Keep Your Bird Bath Water Warm with a Heater

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

Finding a source of warm water for birds during the winter is critical for their survival.  An easy way to provide birds with water during the winter is to use a heated bird bath or a bird bath heater in your bird bath.  By offering a source of fresh water for the birds during the winter, you will not only be helping the birds to thrive, but will also attract more birds to your yard.

A classic bird bath that looks great in any yard is the Heated Bird Bath with Stand.  This stylish and streamline bird bath has a sturdy, weatherproof stand with a white basin.  The white basin is ideal for attracting birds because they will be able to see the bottom and it blends in well with the snow.  The heater in the bird bath is designed to keep the water from freezing in temperatures up to -20 degrees.  This bird bath also includes hardware for mounting it to your deck.

The Heated Ground BirdBath – 70 Watts is a fun and unique way to offer the birds with water.  This bird bath is designed to sit on the ground to provide birds with easy access to warmer water.  The unique shape of this feeder looks great in a garden, flower bed, or placed on your lawn.  It blends in well with any rock formation and looks like a real rock.  The birds will love the shallowness of the bird bath.

If you are just looking for a heating element to place inside your bird bath, choose one like the Heated Rock Bird Bath De-icer -75 Watts to warm up your bird bath water and keep it from freezing over.  This de-icer is thermostatically controlled to work when the temperature drops below 35 degrees.  Made of cast aluminum to be durable and weather resistant, this de-icer has a great rock shape that blends in well with any bird bath.

Keeping a supply of fresh water for the birds during the winter is important for the survival of birds and helps to attract them to your yard.  For a great selection of heated bird baths and bird bath heaters, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Cute Dog Dresses that are Perfect for the Holidays

Dressing up your dog can be a lot of fun for both you and your dog.  This holiday season is the perfect time to get your dog dressed up for guests and pictures.  Before you dress up your dog in her best, it is a good idea to pamper your dog with a refreshing bath and hair blow-out.  Your dog will look and smell great with a good shampoo and a fancy dress, which will make her picture perfect for any holiday picture!

For a classic holiday look, the Herring-Bone Dress for Dogs is perfect for holiday pictures or any holiday event. Take a look into cvlinens.com and find linen tablecloths for sale to perfect prices for any event.   This dress has a cute little red sweater on top with a fun herringbone skirt.  The sweater top is great for keeping your dog warm and cozy and the front placket has a Velcro closure to make it easy to put on and take off.  The closure also has buttons sewn on for a classy look and the herringbone collar adds a lot of character.  It is easy to care for and may be washed in the machine.

Another fun holiday dress for your dog is the Preppy Stripe Dog Dress.  This adorable, sweater dress has a fun stripe detail at the waist and is available in a classic navy or cherrry red color.  Whether you choose the navy or the red, your dog will look cute in every picture, while staying warm.  This dress is also easy to care for and may be washed in the machine in cold water.

To keep your dog even warmer, choose a dressy coat like the Herring-Bone Sunday Dog Coat to coordinate with your dog’s dress.  This charming coat is made of 100% polyester with a 100% polyester fleece lining and has a faux-fur collar.  Your dog will be both warm and cute in this adorable coat.  When the coat gets dirty, just throw it in the washing machine in cold water and lay it flat to dry.

This holiday season is a great time to have fun with your dog by dressing her up in a classic dress.  Not only are these dresses cute for any special occasion, but they are great for keeping your dog warm.  For a great selection of dog clothes, check out GregRobert Pet Supplies.

Winter and Fall Purple Martin Equipment Care

The fall and winter months offer a time to clean and care for your martin houses and make sure they are ready for the spring season next year. Purple Martin home maintenance is usually not too difficult.  It consists of making small repairs to your Purple Martin homes, checking your mounting hardware and possibly adding accessories to make your site ideal for Purple Martin colonies.

Many Purple Martin hobbyists remove their homes from the poles for winter storage. This protects the unit from harsher weather and keeps other birds from overtaking the nests. 

After taking down the home for the winter, remove all the nesting material and clean each compartment of the purple martin home thoroughly with a mild detergent. This prevents any parasites or disease from contaminating the home over the winter months. Place the house in your garage or basement for winter storage. 

If you choose not to store the home, make sure that you add door stops to the unit to keep house sparrows and European starlings from overtaking the nests. Next, do a thorough check of your mounting hardware. Martin house poles that are faulty and not maintained can be a safety risk for the birds, you and your kids. 

If you have a telescoping purple martin pole, check that all parts are present and the locking mechanism is seated properly. Clean any rusted areas with a sander. If your purple martin pole system includes a pulley, or other rope mechanism, oil the pulley. Replace the rope if necessary (frayed etc..). 

Inspect the concrete or soil surrounding the pole for foundation issues.  Ensure that the pole is study.  Make sure that your predator guard is seated properly on the pole and hasn’t been damaged by squirrels or raccoons. 

Fall and winter is an excellent time to maintain your martin house and equipment. By removing or closing the home for winter, access is denied to house sparrows or starlings, and gives you an opportunity to check for safety and health issues with the equipment.

Fall / Winter Pet Health Tips

Fall / Winter Health Tips from GregRobert Pet Supplies– www.GRpet.com

Cold weather has finally arrived in Michigan and it’s time to start thinking about how to keep your pet safe during the cold months.  This is especially important for dogs or cats that spend prolonged periods outdoors.

  • Don’t leave your dog or pet outside for long periods of time. Consider purchasing a pet door.  There are newer models of pet doors that allow your pet to get in and out .. but they safely disallow other critters or small people in and out.
  • Keep your dog or pet warm, dry, and away from drafts. Dog sweaters are not just for style and may be just the right thing for your pet.
  • Be extra careful when your dog or pet is near frozen water.  Use a leash so your pet won’t dart onto thin ice.
  • Groom your dog or pet regularly to keep him/her properly insulated.
  • Feed your dog extra calories if he is a working dog.
  • Towel or blow-dry a wet dog or pet.  Don’t let your pet go out into freezing weather when wet.
  • Don’t leave your dog or pet alone in a car.  A few minutes can turn into a half hour when something unexpected arises.
  • Antifreeze is poisonous to dogs or pets although they like the smell.
  • Chocolate and alcohol (abundant during winter holidays) should be kept away from pets.
  • Rock salt to melt ice may irritate dog or pets footpads. Either a pair of boots or Pet safe salt should be used.
  • Provide plenty of fresh water for your dog or pet.  Hydration is just as important in cold weather.
  • Be careful of fireplaces which can burn your dog or pet.

A few precautions can save you and your pet from a disaster.  If you live in a northern state, now is the time to prepare for the winter monthes.

Choosing the Right Bird Seed Tube Feeder

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

Tube feeders are a great way to offer your backyard birds some tasty and nutritious bird seed anytime of the year.  This type of bird seed feeder is available in a variety of styles and sizes that you are sure to find one that suits your needs.  A great feature about tube feeders is that they neatly hold the bird seed until the bird comes to take it and the seed stays fresher inside of the tube protected from the elements.  When choosing your bird seed tube feeder, here are some things that your should consider:

  • The type of bird that you want to attract.  Tube feeders can hold a variety of bird seed.  Some can hold only sunflower seeds, thistle seeds, and others can hold a variety of seeds.  Some birds, such as finches, desire thistle seed, so putting up a thistle seed tube feeder will help to attract these types of birds.  One of my favorite bird seed is the Triple Tube Wild Bird Feeder because it can hold either mixed seed or thistle seed.  It also holds 10.5 pounds of bird seed, so you won’t have to keep refilling it everyday.
  • The amount of seed you want it to hold.  There are several bird seed tube feeders that come in a variety of sizes to give you a coordinated look in your yard or you can use one length throughout your yard.  The larger amount of seed the tube feeder holds, the less you will have to fill it up.  A great tube feeder for any bird lover that is available in different sizes is the  Quick-Clean Seed Tube Feeder.   Not only is this feeder easy to fill, it is also easy to clean.
  • The type of material.  While most bird seed tube feeders are available in a clear, UV-resistant plastic, some manufacturers are now making bird seed tube feeders in an earth friendly material.  Whether it is glass, UV-resistant plastic or recycled plastic, it will be easy for you to clean and maintain.  The EZ Clean Recycled Bird Feeder with Green Seed Ports is a great feeder for any environmentally-conscious bird lover.  This feeder is made of recycled plastic milk jugs and has a snap-out base that makes it easy to clean.

With so many styles to choose from, it can be hard to choose a tube feeder.  It is a good idea to select a few different types if you are a new bird enthusiast to determine which feeder works best for you.  For a great selection of all your bird supply needs, check out Rachel’s Robin.

Roaming Cats – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Pros and cons of keeping your cat indoors

There are a many arguments for keeping cats inside. They will live longer due to the chances of being hit by a car, hurt by other people or animals, or infected with contagious diseases from feral cats will be minimized (not to mention ticks and fleas). Cats will also prey on birds and small mammals – which may bring unwanted germs into your home upon return.

  These are but a few of the issues that arise from roaming cats. On the other hand, cats derive much pleasure from exploring around outside. If cats are allowed outside they need to be sterilized to prevent unwanted pregnancies and stray issues.

Compromises – Limiting Activity and Movement

Often, a satisfactory compromise is to allow the cat out under supervision. One method used is to let them out into a fenced yard. However, if you leave them out there, they will probably eventually climb the fence. When everything is said and done, a fenced yard is really not containment for a cat.

Using a harness and leash is a method that may work. Accustom your cat to the harness first, in the same way as a collar. Then accustom them to the leash by leaving it on for short periods of time. Then take them outside, and follow them where they go (do not try to take them “on a walk”). You can proof your backyard against escape with an “invisible fence” arrangement (these are usually for dogs, but many of our models can be adapted for larger cats). These give the cat a correction stimulus when approaching the property boundary.

Receive a printable mail-in manufacturer’s rebate for
up to $50 off the PetSafe Wireless Instant Fence. 

Make it Easy on Yourself! – Pet Doors

Pet doors are a good solution for people tired of letting cats in and out. There are many kinds of doors, including those that fit into patio doors without requiring a hole cut through the wall or door. You may have trouble with other animals coming in the door, or want to let your dog but not your cat use the pet door. The solution is an electronic pet door. The door has a lock that is deactivated by a special collar designed to work with the door. Therefore only the pet with the color will be allowed access.

Electronic pet doors are installed much like a regular pet door, but you plug them in or they run off batteries. The electronic doors need a firmer push to open than most. A great feature is the 4-way lock. The lock can be set so the cat can 1) go both in and out 2) go in only – great if you want to catch them 3) out only 4) totally locked.

It’s no surprise that cats are a bit harder to contain than cats if you allow them access to the outdoors, but with a little ingenuity, you can keep them safe.

Easily Improve Your Knowledge of Birds with a Book

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

During the fall and winter, when most of the birds have migrated south, it is a great time to improve your knowledge of birds.  Improving your knowledge of birds is important when trying to attract more birds to your yard or when identifying a particular type of bird.  An informative book is a great way to increase your knowledge of both birds and attracting birds to your yard.

One of my favorite bird books is the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds.  This informative book has great information on birds that are native to North America.  You will learn all about the birds that live in your zone and their feeding and living habits.  This type knowledge is ideal for learning how to attract the birds you want to see to your yard with seed, feeders, and shelter.  In addition, this book is great for taking with you as a guide on a nature walk in the park or the woods.  You will want to have this great book with every time you are bird watching.

For the beginning bird watcher, a great bird book to have is the Stokes Bird Feeder Book.  This book is very useful when planning out your bird feeder collection for the upcoming year.  It gives you imformative information on the various types of bird feeders available, what types of bird feeder shapes to start out with, and great pictures of both the female and male birds to help you identify the birds in your yard.  It also comes with a bird journal that is perfect for writing down the types of birds that visit you and the type of seed and feeder that they like.

In addition to these books, the Quick & Easy Attracting & Feeding Wild Birds, is perfect for the on-the-go bird watcher.  This quick read helps you to identify a number of birds that are the most commonly seen birds in North America.  It gives you tips on the types of plantings that are great for attracting birds and the type of seed that you should use.  With this easy-to-read book, you will become an expert in no time. 

A bird book is a great way for bird lovers to understand how to attract birds easier to your yard, helps with identification, and makes bird watching more productive.  Whether you are beginner or an expert, a great bird book is a must have.  For more great bird books, check out Rachel’s Robin.