Chickadee Taps on Window?

One of my Blogger buddies told me about a mysterious chickadee bird tapping on the window. Here is some info and links you might want to check out, along with plenty of my own information.

"Black-Capped Chickadees are bold and inquisitive and are usually the first to find a new feeder. They appreciate a reliable food source and have been known to tap on windows if the feeder runs low."



The Chickadee may be trying to get your attention or most likely get in. A good solution is to check the feeder for daily fillings, or look for something that is irritating the bird. For example, a large squirrel was bombarding our feeder, and the birds got angry at him. They perched in the pear trees and would chirp loudly.  We put out safflower seeds and not as many squirrels came.

 

i have a small bird that goes from window to window tapping on the glass, it does this on the window of any room i'm in?

Do you feed the birds? If so, they have an uncanny ability to sense when the seeds are going out. We have  chickadees and titmice, purple finches, mourning doves and nut hatches near out house. Everyday at noon they gather in the two trees in front of our door and wait for us to open it and spread some seed on the grass and patio. It's great fun to see and hear them. Another reason for your bird to go from window to window is that it sees its own reflection in the glass and thinks it's another bird. We had a bird last year who kept attacking our glass patio door all day long until it was exhausted. We didn't know what to do. Finally, we put a piece of cardboard over the door and that seemed to work. Good Luck!

15 Reasons(count 'em: 15) Why Rats RULE!

Rats are awesome pets, but SOME people don't like them. If someone in your household needs a little persuading, then print out this list and hand it to them!

1. Rats are personable. They love humans and are social pets that don't hide in their sleeping houses and be shy. They always want to say "hi" to any humans that pass by, rat-lover or not! They also have unique personalities that make them great pets.

2. Rats are affectionate and loving. Yes, affectionate! Rats are sweet, snuggling creatures. Rats have natural instincts to be with each other and they will love to sit in your lap or on your shoulder and lick you. Unlike hamsters, they really want to be with someone.

3. Rats are clean. People think rats are dirty, filthy, diseased creatures. Wrong! Rats groom often, and like cats, they have a second germ-free saliva that foams at the lips while grooming. It acts as a soap to clean their fur and tail. Another way they are clean is their waste. They keep urine and feces in one corner of their habitat and don't leave it scattered all over a room. They can also be litter box trained so they don't even need a cage nearby for playing, just a small "rat-box" in a corner for him to have access to.

4. Rats are easy to care for. Rats don't need a lot of care. Even if you don't have time to play on some days, rats will be happy to explore a safe room while you do house-chores or homework. Everything else is a breeze. Water and food can be replaced every other day. Cage cleaning is simple: every two weeks. Rats don't need as much cleaning care as other pets. The only thing is playtime. Rats shouldn't have a plastic ball. Instead, you should have fun activities for them(cucumber slices in a bowl of water, blanket tunneling, outdoor harness) and especially one-on-one time.

5. Rats are inexpensive to have. Rat owners only spend the most when they first get the rat: probably about $90-$100 max. The rest of his life is very inexpensive. Food lasts longer and is usually only $6-$8 dollars. Cages don't need to be replaced. Accessories like training items, toys, and harnesses don't need to be bought right away.

6. Rats are smart and trainable. Rats are the most common animals used in labs and college psychology
studies. Some people create "Rat Olympics" as school events, and even owners can train rats to spin, sit, speak, open things, fetch, stay, stand, jump......as much as a dog can be taught! Service rats are used to find bombs and even physical problems with people using their astounding sense of smell. Blind use rats to guide them. Children with down syndrome and autism have rats as loving pets for snuggles and to help them learn. Rats are very amazing creatures when it comes to training and intelligence.

7. Rats are great with kids! Rats never bite or scratch and are safe for young children to pick up. They are sturdy, tolerant pets that don't try to "get back" at a grabby toddler. In fact, they want to be petted. Surprisingly enough, rats are perfect pets for kids in hospitals that have cancer or have had surgery. They are therapeutic animals that make you love them forever once you see their personality towards you.

8. Rats are cuddly and huggable. Rats are soft creatures that are good for hugging and loving on. They will love back!

9. Rats are quiet.  Rats are VERY quiet. They don't bark, hiss, or screech. They don't keep you up at night. People who had rats in a room whenever the landlord or their rodent-negative friends came to visit were never heard of or noticed.

10. Rats don't take up much room. Pet rat cages are usually no bigger than 4 feet tall. Living rooms or bedrooms are great places to keep rats, since the cages look modern and cool in those environments.

11. Rats don't need shots or many medical visits. Unlike dogs or cats, rats don't need expensive check-ups unless they are obviously hurt or sick. Spaying and neutering costs $20 per rat, but make sure it is a rat-savvy vet.

12. Rats are loyal. Once a pet rat owner had an unexpected seizure and the rat climbed out the cat door, climbed the top of the fence, and squeaked loudly for the next door neighbor. Rats are loyal, caring pets that care about their owners greatly and will even lose their lives for them.

13. Rats are entertaining and great stress busters. Rats are extremely fun pets to watch and interact with. A simple idea like a tissue box turns into a million ideas for a pet rat! 24/7 your pet rat will be doing something that will be fun to watch. Pet rat enthusiasts take rats to rehabilitation and nursing homes and let everyone watch the rat(s) play and even interact with the people! After a long stressful day at work, pet rat owners can play with their pet rats to relieve stress and anxiety, along with plenty of relaxation.

14. Rats come in all sorts of colors and styles. Rats aren't just white, they come in plenty of colors, sizes, and shapes to fit your needs and likes. Rats can be used for show in 4-H and other animal showing organizations to show off your rat's unique colors.

15. Rats are animals you will get very attached to. Karen Robbins, a rat owner, says: "I used to have goldfish. They were pretty, but when one died, I didn't get sad at all. They were simple to replace, and nobody felt bad." She recalls the day she got her rats. "My mom didn't want anything to do with them, but after a few days of having them, she loved them! She told me they were great pets and that she couldn't believe her feelings about them before." Having rats as pets is rewarding and satisfying. There are many great things about these misunderstood pets that people should know. "These little angels are the greatest." Robbin says. "Each of the many rats I have owned have given me so much love, affection, and joy - more than i could ever ask. I cannot imagine living my life without them."

Your Pet and Grooming

Although baths are not a good idea for your small pets(See the post "Wet N' Wild"), grooming using a brush and comb is something your pet needs to have done at least once a week. Most pet owners have enough time to do this every other day, but everyone has a different schedule so it's hard to commit to something like that.


Grooming Benefits

Grooming pets not only creates soft, glossy fur, but it can also have other benefits too. For instance, when you groom your pet, he can trust and bond with you better. Petting or brushing an animal releases a substance that calms you and makes you happy, closely related to the effects of chocolate. Best of all, sitting down with your pet and grooming him is another way of spending time with him, and only then can you really enjoy your pet and your surroundings.
Like I said before, grooming also helps your pet's well-being and immunity. Animals involved in neglect and abuse have very dirty, mangled fur because their owner didn't care or had no time to take care of them. Of course, anyone who reads this blog probably doesn't need to worry about that happening, because they surely treat their pets with love.


When It Isn't an Option

Animals with long fur need grooming attention often, likely every day. Most people prefer short-haired animals rather than ones with long fur because it is hard to promise to always care for their fur. That's why people are always rescuing long-haired dogs like Maltese and poodles because they have been running around for months, letting their fur get outgrown and getting moss, leaves, branches, and even live animals live in their fur. A dog held an accidental world record because he had 4 1/2 foot tall, twenty-five pound fur and he couldn't get up! They found mice and bugs in the fur after they removed it. Him and hundreds of others of dogs get outgrown fur just because nobody wanted to take care of the dog and left him.
So hopefully you groom your pet's fur well, especially if his coat is long.


How To Groom Small Pets

Once a week, have a pet "mini-spa." You will need an assortment of brushes: a flea comb, a bristle brush, a curved brush, and a clean bottle-brush or tooth-brush if you have a very small pet like a hamster. You will also need a dry washcloth, a mirror, animal nail clippers, a few baby wipes, a clean nail file, and some cotton swabs.

A Rabbit: For a pet rabbit, put a hand towel on a card table or counter-top, then place your bunny on top. Run your hand over his whole body, feeling for bumps or tangles. Separate every area of fur and look for mites or fleas. Pinch each tuft of fur between your middle and pointer finger, then brush the flea comb through the tuft. Next, use the curved brush to comb down his back, neck, and sides, then take your bristle brush and do the same. Gently take the clean tooth-brush and brush his head, being extra careful around the bump at the very edge of the back of his head between his ears. Now examine his face and use the baby wipe to wipe away any discharge under his eyes.(Brownish-yellow dry crusty stuff under his eyes is normal, like what humans have in the morning, but green liquidy snot stuff in his nose, eyes or ears is bad!) Look in his mouth for a normal pink tongue, gums and cheeks, and good teeth. If not, get a non-scented nail file and file down his teeth. If it is so long that it has cut into his gums, then consult a vet at once. Turn him over and look at his belly and check for bloating. Then examine his tail to see whether it is broken or not. Set him back down and cut his nails, avoiding the white/pink quick. Now he is done!

Any Small Rodent: Put your pet rodent in a plastic Tupperware container without the lid. Do all the yellow highlighted things above. Now, use the tooth-brush or bottle brush to brush his whole body. If you can, cut his nails, but be extra careful not to remove a toe. Look at his teeth and if they are ingrown, file them with a clean nail file. Use the dry washcloth to gently rub his underbelly. Do not use the bottle brush or tooth-brush, because they are very sensitive there.


Chinchillas: Use a chinchilla or pumice-stone brush to brush his fur. Check his teeth and nails.



Thanks for reading Critter Corner! Please comment if you have any questions or other things to say!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Christmas isn't about presents and gifts, but it is nice to give someone something.Here are a few gift ideas for friends who have animals.

1. Treats. Unless your friend's pet is diabetic, you can make up a little gift bag that has treats in it. If you don't want it to be a surprise for the owner, ask her what his favorite treats are. At pet stores they have special Christmas-themed treat packages, such as a candy-cane-shaped rawhide chew I saw once.
2. Toys.  One of my animal-loving friends has a dog and a cat, and she bought little personalized stockings in them that come with toys and treats in them already. The ones she had had a little clear place to put a picture of the pet. You could get that, or just get some rope toys. Even if you get the same as what they already have, they probably won't mind. The original toy will get old over time, and the owner can simply replace it with yours.
3. Coupons. Try collecting pet coupons and put them in an envelope. By that, I don't mean toys and treats kind of coupons(although those would be fine too) but I mean the other kind. For example, there are doggy spas and camps all over. There are some coupons that make them less expensive and offer a better package.
4. Pet care. Even experienced pet owners need a break from their pet-chores from time to time. Or maybe they are going on a trip and they need a kennel for their pets. A great gift is to take care of your friends pets for the day(or more). Since it's a gift, don't even charge them. Just do it for free and save your friend's wallet.

Although all these gifts are great ideas, the best gift of all is to spend time with your friend and your own pets. It's up to you to be the best friend possible to your human friend, and your animal friend too! Merry Christmas!(Well, not yet, but it's coming up fast)

Animals Can Have Friends Too!

Animals are a passion to me, but books follow close behind. Yesterday we picked up some books at the library, and along with the so-called "long lost" book of my favorite series, plus a rat guide-book, I found an amazing book o true incidents called Unlikely Friendships(by Jennifer S. Holland). It's about strange, weird, and even hilarious friendships between different animals. Take the lion, tiger, and bear. They were all abandoned in the wild, and they soon found each other in an animal rescue sanctuary. The trio love to sleep, eat, and even play together! Or what about the sheep and the elephant, brought together when the baby elephant's mother died suddenly, leaving the elephant sad? When the sheep was introduced to the baby elephant in hopes that he would make a good companion, the people at the sanctuary were amazed when the sheep did normal elephant things, such as taking a dust bath along with his buddy.

Some stories in the book you may have heard of. For instance, many remember Koko the gorilla that could speak ASL(American Sign Language), but did they know about her beloved pet kitten she named All Ball?
Many stories are just plain "wow". (Please don't try this at home!) A few years ago there was a hamster, jokingly called Gohan--meaning "meal" in Chinese-- who was supposedly about to become dinner for a rat snake. Instead of eating his live meal, the snake allowed the hamster to climb on his back, scurry around, and make his home in the home of the rat snake. There wasn't anything wrong with the snake; it just so happened to be a very special hamster, and lucky too!


If you think your pets could be in this book, you may be right! Some of the stories I encountered featured guinea pigs and rabbits living in harmony. My favorite funny story was a cat and a rat. They used the same litter-box, cuddled together on their owner's bed, and watched birds by the window. If you think that's outrageous, then get a load of this! Further research indicates that the owner has said that the rat rides on the cat's back to get a better view when "staking out!" Then, the rat climbs onto the counter when the owner isn't looking, and grabs the loot, no other than a few nibbles of dry cat food! The two dine on their favorite food in style--under the owner's bed!




This book is a great insight into how animals can care for each other. I personally thought it was beautiful to read, because it gave me a little laugh now and then, in-between those true awe-inspiring moments. THIS IS A MUST READ for all animal lovers, and that's a promise. You can find it at your local library, or if you are willing to pay a little at a bookstore so you can keep it for yourself, you won't be disappointed. Trust me, it is worth every penny!!

Taking Your Pet Along For The Ride

Because of Christmas coming, people usually have parties and get-togethers concerning this holiday. Most relatives live far away, and you probably remember driving up to your brothers or sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces or nephew's house to celebrate the season. When pet-owners can't leave their pets home, what do they do?

The answer is to pack up your pet's supplies and get on the road!


UH-OH!

Most dogs or cats really don't like going in the car. Dogs assume it means the vet, and cats have to sit in a cramped, uncomfortable, crate. Supplies are needed for the car trips. For your small pet, bring all his cage supplies. The tiny critters are easier, because they can bring everything they need with them, in their cage!! But dogs can't use the bathroom in the car! They need to let them out for a potty break every half-hour, just in case. Cats are even more difficult, because the litter-box will spill if you put it inside the crate. Invest in a built-in litter-tray crate that has food and water bowls that easily pull out.


BOREDOM BUSTERS

Dogs may need chewing toys to play with and blankets to lay on. Do not offer any treats because the pet dog or cat may puke it up before you arrive to your destination--and who wants the stress of cleaning that up before they get there? Small pets like hamsters and mice will nap the whole way, because the shaking car will probably frighten them too much or make it hard to get around. Your cat will most likely meow or hiss because he is scared too. So how do you get your pet to be calm and quiet? Well, there is really no way to resolve this problem. All cats are naturally scared of being in a vehicle, and you will most likely notice him to race under the bed when you arrive at the house.








Daisy talks:

Yeah, I have been in a car before. There are all sorts of weird noises, and your water bowl usually spills. But the nice thing is that your owners clean it up and if it gets on your fur, they dry you off. I got some on my nose. It dribbled down my face and stuff, but my owner helped me. I remember the color of the towel she used---red. MY FAVORITE COLOR!!! Oh, that was pretty random. Anyway though, you know, you could alway take your pet to the kennel. Kennels are, like, these big things, these, like, cage things.... You know, and you sit in them. Well, like, I mean...You know. Some hotels, are mean, because they don't EVEN TAKE RABBITS!!! I mean, isn't that so mean? Really, people! SOME PEOPLE, they don't even know how smart and intelligent rabbits are, I bet, like, humans aren't as smart as rabbits! I MEAN, really. They probably think I don't know how to count! I can even add! 2+2 is 5! Take that, humans. Uh, I got that right, didn't I? Good. I was so worried I didn't, and.....Anyway, though, I was saying? Oh, yeah, about hotels and stuff..... Oh and I have a joke. What do you sing to a bunny on his birthday? "Hoppy birthday to you!" Get it?? Like, happy, but, hoppy....Hoppy, like a rabbit hopping....Happy...hop---- Okay I better stop now.

Sea Monkeys

Remember in the post I wrote awhile ago about fish feeding? I am a little ashamed to admit it now, but, sea monkeys are brine shrimp! You know, those packaged kits that have eggs you grow and feed? What do you mean, huh? Oh, I had better start from the beginning.......  After I got a sea-monkey kit, my sister Emerson and I set to work putting water in it and putting in the water purifier. You have to wait a little while for the tablet to disintegrate before you pour the eggs inside. Sea-monkeys are basically a sort of shrimp that have been cross-bred to create a larger, longer-living pet. Original brine shrimp, which you may remember that were sold in kits when you were a kid, only live a few months, but these brine shrimp last two years if you feed them the food provided. I remember reading in an article about brine shrimp for snacks for fish, and I wrote about it in the blog a week or two ago. Now I feel different about feeding these little guys to a fish, especially if I raise them myself. In each packet of eggs there comes three 1 and a half-inch sized sea monkeys, five medium sized ones, and eight/nine small ones.

A Little About Sea-Monkeys

The amazing things about these pets is that, yes, they are alive. The egg doesn't hatch until fully submerged in water. They need a little oxygen, so you have to stir the container gently once a day to create bubbles that they use to breathe. The eggs are about as small as the period at the end of this sentence, but they grow overnight. They look kind of like a fish, but they are clear with black eyes. Some look like miniature hammerhead sharks, while others look like tiny x-ray fish. When the shrimp hatch and are big enough to see, I will most certainly take some pictures of them.

Fun Facts:

• Sea-monkeys, or brine shrimp, don't look a lot like the shrimp you'll find on your dinner plate. They are clearer looking, and are pretty cute!
• Sea-monkeys are great pets for people who don't have a lot of time to play with a pet. Lonely sea-monkeys enjoy "Crystal Balls". The balls are plastic floating balls that your monkeys will love to play and monkey around with. (That's where they got their name!) 

Moms love these pets, and kids do too! How come, you ask? These low-maintenance pets are a great learning experience, and they remind people of the ant farms you can order--but these pets swim!

Please Read Me! What is Your Pet Thankful For?

Thanksgiving is coming up, and it's time to celebrate! I hope you noticed all the new changes I put on the blog, including a cute fish-feeding gadget(on the bottom page--they'll follow your mouse and if you click on the water you will feed them!) and a different design and color scheme. I was hesitant to change the look of my blog because then it may not look "critter-y, or whatever that means. Also, just for today I will say a few things and then be done with it--no critter info today, guys!

I am thankful for:


food--Daisy

Running on my wheel--Peanut

Water;I'd die without it--Jaws(my fish)

My pets--me,(Nature Girl)




Now, you go ahead! Comment A.S.A.P every single day (one comment on one post per person) Then I'll post a special blog on Thanksgiving listing everything you and your pet is thankful for!





P.S: Please remember to ask your friends to tell you about what they are thankful for if you don't have a pet. Thank you!!

The Big O

A problem pet owners face is the daily treat consumption of their small animals--and this can lead to a very, uh, heavy pet. Treats bought in the store cause most of the trouble because owners think that whatever the package says is OK. For example, A mistake I made once was to get the so-called "healthy" treats and follow what the back said was fine to do. Feed up to 4 per day, blah blah blah. I was feeding my bunny treats every day--when they were just meaning in a whole day, not every single day like vitamins or something. But even healthy treats like carrots, apples or celery can make your pet obese. "It isn't always  based on if the food is healthy or not, it's the amount of food you give the pet that counts." a rabbit magazine says.


Processed treats like "Yogies!" or those pet granola chew things are a big no-no for a pet who likes to eat a lot because they just can't say "I'm full". These treats aren't satisfying enough for your small animal to not want to eat anymore and still not be "stuffed". Herbivore's stomachs, especially rabbit's, digest food slowly and sometimes they can become very constipated--that's why hay and grass is vital to their systems. These "junk food" treats can ruin that natural flow that hay supplies, and that leaves the pet with a big stomach-ache. Some pet owners don't even offer treats to their pets--they only give them fresh pellets and hay. Most pet owners I know are curious about those cool-looking treats in the food aisle, and they might try them out once, and even just once is too much. Pets who have never eaten treats before have always been thinking there was was nothing better tasting than good ol' hay and dry pellets, but when the owner introduces treats, the pet could neglect his daily diet and just want treats.

To avoid making that mistake that many owners make, don't give treats that are fatty to your pet, because you'll be left with wasted money and a very chubby small animal on your hands!

Small Children and Animals can't Mix, Right??

Yesterday was a hectic day for little Benedict. Babies don't understand the importance of voting, all they care about is having their fun. So, what does a baby do when nobody is paying attention to him?? He makes some mischief--and I mean MISCHIEF. I had my "hamster wonderland" on the floor-- I had recently created an enormous exercise playland for Peanut out of cardboard boxes, and water bottles with both ends cut off, not to mention some toilet paper tubes......It was a lot of hard work, I'll say! Benedict ran over to it and started to tear everything off, and somehow, he found a piece of hamster food inside it. He must of attempted to eat it, and minutes later we were noticing chewed-up hamster food bits on the floor. Benedict is fine, but this could have been much worse--so, what do you do?

Small children are fascinated by animals, but they don't realize that animals have feelings too. The first reaction to a dog or cat is to run towards it and squeeze its neck or pull its tail--and not all animals are as tolerant as some I know. You just don't know what the animal may do. A cat who curls up in your lap and licks your face or a dog who is the most loyal dog you know won't always do the same to a screeching baby. The defense system for a small animal is fight or flight. A young child may become upset if your pet bunny runs under the bed--and even more upset if he gets a little nip on his finger from time to time. If you have a four year-old who wants a pet snake--chances are, he really doesn't want the pet for the true responsibility, he just wants one because snakes are "cool", and he'll likely get tired of it in a few weeks. Therefore, you shouldn't get a pet that more fits the age of 9 and up for a smaller child, because he'll not only leave the care to you or another sibling, he'll also treat the snake(or other pet) the wrong way. A responsible child needs to prove he's ready for his own pet, and for now, the best starter pet is a fish or a frog--they make interesting pets to watch, so you don't have to worry about a lot of care--just feed him and clean the tank--your young child will enjoy taking care of them(under adult supervision, of course).


Before I end today's post, here are the guidelines for children and animals, please enjoy!:


Fish: ages 4 and up. Just always help with the tank cleaning and watch the amount of food which is being fed.

Hamsters(golden hamsters)ages 6 and up--also a great family pet! These hamsters, unlike the dwarf breed, rarely ever bite or scratch. The cage cleaning, feeding, exercise, and other care should be monitored if your child is under the age of 8 years. The whole family can help with the hamster's care and playtime.

Bunnies: ages 8 and up. If you research the breed and personality, you will be rewarded with a loving pet. Keep the cage in an area where the rabbit can be around your family most often(such as a living room).

Rats, dwarf hamsters, mice gerbils: ages 10 and up. These animals require more exercise and you have to make sure the animal is not being handled roughly. The cage needs cleaning attention every week, and you should feed them and water them when it is needed. They should be not left alone, as a rat or hamster may run away or get stuck if they are not trained to be good.

Chinchillas, skunks, sugar gliders, hedgehogs: ages 11-12 and up. These pets are very rare, exotic animals. They need very special requirements, and they are usually not seen in a normal pet store--they can only be found at an exotic pet store, so if you find one of these in a normal pet store, don't buy them, as they may have a disease because they have not been cared for properly.

Introduction

Well, this is my first post, so here goes:

This blog is for those people who love all animals, but have a special place in their heart for the small animals of the world.
 You know, the adorable critters that you can hold and love, the ones that you don't mind if they are making noise all night on that wheel, or the cute creatures who others call "creepy?"

If you have any of these animals, or know someone who does: you're not alone, because this blog is dedicated to those little guys, their owners, and hearts who have very tiny pawprints all over them.



So, I'd better introduce you to my critters. I have a rabbit named Daisy and a hamster named Peanut and I may get a pet rat. The idea of having a blog came from them. One day, I thought, "wouldn't it be great if I could share my love with other critter-loving people?" Thats when I finally was able to get a blog.
Basically, I'll try to post something every other day, and you won't just be hearing about my pets, you'll hear about every kind of critter there is. Critter Corner has info, crafts, and more from, me(and even some "daily posts" from Daisy and Peanut.)


Okay, thats all for now, but you won't be disappointed with tommorow's post on Critter Corner!