30th May 2019 - Omlet Blog US

How to chicken-proof your yard

It’s a lovely summer day – the sun is out, the colorful flowers in your backyard are in full bloom. The bees are buzzing, the vegetables are thriving, and raspberries are just waiting for you to pick and eat them straight from the bush. A nice, refreshing breeze blows lightly through the rustling leaves – and carries a different kind of sound with it.

Cluck, cluck.

Years ago almost everyone knew this noise from their own backyard.

Cluck.

Nowadays, a lot of people have only heard it in movies or maybe at the petting zoo.

Cluck, cluck.

This time though, the clucking is the most relaxing noise you could imagine, turning this beautiful day into perfection. Your little flock of backyard chickens, happily clucking away in your beautiful yard, supplying you with fresh, tasty eggs every day.

Does this picturesque scene sound somewhat too good to be true? A beautiful backyard with flowers, vegetables and berries that are not completely pecked and ruined by the chickens living with them? Is that even possible?

Yes, it is! And we will tell you how to chicken-proof your yard so that you can make your dream of keeping chickens and still having a beautiful yard a reality.

A secure chicken run

The easiest way to keep your yard in a pristine condition is to keep your chickens in an enclosed area. With a spacious chicken run, you’re able to keep the chickens in that space so that they won’t dig up your precious vegetables.

This might not be an option for everyone due to the garden’s shape, size or sloped areas. If this is the case, consider a mobile chicken coop. These coops allow you to move your entire flock quickly and easily in order to give them access to different areas of your yard or garden.

Yard size

The most important thing to consider is how much room you have in your garden that you would like to offer to the chickens. That determines how many chickens you can keep – without overgrazing your yard.

The more space you can offer your hens, the less damage they will cause. Their scratching will not be limited to a small area, but instead, they will be able to forage across your yard. Chickens will happily weed-eat for you, as well as rid your lawn of pests like slugs, snails and caterpillars. With enough space, your flock won’t destroy the lawn but will actually help keep it healthy.

Chicken breeds

Another important factor to consider is the breeds of chickens you choose.

Hybrid breeds usually cause the most damage, as they are constantly looking for food as an energy supply due to the demand of producing an egg almost every day. Hybrids are generally hardy birds that are easy for first-time chicken keepers. However, a better choice for a beautiful backyard are purebred chickens.

Depending on what you look for in a chicken, and if the eggs are not the most important part of your chicken parenting journey, bantam (miniature) or ornamental breeds are generally easy birds to keep in the garden. Their small size and lower energy requirements often prevent them from doing too much damage. Some popular breeds to keep in a garden are:

These chickens make beautiful, friendly pets and are known to be gentle with your garden. Their eggs are generally very small, and laying is infrequent (2-3 eggs per week).

Securing flower beds and veggie plots

An easy way to keep plants safe is a homemade hoop house covered in plastic or netting to keep your hens from sneaking a taste.

If that’s not an option, you could install raised beds in your yard. Most chickens aren’t interested in foraging for food above their head level, so they tend to leave plants in raised planters alone. And, raised garden beds make for easy, back-friendly, and more enjoyable gardening.

If you don’t have raised beds or want hoops around your plants, we’d recommend a mobile fencing option to allow your chickens to roam freely, yet not show off their landscaping skills on your veggie plot. Mobile Chicken Fencing from Omlet is ideal to keep chickens out of certain areas. Our fencing blends into your garden and is available in 39, 69, 105 & 138 ft rolls. This movable chicken fencing is much easier to install than chicken wire and features many benefits such as tangle-proof netting, adjustable poles and reflective badges to help you find the gate at night.

Omlet’s flexible chicken fencing comes with an inbuilt gate which features a strong catch that is comfortable to use. You can also set the width of the gate opening to your preferred size, making it easy to get in and out to feed your chickens. The gate can be positioned wherever you want within the layout you have chosen. You can put it at either end, the middle, or anywhere else.

Taller than most chicken fencing, Omlet’s chicken fence has an overall height of 4 ft. With that height, you can be confident that even the most determined of your feathered friends will be prevented from making a great escape. The poles of the fence are adjustable to ensure that the netting remains tight and secure at all times.

Offer a “chicken spa” area

Chickens love to dig up dry soil under bushes to enjoy a dust bath in the sheltered, shady area. Allow them to find their favorite spot, or plant some chicken-friendly bushes in an area you are happy to devote to your chickens, and they will most likely not think about any other plants. A chicken spa like that will not only keep your hens’ feathers in beautiful condition, but will also keep them in good spirits and health.

Keep an eye on your chickens

The best and safest time for your chickens to free range is usually when you are with them and can keep an eye on them. This allows you to keep them from causing too much mischief, and from getting into plants they shouldn’t. Throwing a handful of tasty corn in an area as far away as possible from flowers and veggies will quickly distract your flock from your flora.

There may be plants you want to keep your flock away from to keep them producing and looking their best, but there are some plants that are downright dangerous to chickens. Plants that are toxic to chickens include:

Daffodils
Azaleas
Rhododendron
Raw beans
Ferns
Rhubarb
Raw potatoes or onions
Tulips

This is not an exhaustive list, so be sure to check all of your plants that your hens may come in contact with to verify whether or not they’re safe.

Many other garden plants are perfectly safe for chickens, and even nutritious for them. Plants that your flock can safely snack on include:

Herbs such as oregano, parsley, or rosemary
Dandelions
Clover
Sunflowers
Pansies
Nasturtium
Lavender
Marigolds
Squash blossoms

Omlet and your garden flock

At Omlet, we want you to enjoy your chickens as a valued part of your family. And as part of your family, we want them to be able to enjoy your garden along with you. With eye-catching accessories like the Freestanding Chicken Perch or Chicken Swing, you can incorporate fun for your flock into your garden decor. With Omlet, your chickens can cohabitate with your garden in ways that were never possible before.

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This entry was posted in Chickens on May 30th, 2019 by chloewelch

What to consider before rescuing a cat

So you’re thinking about adding a cat or kitten to your family? Congratulations! But before you leap into feline parenthood, there are several crucial factors to consider to ensure you and your future furball enjoy a harmonious life together. The most important factor being where are you going to get your new furry friend. Rescuing a cat isn’t just an act of kindness, it’s a commitment that can span a decade or more. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled everything you need to know and consider before rescuing a cat.

Should I buy or rescue a cat?

Before going ahead with buying a kitten from a breeder, it’s important to remember there are lots of cats in rescue centers across the country, waiting for their forever homes. At Omlet, we strongly encourage visiting your local cat rescue before making a decision as there are a number of cats of all ages and breeds in centers. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether you should buy or rescue a cat:

Buying a cat:

Breed preference: When you get your new furry friend from a breeder, you do have the ability to choose what specific cat breed you want. If, for example, you’re an allergy sufferer and need a hairless or hypoallergenic cat, then choosing this route might be best.
Kittens available: While many rescue centers have kittens for adoption, the timing on when you want one and when they are available may not always match up. So if a kitten is a must for you, buying from a breeder may be best.
Predictable temperament: No one can ever know for certain the true temperament of any animal, but when you buy a kitten or cat from a breeder you do get more information on their behavior type as they know the parents and how they act.

Rescuing a cat:

Saving a life: Adopting a cat or kitten from a shelter or rescue organization gives a homeless cat a chance at a loving home, potentially saving their life. But ask any parent of a rescue cat and they will say it was their furry friend that gave them the new appreciation for life.
Diverse options: When you visit a rescue or shelter, one of the first things you’ll notice is the wide range of cat breeds, ages, and personalities that are available to be a part of your family. This variety allows cat lovers to truly discover which cat best suits their preferences.
Lower cost: In general, adoption fees to get a rescue cat are lower than if you were to buy from a breeder. And, most rescue organizations provide essential vaccinations and spaying/neutering services, which saves even more in additional costs to consider.

Is my home, garden, and neighborhood safe for a cat?

Think about where your home is located. Do you live by a busy street? This is important to consider as some rescue cat centers will actually not allow adoption if you live near a busy road – and for good reason. Some cats are skittish and can often put themselves in danger or at risk of injury when near a busy street. So to help avoid any unwanted tragedies, shelters and rescues avoid adopting out to these locations altogether.

Next, you need to consider whether your current home is really suitable and safe for a cat to be going outdoors. Is your backyard space big enough, fenced in, and far enough away from neighboring pets? If you didn’t answer ‘yes’ to all of these – fear not. You can still provide an alternative, secure outdoor space for your cat to play and exercise, such as an Outdoor Cat Run.

And if you live in an apartment and want to rescue a cat to be both an indoor and outdoor cat, you, too, can make it happen. With the Omlet Cat Balcony Enclosure you will give your cat the freedom to get some fresh air and playtime outside without fear of escape or injury.

Finally, it’s time to assess the surroundings within your home. Do you have other animals who could respond negatively to a new furry resident? When considering adopting a cat from a rescue or shelter, it’s important to first conduct a “meet and greet” with the other pets and children in your household. This allows everyone to get a firsthand experience of each other and see if there are any personality differences before welcoming a new member into the family.

Can I offer a secure space for the cat to feel comfortable?

For rescue cats, having their own space to hide when they get scared or anxious is incredibly important. Does your home have plenty of hiding spaces for your new cat to disappear to when it all gets too much?

The Maya Nook Indoor Cat House is the ideal den for nervous cats to be tucked away in or just to find their personal peace and quiet. The exclusively designed curtains provide a completely secluded space which allows your cat the ability to feel safe while still being able to check on their surroundings.

Can I provide a rescue cat with the support they need?

One of the best parts of rescuing a cat is seeing the transformation in their personality as they realize they are now part of a loving home. But in order for your new, rescued friend to feel at ease, they’ll need to receive lots of patience and support from you. Becoming settled into a new environment and new life takes time and will require you to be flexible and understand that it doesn’t happen overnight.

Consider first your job – do you want to rescue a cat but work full-time? If so, try and plan some days off before you bring your rescue home to allow much needed time to help your new furry friend get settled in. Spend this time helping them get used to their new surroundings and know where their litter box and cat food bowls are. And if your household has children, you’ll need to prepare them as well to be gentle and quiet with the new cat.

Most rescue cats are discharged from rescue homes with a full bill of health, but on the odd occasion they’re not, some cats may need a few more vet visits, or even repeat medication. If you rescue such a cat, be prepared to accept the cost and commitment required to provide the healthcare they need.

What will I need to settle a rescue cat into my home as smoothly as possible?

While love and patience are the two most important ingredients in making your new rescue adjust to life in your home, there are some essential cat products that will help make this transition easier on everyone.

Bathroom time: Litter tray, cat litter, scoop
Sleep time: Cat bed(s)
Eating time: Cat food bowls – speak to the rescue center about what food the cat has responded to best, e.g. wet or dry
Reward time: Cat treats
Playtime: Cat toys
Travel time: Cat carrier
Zen time: Calming products – e.g. Feliway
Safe outdoor time: Outdoor cat enclosure

Omlet and your rescue cat

At Omlet, we are a pioneering company in cat care. We craft our products to simplify cat rescue efforts and make pet parenting easier. By understanding feline behavior and the challenges and rewards associated with rescuing a cat, we are able to design innovative solutions that make the process effortless. From our supportive and comfy cat beds to our furniture-style cat houses to our safe and secure outdoor Catio enclosure, we think about your cat first so all you need to do is be the best rescue cat parent you can be.