Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
painting and home improvements
Sometimes in your birds lives, you will decide to paint a room, or even go the distance and tear your normal day to day world into a black hole of projects.
Don't be discouraged, things can be changed if you have birds, and there are precautions that you can take. Paint, and other fumes is the most common killer of birds in the scenario. There are steps that you can take to handle this. I recommend getting a crap ton of fans, window fans are may favorite, because they can exhaust fumes right out of the room! Blockading your fids into a room, and making sure that there is no recycling fumes going into their new haven is also key.
(I have tried the low VOC paint, and let me tell you, it is a pain... I personally think that the coverage is splochy, and the range of colors that they have to choose from is nill. If you take the correct precautions, your birds will be safe)
We put Dexter and Cooper into the soon to be "office" because it hasnt been touched with new paint, or anything. Then set up their UV lighting on a timer, a radio, and taped the heater duct closed. Don't panic on this... I have a remote monitoring unit that tells me the temp in the room at all times. I then borrowed a temp control heater and set it at the average temp of the house! Worked phenominal!!
As the weather is allowing, we are opening the window, to make sure they are getting their fresh air breaks, and they actually seem to enjoy the security of having their own rooms. Now this is not for the faint of heart... your fids will be taken away from you for these days, and they will resent you. There will be some definite "go to hell looks" and this is okay, they will get over it. I say better be mad at me now, than die of paint fumes.
Now we are not quite done with all of the renovations, but it's working... Most of the painting is done, and we will be getting ready to turn the spare bedroom into the office/bird room. We are then shopping around ideas for perches, etc for the living room. I just cant stand the idea of them not being with us all the time... and why shouldn't they?
Don't be discouraged, things can be changed if you have birds, and there are precautions that you can take. Paint, and other fumes is the most common killer of birds in the scenario. There are steps that you can take to handle this. I recommend getting a crap ton of fans, window fans are may favorite, because they can exhaust fumes right out of the room! Blockading your fids into a room, and making sure that there is no recycling fumes going into their new haven is also key.
(I have tried the low VOC paint, and let me tell you, it is a pain... I personally think that the coverage is splochy, and the range of colors that they have to choose from is nill. If you take the correct precautions, your birds will be safe)
We put Dexter and Cooper into the soon to be "office" because it hasnt been touched with new paint, or anything. Then set up their UV lighting on a timer, a radio, and taped the heater duct closed. Don't panic on this... I have a remote monitoring unit that tells me the temp in the room at all times. I then borrowed a temp control heater and set it at the average temp of the house! Worked phenominal!!
As the weather is allowing, we are opening the window, to make sure they are getting their fresh air breaks, and they actually seem to enjoy the security of having their own rooms. Now this is not for the faint of heart... your fids will be taken away from you for these days, and they will resent you. There will be some definite "go to hell looks" and this is okay, they will get over it. I say better be mad at me now, than die of paint fumes.
Now we are not quite done with all of the renovations, but it's working... Most of the painting is done, and we will be getting ready to turn the spare bedroom into the office/bird room. We are then shopping around ideas for perches, etc for the living room. I just cant stand the idea of them not being with us all the time... and why shouldn't they?
Friday, May 13, 2011
Shark Men on National Geographic!
Shark Men Trailer...
This show is a true guilty pleasure! The science is amazing, and such a hook line and sinker show, no pun intended!
This show is a true guilty pleasure! The science is amazing, and such a hook line and sinker show, no pun intended!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Goodbye to a Cat and Roommate
Well the time has finally come for our household to disband. After two and a half years of living with Pam and Oliver... we are splitting ways and moving forward. Pam and Oliver are moving away to her boyfriend's house, and last night I noticed that Dexter was rather affectionate (as he could be). Dexter sat very close on his cage, actually as close as he could get to her, and studying her every move.
Now a little back story, Dexter was originally owned by a woman, and that's why he is prone to being quite the flirt with the ladies, and Pam has been really the only woman around him. He does get excited when she arrives home, and does show off. I am very sure that Dexter will miss her. Cooper has enjoyed showing off his vocabulary and kissing skills when they are around, and has made everyone laugh.
Now a little back story, Dexter was originally owned by a woman, and that's why he is prone to being quite the flirt with the ladies, and Pam has been really the only woman around him. He does get excited when she arrives home, and does show off. I am very sure that Dexter will miss her. Cooper has enjoyed showing off his vocabulary and kissing skills when they are around, and has made everyone laugh.
Let the transitions begin.... With Eric moving in we are getting Clay, Sadie, and Keagan. They have all basically been exposed to one another, however the cats haven't met Cooper yet... I think they will basically ignore him like they do Dexter. However Cooper is not the one to mess with, so we will have to be on guard the first few months. New Chapters are Nerve Racking, but so Exciting.
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