Many find bird watching to be a relaxing activity. For those who live within the flight path of migratory birds like the hummingbirds, who also love to provide a temporary resting place for these interesting creatures will need to create a bird sanctuary with the best hummingbird feeder. Having one will naturally attract these birds to where these feeders are, which will make it easier for you to get a better bird watching experience any time these fascinating creatures are on their way to their usual migration spots.

Hummingbirds Preparing for Migration

These little explorers migrate either to claim a usual breeding ground or to retreat with the season. So, they make their regular journey either to the north or to the south to fulfill either of these purposes.

What is more interesting is that when they do find the perfect spot, they would normally go to the same location each time they would need a safer and more comfortable place.

The journey usually takes them hundreds, even thousands of miles away, from their natural habitat. Even though they are said to be the smallest birds in the world, they can cover as much as 30 miles an hour and fly non-stop as far as 500 miles from their original location. To cover such a distance, they would need to fly for about 18-22 hours. Just imagine how much a single hummer would need to give that bird the energy that it needs to fly as far as it needs.

To do that seemingly impossible feat, these tiny creatures will double their weight in preparation for their flight. And as noted, they consume about 50% of their body weight in nectar each day. When they are about to migrate, need to fill in twice as much of that since they do not know where they will find their next meal will be.

Choosing the Best Hummingbird Feeder

If you plan to have those hummers drop by your backyard, you need an appropriate feeder where these birds may opt to consider as their future pit stop. The right feeder will not only attract the hummingbirds, but will also be a good accent to your backyard.

As there are many variations of feeders available in the market (either online or in local markets), it won’t take long before you can find an appropriate feeder. Hung the feeders in the appropriate locations where they can be easily accessed by the hummers. Add more feeders whenever necessary.

When setting the hummingbird feeder, it is best to have them next to flowers or perching areas which the hummers are already visiting, but make sure that you can also see them even far afar. It is also a good thing to have a durable feeder that won’t break if ever it gets blown away or fall from where it is placed. (more…)

For all those equine lovers, understanding proper horse care is essential, especially for those who have decided to keep one or more of these majestic animals. They require more than just time, food, and shelter to allow them to be at their best every time. Many aspiring horse riders, even just those horse enthusiasts who have a few horses to care for, primarily consider horse joint supplements and feed balancers. And it is for this reason that this post will be talking about one of the supplements that should be a major consideration when looking for supplements for horses. The best oil for horses offers a lot of benefits for the equines, hence should also be a priority when looking for the best supplements for your horse.

Benefits of Oils for Horses

Horse bred for racing needs a lot of energy to be at their best, especially when they are on the track. To make sure they are properly fed and get all the requirements that their body needs, owners make sure to have them fed with premium grains, chaff, and hay. Giving them as much as they need may not be so good for them, however. Feeding horses with a lot of grains may cause any of these health problems later on – colic, nervous or fiery behaviour, hindgut acidosis, tying up and may even lose its appetite.

Oil supplements for horses provide more energy than grains.

Oils have been provided as an alternative source of energy, however, as they provide about three times more energy than oats (400 ml of vegetable oil provide as much energy as 1 kg of oats). This means that if you give the best oil for horse to your, you won’t need to offer as much grains, yet your horse will still get enough of the energy that it needs to perform well. 

Oils Lessen the heat load on your equine

Oils generate less heat during digestion and the metabolism process, which means you can give less of the grain that your horses would need without the oil supplement and still allow your horse to get as much energy it needs for the day. If there is less heat load on your horse, then a feed high in oils will also lessen the number of electrolytes that your horse will lose, as well as the amount of heat that it will need to stay cool. This is quite beneficial for those horses who require to train or race for some time in warm localities.

Feeding horses with high oil diets can help conserve glycogen.

Glycogen is a horse’s source of energy for its muscles when in action. Insufficient glycogen will result to the horse feeling weak and will be needing to slow down. Oils provide the fatty acids that a horse in motion can burn, hence saving its stored glycogen, which it can use during fast work. 

Oil supplements also reduce a horse’s nervousness and tying up. 

Horses that easily get nervous will benefit much from a high oil diet. 

Providing a high oil diet for your horse

If you finally decide to incorporate some oils in your equine’s diet, make sure to add it in slowly in the feed routine. Give your horse about seven to ten days before the new diet is given in full dosage. Note that giving them too much of these oils may cause bloating, loose tools and even prevent their bodies from actually absorbing the essential nutrients in their feed.  (more…)