bird baths » Tips

Puppy was born in a barn and now pees EVERYWHERE. Anyone know any tips?

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:57:24 +0000

I decided to try and do the puppy thing again. I found a ad in the paper for Lab/St. Bernard mix. It sounded like it would be a good choice for a playmate for my 6 year old lab mix. I didn’t want to do the puppy thing again but I was having a hard time finding a play mate as all the ads I called the dogs were already gone.
At the place the puppies were born in a barn. It was clean as far as I could see and only 4 puppies. We choice a female (really cute). We’ve had her a little over a week now. She has a small aggression, I believe just from her playmates. She’s good except for the peeing in the house. She did poop a couple of times but haven’t seen it in about 5 days. But the peeing is driving me crazy. She’s even peeing in the kennel.
I take her out about every hour though I try to hold off for about 1 1/2. I smoke so don’t want to do it every hour. At 9pm the water is taken away and she goes into the kennel around 10:30-11:00. At 4:30 am she gets let out as my husband wakes up and this disturbs her so she whines. I then put her back into the kennel until 6:30 am when I have to get the kids up. The kennel is considered a medium to large kennel. It is not partitioned as it’s not that big but it’s definatley big enough for her to turn around lay down comfortably. But it’s not so large that she has loads of room. As far as I can see she just stretches out the long way. I took her blanket out and noticed pee all over it. She also just picks a random spot in the house to pee. In the kitchen, on a rug, on wooden floors. I did the keep her in the kitchen so it was easy to clean up. But she does whine as she did have playmates. My 6 year old BIG dog doesn’t want to be locked in the kitchen all day either. She’s used to the run of the house and NEVER had an accident in here. There is no sniff sniff turn around it’s just drop and go. When I take her outside I say go potty and watch til she does. I like to wait until both businesses are done. It’s also VERY cold out here. I live up north in the freezing cold.
She just had a vet check today. She was given a kennel cough as she will be boarded on the 1st of Jan. til the 3rd. The place we are going to has a doggy door but I don’t know if it’s concrete or ground. I’ve heard good things about this kennel and my vets are full I have no family member to take care of them for me.
After all this rambling I’m basically just wondering if anyone has any advice. I’ve read articles but can’t find one on how to train a puppy not to go where she pleases after being born in a barn. It’s getting to the point where even though I hate to hear her whine after she goes out side I let her play for 1/2 hour and then she goes into the kennel for an hour. I have a 4 year old that climbs the gates and don’t need her sliding around in the pee if the pup just happens to do so again in the kitchen. Also we have a large dog bed for my older dog that we had in the kitchen. I threw a blanket on top to hide a vent the puppy was playing with and found that she peed on that blanket as well.
Not to sound dirty but i guess with my zoo I can’t smell it anymore. I have 4 birds that are breeding and their poop smells worse then anything and I clean that cage every day. But I also have 2 mice, 5 cats and fish. My cat boxes are down stairs to avoid puppy from eating the poop. I can smell poop but not pee.
Anyone know any special trick I can do? I know I need patience but I also need to train her to stop whining too as my husband works 10 hour days and drives 3 hours. We get 1 hour together if we are lucky. I need the pup to be quiet as well so that he can sleep. We have purchased a shock bark collar. One that emits a high pitch before shocking. But we have to wait at least a week for it to be shipped.
Any tricks on how to also get her outside to pee and to NOT pee in the kennel?
lol well you can have the foot of snow here! We have had below zero cold snaps and I can’t stand the cold. And I was born and raised in WI. The pup has been peeing in the lowest spots possible. It don’t even know what grass is. We still have 3 foot snow drifts from a storm that came thru the other night. She starts to shiver too fast. I’m trying to help her understand that if she does her business fast enough she can go back inside.
Our kitchen is quite small. We have this huge island in the middle that the dogs run around. It’s about 20×20. She only gets run of the first floor after I know she has gone pee and poop and only for a 1/2hr. I don’t put food and water in the kennel as she isn’t in there long enough.
I’m not saying be born in a barn is all that bad but if she is peeing in her kennel at night after only 4 hours when it’s bed time that gets a little hectic. The kennel isn’t big enough for her to pee in one spot and sleep in another. Just sleep only. The kitchen is for play.

Window Redecoration Tips

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:57:38 +0000

Window Redecoration Tips

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Window Redecoration Tips

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Posted: Sep 08, 2010 |Comments: 0
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A place of utmost importance in our beings, our homes deserve all the love and care that we can give it. Like a bird’s nest, our homes are the place where our parents nurtured us and cared for us until the time has come for us to fly. If you’ve got a family of your own, you probably understand how important it is to have a nice and pleasant place where you can raise your children and where they can feel safe and comfortable.

Structurally speaking, windows are one of the most important parts of our homes, yet one of the most taken for granted in terms of design. Aside from providing light and air throughout the entire house, our windows are also considered major structures in terms of size and serve as breaks and accents that give life to our otherwise plain walls. Hence, it shouldn’t be surprising to know that our windows affect our homes’ designs significantly, and if treated correctly, can dramatically change and improve our living space.

There are many ways to beautify windows. One of the most traditionally and widely-used method is to use curtains and furniture and accents to bring out the best from them. However, it is important to learn that the practice is not always done correctly. Some of the most common mistakes committed by those attempting to improve their homes using this application include over stuffing their windows with too much stuff, not using the proper colors that match the rest of the house and hanging curtains and drapes that just crowd the breathing space.

In order to properly accentuate your windows, there are three rules that one must follow in order to achieve maximum effect. And it starts with knowing what you want. Do you wish for the windows to open up the room and make it seem bigger or do you want it to make the room a bit warmer? Having a definite goal and concrete design inside your head would make everything else easier for you.

Next, choose your color. Obviously, if you’re going for the more spacious effect, opt for light and semi-neutral colors such as light blue, cream and beige. However, you should take into consideration other colors inside the room to ensure they do not clash. Obviously it is a huge gaffe to use blue for your window panels, when the rest of the room is draped in warm tones. Using a color wheel is ideal for this part. The wheel provides a guide in which colors can be combined. One good tip when combining colors: go for what looks good and allows you to achieve your goal. For drapes, whether you’re going for the cooler or warmer effect, it is ideal to use lighter shades and materials. This allows for the room to breathe and air to circulate, and does not block natural light coming into the room.

Rugs also play an important part. Choose rugs that match the floor and do not clash with the color used for the window, otherwise it can draw all the attention to itself and away from the window and its surroundings.

Last but not the least is structure. If you plan to put a table with knick knacks near the window, it is highly recommended that you do not overdo it by crowding a lot of stuff on top. It’s very important to limit things to that they cover only near fifty percent of the table’s surface. If possible, opt to place a vase with live plants among the space. If done properly, this adds life and a sense of coolness and class to any room in your home.

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Tips to improving this?

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:01:05 +0000

This is just one of the beginning chapters from my story and I was wondering if I could have some feedback on it. Tell me if it’s good or bad and what suggestion you may or may not have. Be honest with me. Thanks in advance xx.

She breathed in the scent of freedom as she fell toward Earth. Her hair whisked up above and all around her. She pulled her arms closer to her body and straightened out her legs, and soon enough she was plunging towards the ground. She was free.
It felt like she was floating on air, she was in exaltation, in heaven, and she loved it. The feeling of independence, the thought of never having to be under the control of her strict, overprotective, paranoid mother ever again, it thrilled her, made her so happy, and to the point that she could burst.
Never once had she thought of the consequence of running away from home, she had been too excited with just the idea of finally getting away, but now that it was too late, the thought was definitely becoming a concern.
She wondered what it would look like to the stunned and bewildered eyes of a crowd of people, a crowd of normal people, as they witnessed a woman plummeting toward the hard, concrete ground and land with nothing but a scratch. What would they think when the falling girl arrived in the most elegant and peaceful manner that one can when nose-diving into a planet. Surely they would figure something was wrong with her, that she was different from the rest of them.
“I could use my powers, they would help, but what would happen if I played the “Now you see me, now you don’t” game?” Alaina thought as she opened her eyes just barely enough to see the blurred, oncoming city.
Would they shake their heads in disbelief and move on with their lives or would they report what had just been played out before them and cause a whole bunch of commotion? Commotion that was extremely unneeded. Would a picture of her end up printed on the first page of New York Times the very next day, the very next hour?
As the possibilities shot through her head, Alaina remembered her mother’s scolding words. “We would be revealed!” she had shouted and now she inquired what consequences and truth those few letters actually held.
As she descended faster now toward the thick cement, there were families of children, mothers, and fathers all pointing up to the sky at her in confusion and wonder. “Of course the whole city of New York would just happen to be here, in the exact spot that I just happened to land in” Alaina thought, trying to figure out a way to make her arrival look a bit more… Normal. Maybe faking a broken arm or a twisted ankle… Even limping around or making the assumption that she was bleeding to death would help to add a bit more to the act.
Alaina could feel the gravitational pull against her as she declined. It wanted her down, tugging and yanking her closer to her destination, increasing her speed with its actions. There was no turning back now.
Suddenly, the whirlwind of air that had been enclosed around her stopped, as did the chats among the group. Silence blanketed the whole area as her matted hair settled down into a windblown due and as her eyes fell upon the surrounding people.
She moved from her crouched position to a standing one as everybody gawked back at her like they had just witnessed an assassination. Every stunned eye was on her, she had the spotlight without even trying.
Slowly, but surely, she began to back away, the tight circle of people breaking as they moved out of her way.
There were no calls for help. There were no shouts to ask if she was okay. This surely was not going the way she had planned.
The world had frozen. There was no wind. There was no noise. There were no clicks of the steps of a person walking by; no bird singing off in the distance; no purr of an engine from a car that was driving by, nothing at all. And yet, the silence had never been so loud.

Tips To Attract Birds To Your Backyard

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:53:43 +0000

Many people would love to attract birds to their back yards to brighten up the area with their beautiful colors and enchanting songs. Birds have a few simple needs, food, shelter, water and nests. If you provide these simple elements, your backyard will be a great place for birds to live and thrive.

Birds typically eat insects, seeds, fruits, nuts and berries. When you are planning your backyard environment, you should include species of flowers to attract insects and spiders. For fruits, nuts and berries, chooses a variety of plants, shrubs and trees which will continue to produce food as the seasons change. Another option is birdfeeders. The most common food for birdfeeders is sunflower seeds along with corn and millet. There are different styles of birdfeeders with different feeding areas to attract various species of birds including hanging feeders, platform feeders, tube feeders and suet (for birds to eat insect) feeders.

Safe water, free of pollutants and away from predators is extremely important to birds. Birds use water for drinking, bathing and cleaning their feathers. If you choose a birdbath, make sure it has some rough edges so the birds can get solid footing Birds are attracted to the sound of running or moving water so if you are lucky enough to have a stream, you have a great start. Ponds or pools should have stones, pebbles or sand for the birds.

Providing shelter or cover will protect the birds when they feed and nest. Many birds like to scrounge for food on the ground and look for areas where they can’t be seen by potential enemies. They also need place to build their nests. A combination of dense twigs, shrubs, plants and trees along with thorny plants such as roses with shield the birds. You should also have some open grassy areas. The greenery and shrubbery will also provide great nesting material for the wild birds. You can also set up nest boxes which will provide a place for hole-nesters and their babies since most backyards won’t have their normal habitat, dead trees. You can also either buy or build bird houses in your backyard, providing a safe haven from the wind, rain and cold.

One of the simplest ways not to scare birds away from your backyard and providing happy safe area to raise their young is to keep other animals away, especially cats. Following these easy tips and you will be able to enjoy many wild birds calling your backyard home.

Get Birding binoculars at http://www.binocularsbest.net/

Tips For Bird Watching

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:53:43 +0000

Bird watching is a fantastic hobby suitable for individuals of all ages. In addition to enjoying the great outdoors and gaining an appreciation for nature, bird watching is a hobby that can be shared with friends and family. Many bird watchers find themselves healthier due to their time outside scanning the skies for that ultra-rare bird. If you are interested in beginning bird watching as a hobby, consider the following tips to get your started and on the right track.

1.) Get a book.

Most bird watchers are not experts on our fine feathered friends from the start. Instead of thinking, a bird is a bird is a bird, think again! Birds are a fabulous species that are as diverse as any other set of creatures on this earth. Furthermore, most birds are readily identified by their coloration, so choose a book that has many color pictures suitable for matching the bird in the sky with the correct one in the book. Bird books are available for all different types of bird watchers, from children to adults interested in learning more about birds that the color of their feathers. Also, consider choosing a book with information about bird tracks, since you will be able to determine what types of birds are in the area by the tracks they make.

2.) Listen to the music.

Even if you cannot see the bird, you will be able to identify the bird through its song. In order to be able to correctly identify birds by sound, consider investing in a CD of bird songs. These are readily available for every budget, just be sure to choose a CD that identifies the species of bird that is doing the singing. Consider involving the entire family in learning how to identify birds by their songs, as these CDs are excellent ways to keep the whole family entertained on long car trips.

3.) Join a club.

The old saying, “birds of a feather flock together” also applies to bird watchers. There are groups all over the country-and the world where bird watchers join to socialize and converse about the different birds they have seen. If you are a new bird watcher, these groups will be great in getting you into the hobby, since most bird watchers have already learned how to identify birds by both sight and sound. Furthermore, bird watching clubs have a great deal of fun by organizing unique activities that incorporate their favorite hobby.

4.) Bring the birds to your yard.

Bird lovers and bird watchers often strive to entice birds to their yards, especially during the harsh winter months when food and proper shelter may be hard to find. Start by outfitting your yard with a bird bath, bird houses, and bird feeders. Depending on your location in the world and the types of birds that are native to your area, you should work to provide the correct food and houses for those species. Also, you may want to consider investing in a heated bird bath, especially if you live in cold climates where winter’s wrath can freeze the water in the bath, preventing your feathered friends from enjoying the water. Also, consider planting specific flowers and plants in your yard that will draw birds to your home. In addition to bringing beauty to your yard, these bird friendly plants will invite your flying pals to your home.

However you decide to begin bird watching, do so immediately! Many individuals who experience stress-filled lives find that bird watching is the perfect activity to unwind and release the stresses and pressures of their work or home life.

For tips on gerber daisy care and english daisy, visit the Types Of Daisies website.

Our siberian huskey, Phoenix , seems so difficult to train, any tips?

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:00:18 +0000

Phoenix is SOOO full of energy. He is about 6 months old. We were aware that he would be a high maintance, playful pet. But we just cant seem to get him to pay attention or settle down long enough to learn anything…he just wants to GO, GO, GO……He will run through our flower garden and grab a flower in his mouth on the way through it, to the other side of the yard and knock over the bird bath, than jump on me spilling my coffee down my shirt…LOL…this is just an example. Its not like he never gets attention. We have a huge fenced in back yard and the kids and I are always back there playing with him.

Phoenix also, for some reason, will potty where ever he happens to be standing…on the concrete under the basketball hoop, in front of his kennel, right in front of the garage door, WHERE EVER…

We get frusturated with him but also laugh because he is so adorible…maybe thats our first mistake. LOL

Top 10 List Of Tips For Making Your Ideas Stick

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:55:06 +0000

Tip 1: Break expectations. Your audience will walk in with certain assumptions about your message. If you believe those assumptions are mistaken, you’ve got to confront them directly. Effective teachers do this well. Imagine an eight-grade science class: “The earth feels pretty solid, right? But it turns out that the surface of the earth rides on large moving plates, and if we understand how they move, we can understand the shape of the continents on the globe and we can understand how mountains and volcanoes are formed.”

Tip 2: Create a “proverb.” We tend to look down on soundbites, thinking that “shortness” must mean oversimplification. But use proverbs as your inspiration. Proverbs are short phrases that carry profound meaning — think of the wisdom that is packed into a short sentence such as, “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”

Tip 3: Be concrete. Being concrete helps people make decisions and take action. The Saddleback Church in California has defined a fictional couple, Saddleback Sam and Samantha, who embody the prototypical traits of the kind of community member that the church wants to reach. It’s easier for the members to plan outreach activities when they have “Sam and Samantha” in mind, as compared to a more abstract description, such as a “dual-income, upper middle-class, professional couple.”

Tip 4: Use stories. People will remember your stories, not your pontifications. Aesop’s Fables have endured for centuries, but Aesop’s Thesis Sentences wouldn’t have made it 10 minutes. Choose your stories carefully, so that after the fact, your audience can reconstruct your core meaning, just like we can do with “The Fox and the Grapes.”

Tip 5: Use an analogy. You can get across complex ideas quickly by making use of what people already know. That’s what analogies do — they create links between new ideas and ideas that people have already learned. Movies in Hollywood, for example, are pitched in terms of analogies to other movies. The movie that became Alien was pitched as “Jaws on a spaceship.” That pitch conveys a tremendous amount of information in four words.

Tip 6: Allow people to test for themselves. People love to try before they buy. The same is also true with your ideas. Give people a “test” that allows them to confirm, for themselves, whether your idea is credible. For instance, the Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” campaign depended on the customer’s ability to see that Wendy’s meat patties were larger than those of the competition.

Tip 7: Create a curiosity gap. Research says that we feel curious when there’s a gap between what we know and what we want to know. You should tease your audience with what they don’t know. For instance, think of how your local evening news programs promote themselves: “There’s a drug sweeping thru high schools — and it may be in your medicine cabinet!”

Tip 8: Focus on individuals, not the “big picture.” Mother Teresa once said, “If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.” Many charities attract our support by focusing on specific human beings — “For $20 a month, you can sponsor Rokia, a 7-year-old girl, in Kenya” — rather than huge abstract causes, such as African poverty. This phenomenon works just as well in business contexts. Don’t talk about “improving customer service,” talk about how specific people should behave differently.

Tip 9: Use human-scale statistics. It is hard to make numbers stick, but when you must use statistics to boost your argument, make sure to frame them in a way that they can be understood. For instance, it’s hard to picture the scale of a $300 million government program. But it’s easier to picture the scale when you describe it as a program that spends about a dollar annually on every man, woman, and child in the United States.

Tip 10: Say 1 thing, not 5 things. A famous trial lawyer said, “If you say five things, you say nothing.” It’s vital that we strip down our idea to its core. A famous example of useful simplicity was the theme of the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign, written by James Carville: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Author Bios
Chip Heath, co-author of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, is a professor of organizational behavior in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He lives in Los Gatos, California.

Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, is a Consultant to the Policy Programs of the Aspen Institute. A former researcher at Harvard Business School, he is a co-founder of Thinkwell, an innovative new-media textbook company. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

http://www.madetostick.com/

http://www.madetostick.com/

Successful Backyard Birding Tips

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:56:24 +0000

Bird watching is a thrilling and fulfilling hobby that is suitable for people of all lifestyles. It is also a hobby would has become more popular over the years with over 30,000 people searching for bird watching related terms on the internet every month.

The great thing about birding is that is it a hobby that you can participate in anywhere – even in your own backyard. Infact, Backyard birding is not only exciting and enjoyable, it is also a very low cost way of observing nature.

There is over nine hundred species of birds in the United States alone. No matter how you stack it, that number means that the hobby can take you to far off locales and be exciting for a lifetime.

The basics of backyard birding are simple. There are two considerations and both of these are equipment-based thoughts that you will need to work with. The first important decision will be choosing the binoculars you will use. This is probably the most important piece of equipment that you will buy for the hobby. Without a good pair of binoculars then bird watching is nearly impossible to say the least. Not only should you consider the quality of the binoculars. You should also make sure the comfort level matches your personal preferences.

For backyard birding, pocket binoculars are usually sufficient because the birds will be in relatively close proximity.

During certain months, the sights of natural birdlife may be scarce but there are many ways of making your garden attractive to many different birds and enjoying their presence for most of the year.

There are a few ways that you can make your garden more suitable for backyard birding. These methods are:

1. Installing a Bird House: This is one of the most common methods and, best of all, birds love them. No matter what the weather a house can provide shelter against any kinds of weather and birds can have something to eat or drink during their stay.

2. Fitting a Bird Bath: For people who love bird watching there is nothing nicer than watching birds frolic in a bath while you sit comfortably inside or lounge in your garden.

3. Having Large Trees: As the winter months start to creep in, birds need to prepare their nests ready for the birth of their young and it creates a beautiful atmosphere. There is nothing nicer than watching birds twittering away from the trees. Greenery such as conifers almost guarantees visitors all year round. Overall, these are common features that can be found in any garden, but birds love them and this will mean an ultimate experience for you and your family.

With these backyard birding tips, you should be able to enjoy bird watching from the comfort of your own home.

Find out about the best Bird Watching Binoculars at www.Bird-Watching-Guide.org

Tips For Attracting Birds To Your Back Yard

Fri, 21 May 2010 04:54:54 +0000

Looking for ways to attract more of God’s beautiful feathered creatures into your yard? Great! It’s really not hard – give the birds what they need, and they will come.

The first thing the birds need is food. A simple bird feeder with mixed seed can provide your birds with food, or you can go for something more complex, to attract more species of birds.

Thistle seed will attract many species of birds, such as some finches, that other wise would not come. Likewise, you may want to put out suet, or other “special” foods to attract more birds. Of course, during the summer, put out a hummingbird and/or an oriole feeder.

The second very important thing birds need is shelter. Birds have many predators out to catch them – everything from hawks to cats. Some people will go so far as to build brush piles in their yards to shelter birds, but that is rather unsightly, to say the least. An easier solution is to plant a flower bed filled with some evergreen bushes, ground cover, etc. It will look great, and provide a haven for birds.

Another thing that you can offer birds is a bath. You can provide them with a typical water bird bath, or you can provide them with a dust bath. A dust bath can be as simple as a patch of sand underneath the bird feeder. Nothing fancy is required!

Last, but not least, you’ll probably want to provide your birds with nesting houses – a safe, dry place for the to raise their families! Of course, be sure that you choose appropriate houses for the species of birds that you have nesting in your yard. If you’re fortunate, you might get to watch a pair of birds raise their young – few things are more exciting to watch.

In summary, give birds what they need and want, and they will come to your yard – and you can enjoy their colorful beauty.

Be sure that you’re outfitted with a pair of binoculars from Nikon or Olympus to watch your feathered friends with!

Garden Bird Houses – Some Tips to Attract the Birds and Keep Them Safe

Wed, 05 May 2010 04:54:27 +0000

There are many ways to attract wild birds to your garden and hopefully to set up home in your garden bird house. Providing food and a safe place to eat is one of the easiest and most effective ways. This is particularly important during the winter months when there may be lack of their natural food.
Set up feeding stations designed for the different species you would like to see in your garden.

For finches place specially designed thistle feeders that hold the small thistle feeds that they love. Other speciality bird feeders include hummingbird feeders to hold nectar, woodpecker feeders and jay feeders. Tube feeders are designed to prevent seeds spilling on the ground and keep the seeds dry. You could also set up a window feeder to see the birds from the comfort of your room.

Always check the food regularly to make sure it is dry and free from mold and clean up around the feeder to deter wasps, ants and other predators. If squirrels are a problem in your garden be sure to purchase a squirrel proof bird feeder.

Provide Fresh Water for the Birds

Wild birds need a source of fresh water for both drinking and bathing. You could provide this with water pans or bird baths. Place water containers at various levels as some birds prefer ground level, others will be attracted to water placed at a higher level. Place any water sources away from bird feeders as birds prefer a quiet place for bathing and preening. Attract the birds to your water source with a water dripper placed in the bird bath or a mister in the trees. The gentle sounds of running water will attract the birds and many birds enjoy a bath below the dripper or in a mister as it simulates raindrops on their feathers.

During the winter months a heated bird bath or one fitted with a de-icer will ensure the water is always at the right temperature and available for the birds.

Provide a Natural Environment

Let a part of your garden grow wild and scatter wild flower seeds through the area to provide a natural environment for the birds. hang bird feeders from trees or posts in this area. This will enhance the sense of security for the birds.

Your bird house must be a safe place for birds to nest and bring up their young. Here are some tips for making your bird house proof from squirrels, yellow jackets, snakes, cats, wasps, ants and other invasive birds.

Perches

There is no need to have any perches in your bird house. The nesting birds do not need them and they only provide a means for predators to gain entrance. many bird houses come with a perch under the entrance hole. Remove it!

Baffles

A bird house mounted on a pole can have baffles fitted to prevent predators from climbing the pole and gaining entrance to the bird house. A metal baffle is preferable as it cannot be chewed. A bird house mounted on a tree can also have baffles attached to the tree trunk.

Metal plates

A metal plate fitted with a small entrance hole can be placed over the original hole on the bird house. This will prevent predators from enlarging the hole to gain entrance.

Entrance Hole

use a bird house with a small entrance hole that is just large enough for the species of bird you wish to attract. A larger hole will allow invading birds to gain entrance and eject the baby birds inside.

Ants Nests

Regularly check around the bird house (and bird feeders if you have them) for ants nests. Deal with them quickly using a method that is not harmful to wild birds.

Metal Poles

For bird houses mounted on metal poles slip a large PVC pipe over the pole before mounting the bird house. This will deter squirrels, snakes and raccoons from climbing up to the bird house. You could also smear vegetable oil on the pipe.

Cats

Fit your cat with a collar with a bell to prevent her sneaking up on the birds.

For more information on attracting birds to your garden and some good deals on garden bird houses check out Garden Bird Houses or Blue Bird Houses