is your best defense against these diseases. 

Seal the point of entry 
Keep this in mind: mosquitoes are very active in the early morning and early evening and they love areas with still air. Be sure to keep windows and doors on the side of your house opposite the breeze closed during these times.

  

Eliminate still water areas

Any stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Bird baths, pet’s water bowls, wading pools, and even water inside the flower vases should be replaced daily. Remove items around the house that collect water. 

Use natural mosquito repellants

Add a dash of herbs like rosemary and sage to burning coals. The scent is known to repel mosquitoes. Another effective repellant is a solution of one part garlic juice mixed with five parts water. Put this in a spray bottle and spray on the body. This can protect for up to six hours. You can also dip cotton cloth into the solution and hang in areas known to have mosquitoes like in the patio. 

It’s also a good idea to use neem oil, a natural vegetable oil that comes from the Neem tree in India. The Neem tree’s oil, leaves and seeds contain a potent mosquito repelling compound called sallanin. 

It would also help to cultivate mosquito repelling plants around like citronella, horsemint, marigold, ageratum and catnip. Citronella contains a natural mosquito repellant ingredient that comes in the form of a strong aroma that wards off pesky mosquitoes. Horsemint, also known as beebalm, also gives off a strong scent like citronella. 

Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, a compound that’s usually used as ingredient in many insect repellants. Ageratum emits a smell offensive to mosquitoes. It secretes a compound called coumarin that’s also used in commercial insect repellants. Catnip, another natural mosquito repellent, has been found to be ten times more effective than DEET, a chemical used in most commercially available insect repellants.

Hamster Life Span: Top Ways to Make Your Pet Hamster Live Longer

Hamster life span varies depending on breed, health and quality of care. Average life expectancy is two to three years, although some can live longer up to six years. Some breeds, which are more susceptible to illness, tend to live shorter lives. While big hamsters like teddies can live up to five years, Russians can only reach up to two years while Roborovski dwarves sometimes only live up to a year. 

It’s a known fact that hamsters reach maturity in a very short time. For example, while humans reach puberty at the age of 13 to 15, hamsters do at eight weeks. Gestation period for them is only three weeks compared to nine months in humans. It would be safe to assume that a one-year-old hamster equal to a 35-year-old human being. 

Good news is that you can prolong your pet hamster’s life by giving high quality care and attention. 

Choose a healthy hamster   
Right from the start, make sure that you choose a healthy hamster. See to it that he comes from a clean environment surrounded with other healthy hamsters. Check the condition of his coat and energy level.

Pick the right size for the cage

Your pet hamster’s cage should be big enough to fit in an exercise wheel, small bed, some toys and of course, food and water. Ideal size is 20 to 25 square inches for a single hamster. 

Feed a well balanced diet

Like with other pets, your hamster also needs highly nutritious food to stay in good shape. Feed clean and nutritious foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and pellets. Don’t forget to provide fresh and clean water every day as well. 

Promote regular exercise

Hamsters are very active creatures that require regular exercise. Lack of exercise can make your pet fat and weak. Install a small exercise wheel inside his cage to keep him active throughout the day. 

Know about hamster’s territorial requirements

Apart from being active, hamsters are also territorial creatures. If they don’t get along well with each other, they tend to fight and this can cause fatalities. The best thing to do is to keep one hamster per cage. However, if you own robo dwarf hamsters, which are known to get along well, you can have two to three per cage. 

Although a hamster life span is quite short, you can ensure that your pet lives a fulfilled and happy life by following the tips mentioned above.

Highly Nutritious Bird Seeds for Your Pet Bird

Birds are charming little creatures that anyone would love to have as companion. And like most pets, they too require the right nutrition to stay in great shape. Birds need carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. If you have a pet bird, you’d probably want to include highly nutritious bird seeds in his diet. 

Though packed with nutrients, no single seed can provide a bird with all his dietary needs. So variety is the way to go. Here are some of those that you may want to consider feeding your adorable pet. 

Black-oil Sunflower 
Black-oil sunflower contains 43 percent fat, 13 percent fiber and 16 percent protein. It’s a favorite of doves, goldfinches, grosbeaks, nuthatches, titmice, woodpeckers, Chickadees, Northern Cardinal and Pine Siskin. 

Cracked Corn 
Not so much of a popular seed for birds, cracked corn usually attracts Jays. This particular seed has only two percent fat, two percent fiber, and eight percent protein. 

Nyjer 
This one’s quite hefty on the fat content having 40 percent. It’s also rich in protein (22 percent) and fiber (14 percent). It’s popular among doves, finches, goldfinches, Common Redpoll, Indigo Bunting and Pine Siskin.

Safflower 
Safflower’s nutritional content includes 38 percent fat, 21 percent fiber and 14 percent protein. Doves, purple finches, and titmice are the biggest fans of safflower seeds.

Striped Sunflower 
Striped sunflower is big on fiber (20 percent), protein (23 percent) and fat (26 percent). It’s much loved by grosbeaks, titmice, woodpeckers, Northern Cardinal and Chickadees. 

Sunflower Hearts 
This seed contains a whopping 56 percent fat, only four percent fiber, and fairly good amount of 24 percent protein. It attracts the following birds: doves, finches, Dark-eye Junco, Common Redpoll, Chickadees, goldfinches, grosbeaks, titmice, woodpeckers, Pine Siskin, and nuthatches. 

Apart from bird seeds, it’s also great to add fruits and vegetables to your bird’s diet. Corn, carrots, yams, peas, broccoli, apples, bananas and grapes are some great choices. Not only would these items provide essential vitamins and minerals, it also helps to avoid turning your pet into a picky eater. Also, remember never to feed your pet with spicy food, chocolates, wine, or caffeinated beverage. Be sure to consult your vet first before feeding your pet with any food.