Here’s what you need to know about winter bird feeding, bird food, and creating a haven for wild birds in your backyard during the coldest months. The cold and snowy winter months can be hard for all wildlife, including our favorite backyard birds. For wild birds, the tough weeks of winter can be especially hard, as most food has run out. A reliable source of food from our gardens and feeders can make all the difference after a severe snow or ice storm. By keeping your bird feeders full of the food they need, you’ll find that helping backyard birds through the winter is both easy and rewarding. Winter Bird Feeding Wild birds may benefit from bird feeders year-round, but they need them most in winter. Energy-rich seeds and suet provide our feathered friends with the calories they need to keep warm, especially when food is scarce or buried under ice and snow. To attract winter birds to your backyard, consider setting out one or more of the following: Don't have a good … [Read more...] about Tips for Winter Bird Feeding and Care
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Sebright Bantam Chickens
Sebright Bantam chickens are a great breed to add to your chicken flock. They are also a delightful breed to begin your chicken flock. Of course, there are hundreds of chicken breeds. From fuzzy silkies to giant brahmas, the choices are practically endless! If you are looking for something truly flashy and unique to add to your flock, look no further than the spunky Sebright bantam! The Sebright bantam chicken is an ornamental bantam breed. Unlike many other breeds, the Sebright is a “true” bantam, meaning it comes only in a small size. This diminutive breed comes in two beautiful colors (silver and gold). Both colors have a spunky character that adds a lot of fun to a backyard flock. Need a chicken coop or other chicken-keeping items? Check out the Chicken Supplies on Amazon. History of Seabright Bantam Chickens The Sebright Bantam chicken has been an established breed since 1874 when it was submitted to the American Poultry Association. This breed was … [Read more...] about Sebright Bantam Chickens
Feed Birds with Homemade Birdseed Ornaments
Making homemade birdseed ornaments is a great project that is fun, kid-friendly, inexpensive, and it feeds birds such as cardinals, finches and grosbeaks. As if that wasn't enough, making homemade birdseed ornaments results in great gifts that are fun to give during the holiday season. Birdseed ornaments and wreaths fit the “bill” on all counts. (Did you see how I snuck that pun in?) Feeding songbirds is a great way for us to interact with nature. Plus, homemade bird seed ornaments help birds get through the tough months of autumn and winter. That’s when available food is scarce, and wild birds need all the help they can get. Studies show that consistent bird feeding produces significantly earlier egg laying dates, larger clutches of eggs, and higher chick weights across a wide range of bird species. Feeding birds is not only good for the birds, it makes bird lovers happy. Here’s how I create homemade birdseed ornaments for my bird friends—and for my people friends, … [Read more...] about Feed Birds with Homemade Birdseed Ornaments
How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
If you want to attract hummingbirds to your yard and garden, you are in good company. It seems like everyone loves hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are known as the “winged jewels” of the garden. This moniker is appropriate, since the iridescent feathers of hummingbirds reflect gorgeous jeweled tones of brilliant red, vibrant violet, metallic green and blue, and shimmering gold. A hummingbird’s feathers are actually designed to reflect light. That’s why these beautiful birds can look quite dull in the shade, which aids in their ability to hide from predators. Hummingbirds Live in the Americas When it comes to attracting hummingbirds, it’s important to know the reality of hummingbird geography. Quite simply, you can’t attract hummingbirds to your yard if you live where there aren’t any hummingbirds. There are more than 320 species of hummingbirds in the world—and they only live in the Americas. The majority of these extraordinary birds can be found near the equator in … [Read more...] about How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard
A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Urban Chickens
Suddenly, there seems to be someone raising urban chickens in every neighborhood. The secret is out: chickens make wonderful backyard companions. Chickens are easy to care for and surprisingly fun to raise. Plus, urban chicken keeping brings the reward of fresh, nutritious eggs. No wonder raising urban chickens is such a major trending topic for homeowners. If you live in the city (or the suburbs) and are thinking of starting a little backyard chicken flock of your own, you are going to love our quick guide to raising urban chickens. In this story, we cover planning for chickens, the joys of urban chicken keeping, and common mistakes to avoid. Rural vs. Urban Chicken Keeping When it comes to raising chickens, there are a few notable differences between the city and the country. For starters, urban chicken keepers must take noise, location, appearance and smell into account. Yes, chickens can make noise. Roosters can be particularly noisy. Locating a chicken coop can be … [Read more...] about A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Urban Chickens
