Feeders Fountains And Birdhouses' Blog

Spring is in the Air – Birdhouses Give Birds a New Home

feedersfountainsandbirdhouses — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:35:09 +0000

I love spring. I love listening to the birds chirping at 4:00 in the morning. It makes me want to get up out of bed. I love to give my birds a new home. Bird houses make the perfect home for my new feathered friends who help me feel alive after a short night’s sleep.

GETTING YOUR FOUNTAIN THROUGH THE WINTER

feedersfountainsandbirdhouses — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:46:34 +0000

In order to keep your outdoor water fountain in the best shape for many years, there are a few steps you should take to winterize it. The most important time to take these steps is before the first freeze.

Completely disassembling your outdoor water fountain is the best way to protect it. After it is disassembled, clean out the pump and all the parts of the fountain. Then you will be able to store it away in your garage or shed.

However, if this is impractical because of size or weight, the following steps need to be taken in order to prevent cracking and other damages.

Drain all of the water out of your water fountain before the first freeze approaches.
Remove the pump from the water fountain. Clean it of all debris and store indoors in a plastic container of water or a bucket. This will help to keep the gaskets from drying out.
Fill the basin of the fountain with an absorbent material such as towels, blankets or burlap. These items will absorb condensation and prevent the fountain from cracking due to contraction of water or expansion.
A good idea, also, is to cover the outdoor water fountain with a fountain cover as an extra protection against cracking caused by moisture.

Many cast stone and concrete fountains will develop tiny hairline cracks over time after exposure to the outdoor elements. These cracks are a natural occurrence and will not affect the functionality of the fountain. You will be glad you made the effort to insure that water does not freeze in your fountain. Freezing water inside a water fountain can cause damage to your pump and cracks in the fountain itself. Taking these few, preventive measures will give you many years of pleasure with your outdoor water fountain.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BIRDHOUSE

feedersfountainsandbirdhouses — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:59:57 +0000

Providing and inviting bird house has its rewards. The songs and antics of birds can be very entertaining and rewarding. Having birds as welcomed visitors, also, helps keep the pest population down. This can be very rewarding for the avid gardener. Below, are some tips for finding a bird house suitable to feathered visitors.

GENERAL TIPS:

Generally speaking, bird houses should be made from wood. The best metal for bird houses is aluminum. But, if a bird house is constructed from metal, it should be hung in a shady place since metal absorbs sunlight, making the inhabitance too hot for birds.
Bird houses with perches at the entrance should be avoided. Perches attract predators such as larger birds, cats and squirrels.
The practical bird house should have holes for drainage in the bottom to keep rainwater from collecting. The top of the bird house should, also, have some small holes to aid in ventilation. An overhang over the entrance will help keep the entrance cool and inviting.
A bird house should be, also, practical in the sense of cleanliness. Bird houses with roofs or fronts that flip down or can be removed give the cleaning crew easy access for cleaning the insides of the bird house. The bird house should be cleaned, thoroughly, on an annual basis to remove old nesting materials in preparation for inhabitants for the following year.
Bird entrances should be near the top of the house and proportionate to the size of the species which is to inhabit it.
Subdued colors are best for the bird house except for those placed in direct light. Those that are in direct light should be white in color.