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13 May 2009

All Cooped Up! How To Build A Chicken Coop

by Sandra Stammberger

Chickens are fun to watch and they can provide you eggs and meat. Often times people buy chickens and let them live outside and to find whatever shelter they can provide for themselves. There are two problems with raising chickens in that manner, the first are the many predators that are hunting your chickens, there are numerous stray dogs that will wipe out a flock of chickens not to mention skunks and other animals. The second problem is that they do not lay eggs well when they are raised that way and when they do lay eggs it is difficult to find them. In this article I am going to give you two different ideas about how to make a chicken coop.

Free Organic Eggs! Building a coop is far easier than many people believe. Chickens are low maintenance pets. Building a chicken Coop Supports Sustainable Living. The chickens provide hours and hours of entertainment. Chickens get along with other pets. Chickens do not smell. Your eggs will not be weeks old before you even buy them at the grocery store. You can get the freshest eggs. You prevent your chicken from dying of a disease in a small cage. You do not have to have a big backyard to enjoy chickens and their eggs. Chickens are loyal pets. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their of breast cancer by 44%. Chickens are very clean animals. IT IS FUN!

Often times when we ask how to make a chicken coop or anything else for that matter we try to rack our heads to come up with ideas for the perfect plan. If you are good at this type of planning thats great or if you are just a weekend project type of person then you might like my second idea. Rather than pull your hair out coming up with elaborate plans for making your chicken coop, you can go to your local hardware store and buy a set of plans for a small or large wood shed for about $5.00 and even less. The size of the shed depends on how many chickens that you have. It is important to remember that you will have to build a roost and laying boxes if you decide too go this rout. A roost can simply be made out of two 2x4x8s and three or four 2x2x8s. Nail your 2x4s about 7 feet apart at about a 45 degree angle, space the 2x2s crossways and now you have a roost. Your egg boxes can be made our of ply wood and 2x2s, make sure to put dividers in them due to the fact that chickens like a certain amount of privacy when they lay eggs.

No matter which idea you pick make sure that you build a chicken yard off of the coop. it is also a good idea to put chicken wire over the top of the chicken yard or run due to flying predators like hawks and crows.

Once you have your foundations set up, put the flooring in, again, about four feet from the ground. You can corner nail the flooring in if you wish, but it is a better idea to place small 2x4 braces under the flooring where they will connect to the foundations. This will give a little extra support and a good spot to put your nails in.

On a final note, be sure and put a decent amount of hay inside each doorway so that the chickens can use it for nesting. Enjoy your farm fresh eggs, fresh chicken meat, and the cash you make from selling those eggs!

Now, simply measure between the walls and floor for height and from foundation to foundation for the back and side walls. Use good thick plywood for this, at least inch. Do the exact same for the front wall, but cut out several doorways from the plywood so that the chickens can enter and exit. With that, the coop itself is almost finished. Now all you need to do is take some 1x5 boards and run them into the doorways angled to the ground so your chickens can enter and exit easily. A quick wire mesh fence around it all later and you have your completed chicken coop. At the very most, you might have $40.00 invested. Many people even use second-hand lumber to save even more cash.

Be aure to put hay inside the doorways. This is to make sure that your chicken can use it for nesting. And in some days it is time to enjoy your fresh farm eggs... you can even sell your eggs and make some additional money!

About the Author:
Do not waste another minute make sure you check this excellent website on building a chicken coop. Free Chicken Coop Blueprints

21 April 2009

Lyme disease in dogs

Image by ucumari via Flickr

by Cheryl L. True

Lyme disease is named after the Connecticut town of Lyme where the disease was first discovered. One of the more common dog diseases, it has been seen in dogs in every part of the United States although it is more common in certain geographical areas, including California, New England and parts of the American South.

It is caused by cork-screw shaped bacteria called spirochetes which are transmitted through bites from ticks that have attached themselves to your dog's skin. The ticks, in turn, catch the bacteria from certain varieties of white mice.

An infected tick must remain stuck to your dog's skin for at least two days in order for the disease to take hold in your pet. Unfortunately, these ticks are very small and often difficult to detect

There are actually three different kinds of ticks that are carriers of Lyme disease, although the majority of cases are transmitted by the deer tick. Symptoms include limping, a higher than normal fever and swollen lymph nodes. A dog with Lyme disease may suffer only mild discomfort at first. But over a period of several days, it may be suffer intense pains in the joints that it will refuse to move.

One problem with diagnosing Lyme disease is that its symptoms closely resemble other diseases involving the dog's lymph tissue and its immune system. At the same time, dogs are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed with Lyme disease when the disorder is actually something else entirely.

However, time is of the essence if you suspect that your canine may be suffering from Lyme disease. If caught and treated early, your pet won't suffer any permanent damage. Left untreated for too long, the disorder can damage your dog's heart and muscle tissue and cause joint and nerve damage.

If you see symptoms that indicate Lyme disease in your previously healthy dog, go to your local pet hospital as quickly as possible for a diagnosis. The vet will give your dog a simple blood test to see if Lyme bacteria are present or not.

Unfortunately, the blood test by itself does not always give a definite answer and the veterinarian will also take into consideration your dog's health history and other symptoms. Treatment is usually with antibiotics which your dog must take for three to four weeks.

If your dog or cat suffers from arthritis pain, don't make it suffer any longer. Relieve joint pain, lubricate the joints, increase flexibility and improve mobility with the best puppy pain relief

About the Author:
Cheryl L. True is a Manila-based freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics.

18 April 2009

Traveling With Pets

Image by anetz via Flickr

by Cheryl L. True

Going on a trip with your pet? Be prepared. Call before you leave to make sure your hotel accepts pets. There may be restrictions or fees.

Find out where the veterinary clinics are located close to where you are staying.

Vaccinations may be required when traveling abroad. Rabies is one that is required to and from the United States. You should take your pet to your vet prior to the trip. Find out what vaccinations are required and what diseases or problems may exist at your destination.

Plan your mode of transportation in advance. Buses and trains won't allow dogs on board. Airlines have various rules and restrictions so call in advance to avoid problems.

Avoid crowded times of the day and places that may make your pet nervous or skittish.

Even if your pet is naturally docile and calm, it may suddenly bolt for open windows or doors when confronted with new and unusual surroundings, people and smells. Using a leash is often best.

An identification tag is always a god idea, especially when your pet is in unfamiliar territory. You should always keep identification tags on your pet as well as a leash for your dog when it is outside. You may also want to bring along a current photo of your pet for identification purposes in case it gets lost.

Car rides are filled with potential hazards. Avoid leaving your pet unattended in the vehicle. It's easy for your pet to get heatstroke. If you must leave your pet in the vehicle while you are gone, leave at least two windows open for a cross draft and fresh air. A car can heat up to devastating temperatures in a very short amount of time.

Air travel is stressful enough without a pet. Airports are extremely crowded and you have to schedule and plan in advance to avoid various complications.

Instead of bringing your pet with you on your travels, you can always keep your pet at home with someone your pet is familiar or comfortable with who can feed and take care of it twice a day. A boarding kennel or a professional sitter is another option.

Are you losing your pets to accidents? Do they wander and never return? Show them that you care. Keep your pets safe from harm with the petsafe instant fence

About the Author:
Cheryl L. True is a Manila-based freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics.

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