Raising backyard chickens is probably one of the closest things to having a farm in an urban area. It is usually a wonderful  way to teach your children about other animals aside from the usual pets (the dogs, cats, hamsters, etc.) that they are used to seeing. However, backyard chickens are not for everyone. It can take some work and it costs money to get started. However, it’s a great way to bring some pretty amazing eggs into your home and give your children still more appreciation for where food comes from.

Raising chickens can provide you with fresh eggs, pest control, and hours of entertainment. In the long term, it may even save you some money.  Before you begin purchasing hatching eggs, building coops, and stockpiling supplies, check your local city ordinances about the laws on keeping backyard chickens. From my cursory research, it’s usually allowed, with a few restrictions, but it can’t hurt to check. At the very least. give your neighbors some notice before you raise chickens so that they are not alarmed by clucking noises.

Like any other pet owner, you need to ensure that you do everything required to keep your pets healthy. Since the health of your chickens will impact the amount and quality of eggs they produce, it is sensible to be knowledgeable in the area of chicken health. One of the most important aspects of overall chicken health and wellbeing are the coops that they will reside.

Tips on  Building Chicken Coops

Building chicken runs and coops with the aid of DIY plans is a great option.  You get the help of an   expert  who  can assist in choosing the right coop for your needs, the correct  materials to use and also tell you where you can find them. Whether you’ll be building city chicken coops or urban chicken coops for your flock, you will need to make sure that those coops can give enough protection to your fowls. The plans you rely on should contain instructions for putting up fences and for securing any openings e.g. windows and doors with strong poultry wires in order to keep predators out and to prevent the chickens from hurting themselves accidentally.

Coops need to protect chickens from heat, sun, wind, extreme cold, and predators. I recommend to use a lot of high carbon litter such as timber shavings, straw and tree leaves as bedding. The coop should provide a place for the chickens to lay eggs and a place to roost. Chicken coops must have appropriate air flow, if possible near the top of the coop. Air circulation at the top of the coop enables ventilation without drafts. Also, windows are of help if they are able to shut to reduce drafts.

A chicken ramp is essential to raised chicken coops. A typical chicken injury for heavy or large breeds is leg damage from leaping in and out of the coop. Ensure a ramp offers them a method to walk as opposed to jumping.

Save Time By Buying a Ready Made Chicken Coop

If you do not want to build your own chicken coop, you can buy one from a local pet supply store or online.  Coops vary from plastic-type igloos to fancy English Tudor replicas with prices that vary from around $300 to $2,000 if not more dependent upon the dimensions and features, like attached runs and removable perch boxes.

Choosing the correct size of coop is important, especially if you are buying your own. For example, larger chicken coops can house up to 15 chickens and are excellent coops in case you foresee adding younger chicks to replace laying chickens when they get older.

Chinchillas are small rodents that originate in the mountains of South America. They are famous for their thick, soft protective fur, which shields them from cold weather conditions, but also makes them prone to overheating. The first consideration, therefore, when bringing your chinchilla home, is where to house it. You must keep your Chinchilla’s cage in a cool, shady corner of your home, without drafts. If you do not have air conditioning in your house, you can cool your chinchilla’s cage down by placing a small tray with a few ice cubes inside it, or draping a cold damp cloth over a part of it.

Chinchillas are considered to be nocturnal animals, rather like cats. They spend the entire daytime resting and sleeping and at night, tend to be very active.  Chinchillas are very curious, energetic and playful. They enjoy roaming and wandering around. Basically, your chinchilla cage should be spacious and large enough for your pet to be able to get enough exercise.  The minimum floor space advised is 24 square inches, and a tall cage is preferable. Chinchilla cages come in various materials, but wire is best, as chinchillas will happily chew through plastic. A chinchilla cage should come with some shelves and ladders to allow your pet to climb.

There are multi-level chinchilla cages that have ramps, perches and platforms- perfect for your chinchillas. There are even chinchilla cages that have hammocks inside. You can have one or more chinchillas inside one cage but be sure each chinchilla has enough space to move and play.  Of course, there should be removable trays under the cage for their wastes. Many chinchilla trays are made of wire, and thus have wire floors, unsuitable for your chinchilla’s delicate feet. As such, it is advisable to line the floor with newspapers or wood shavings. Cedar shavings should be avoided, and hardwood shavings are preferred over softwood.

It would be great to get a cage for your chinchillas that will be convenient for you as well.  Remember that you will need to feed them daily;  to check up on them from time to time and most importantly- you need to  maintain the cleanliness of the cage.  It would be ideal to have a chinchilla cage that has wheels for easy moving or transfer.  You may also opt for a chinchilla cage with more than one door so it will be a lot easier for you to get access to your chinchillas or feed them.

Although the overall appearance and aesthetic design of your chinchilla’s cage is the least priority, attractive chinchilla cages are readily available.  The paint does not always have to be plain white or black.  You can choose to have a yellow, green, or pink cage.  You can customize a chinchilla cage if you prefer but you must make sure that it has all necessary features to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your chinchillas.

Chinchillas have an average span of 15 years and they grow to about 6 to 10 inches.  The larger and more spacious the cage is, the better, so there is no need to buy another one every now and then. Therefore, durability is indispensable. You must make sure your chinchilla’s cage is constructed from hard-wearing materials, and made with good craftsmanship. You must place the cage, once you have picked one, on a stand or cabinet, where you can comfortably interact with your chinchillas without leaning over them. Chinchillas can be intimidated and stressed when you lean over them.

Pets give us joy and make us laugh with their funny antics.  In return, it is fair to make them happy by providing them with a comfortable and stress-free environment.

Many of us enjoy having pets such as dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, and others.  For a pet owner, owning a pet is like having a best friend.  You can relax on your couch while your dog lies beside you.  But imagine having snake crawling near your bed.  For most people, the idea is totally gruesome.  Well, not for exotic pet lovers.   Exotic pets are those kinds of animals that you cannot just leave in your yard unattended.  They are usually untamed and can be very dangerous.   Even so, having an exotic pet can be very satisfying for CERTIFIED animal lovers.

There are many exotic pets for sale.  You can browse the web for all the kinds of animals that you could possibly take home.  Common exotic pets for sale are snakes, Alpacas, spiders such as tarantula, ferrets, and lizards such as geckos and chameleon.  There is  no exact definition for an exotic pet.  Any animal may be considered an exotic pet when it is uncommon.  When looking for exotic pets for sale, there are a few things you need to consider though:

The nature of the Exotic Pet

You do not just buy an exotic animal because you want it or you find it terribly cute.  You need to make sure that the environment to which you will bring the animal is good for its overall well being.  You have to do some research about the nature of the exotic pet for sale you want.  The climate where you live is also an important thing to mull over.  If you’re buying rabbit or guinea pig then there is less to worry about.  However, there are some animals that are fatally sensitive to weather conditions.

State Laws on Exotic Pets for Sale

Knowing the state laws regarding exotic pets is very crucial.  In Alaska, for example, residents are not allowed to sell, buy, or possess any kind or species of reptiles, mammals, birds, and feral animals aside from domestic birds and mammals.  In California, owning reptiles like crocodiles and other wild animals is prohibited.  In Delaware, you need to acquire a license or authorization from the state government before you can possess exotic pets and poisonous snakes are not allowed.  Some exotic pets for sale are quite expensive and you don’t want to find out that the state will sue you because you own a pet that they consider illegal.

Cages and  Equipment

Once you have purchased an exotic pet, the next thing you need to do is shop for the equipment that it needs to comfortably live with you.  If your exotic pet requires vitamins and supplements, you definitely want to get some of those.  You also have to make sure that you have the right cage for your pet.  Some exotic pets need a larger area to roam around while others are better off inside a small container.

Taking Care of Exotic Pets

There are exotic pets for sale that require less attention like frogs and spiders.  But, you need to have reliable information on what to feed them, and a   sustainable reserve of food they eat.  You may need to communicate with the pet shop from where you bought your exotic pet.  Make sure you ask all the necessary questions on feeding, caging, and other routines that you may need to go through with your exotic pets.

Owning a pet is like having a child.  Before you get one, make sure you are prepared.  You will play the role of a  parent  for your exotic pet.  Your expertise and passion for these animals should ensure you take responsibility for their care and happiness.

Ferrets are feisty, inquisitive, lively and playful animals that can make great pets for the right owners. However, before adopting a ferret, you need to have done your research, as ferrets, despite being the third most popular pets in America after dogs and cats, have special needs you should be aware of.

Background

Ferrets are members of the Mustelid family and are related to mink, weasels, skunks, otters and badgers. Ferrets are the only domestic members of this group. Most hunting instincts have been bred out of ferrets, so they cannot survive out in the wild on their own for long. Any forays outdoors should be closely supervised, preferably with your ferret on a leash or harness. Ferrets live 8 to 10 years on average. Adult females weigh about 2 pounds, adult males-about twice that much. Ferrets should be neutered and de-scented. These procedures can be done in one session at the vet’s, and will make a ferret much easier to live with, and more importantly, will prolong his or her lifespan. A female ferret will develop aplastic anemia if not allowed to mate and not neutered. Ferrets are not advisable pets for families with very young children, due to the raised levels of enthusiasm on both sides.  They prefer to live in pairs or small groups. As well, ferrets need vaccinations for canine distemper.

What to feed a ferret

Ferrets are carnivores, meaning they mostly eat meat. Your ferret should eat food containing a high content of animal protein, like meat and eggs. You must never give a ferret chocolate, raisins, or nuts. Fiber, while good for humans, is very bad for ferrets and will make them sick. Basically, the best diet for ferrets is one that is high in meat and fat, and very low in fiber or carbohydrates.

Training a ferret

Baby ferrets, just like kittens and puppies like to nip when they play. This is probably one of the things people hold against them. However, obedience training a ferret, which includes training him or her not to nip, is completely doable, as long as you have enough patience and tolerance. The basic principle is positive reinforcement. If the ferret is too enthusiastic, you must withdraw attention or stop playtime as punishment. Never yell or lose your temper. If your ferret does something well, give praise and treats. This will encourage good behavior, instead of just discouraging bad behavior. Experts recommend ‘scruffing’. This involves pulling or tugging gently while holding the loose skin on the back of the neck, like a mother ferret would do. If nipped, you should demonstrate that it is undesirable behavior by withdrawing attention. Raising the pitch of your voice is not advisable as your ferret might get even more excited and enthusiastic.

Litter training a ferret is a gradual process. Ferrets are not as fastidious as cats, so you can leave them a scent to mark the litter tray. Your tray should have a lowered edge, so your ferret can access it, but the other edges should be raised, as ferrets tend to back into the corner and may overshoot out of the tray with disastrous results if the edges are all low.

Ferret Cages.

Ferrets cannot be caged for very long periods. They react badly and will claw and bite at the cage if left inside too long. However, for those occasions where you simply cannot supervise them and need some time to yourself, a ferret cage is the ideal solution. The cage should be spacious enough for the ferret to move freely. It should include a toilet area, a cushioned sleeping area, a hammock if possible, as ferrets sleep 12 to 14 hours daily, an eating area, and a playing area. Cat toys are ideal for ferrets. Cages with different levels and staircases are a good fit for your ferret, but you must ensure that anything with hard edges, like a wire floor, is padded or wrapped with cloth, as ferrets have very delicate feet.

All in all, ferrets are wonderfully, curious, gregarious, enthusiastic and interesting pets. If you can handle the special demands ferret care will make on you, then a ferret could prove to be the perfect pet for you!