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Odors from poorly maintained coops can travel far, but with the right care, even a small backyard setup can stay fresh. Here’s how to prevent smells and keep your flock healthy and your neighbors happy.
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Modern technology and smart design can make chicken care easier, safer, and less time-consuming. With a few automated features and thoughtful upgrades, your coop can practically run itself!
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The key to keeping chickens cool is preparation. Here are 7 proven upgrades and strategies — from shade sails to frozen treats — to keep your flock safe and comfortable during the hottest days.
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Designing chicken coops for urban backyards is easy with smart small space solutions. Learn how to keep hens happy and healthy in compact city coops and runs.
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Protect backyard chickens from heatwaves, storms, wildfire smoke, and seasonal predators with this expert year-round flock care guide.
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In a time when many are raising chickens to combat high egg prices or to live more sustainably, thoughtful coop sizing is an investment in success.
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When choosing a coop sizing, think about your future flock. If you think you want four chickens, consider a coop for six. If you have space, go a size up.
Continue readingThere is a reason that dogs are often cited as being “man’s best friend”. They protect us, keep us company, help us with our tasks, and show us endless love and support. With what they do for us, we must do everything we can to make their life better. One way to do this is by providing them with a dog kennel that fits their needs. Luckily, Horizon Structures’ prefab and modular dog kennels provide an exceptional space for working dogs, and all dogs alike, to enjoy life comfortably. Here are some reasons why dogs that work need a dog kennel.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, a working dog is “a dog suitable by size, breeding, or training for useful work (such as draft or herding) especially as distinguished from one primarily for pet, show, or sporting use.” Working dogs tend to be very helpful to farmers, as they can herd sheep or pull small wagons and farming equipment. Furthermore, they are different from pet dogs because they are used for work, as well as companionship. Similarly to how dog kennels benefit show dogs, dog kennels are also necessary for working dogs.
One of the biggest perks dog kennels provide to working dogs is that they offer substantial protection. Dog kennels provide a spacious environment for your dog, both indoors and outdoors. They prevent your dog from running away or letting any potentially dangerous animal in because they are closed off. As a dog owner, you want to do everything you can to make sure your dog is well protected, so a dog kennel will give you peace of mind. Not to mention dog kennels tend to be more cost effective than fences, so your wallet will have peace of mind too.
Although having a custom dog kennel is great for keeping your furry-friend safe, you might want to also look into getting pet insurance for your dog that works, especially if they perform labor intensive duties outside of the kennel. Pet insurance will allow your dog to get the best protection available, if they get sick or injured. Of course, it will also prevent your wallet from getting badly hurt in the process. Ask yourself, “is getting pet insurance worth it” so your pet and wallet can stay protected!
Like supreme protection, our dog kennels offer your work dog some much needed privacy. After a long day’s work, there is nothing more a working dog wants than to have some privacy. A dog kennel allows working dogs to have their own spacious quarters, in which they can unwind. Afterall, the last thing your working dog wants is to be cooped up in a crate for the night. They can enjoy their alone time in the outdoors where they can enjoy the sunset, or in the comfort of their own closed room where they can unwind in some shade.
Whether you have a working dog or any kind of dog, kennels provide a great space to correctly train your dog. If you wish to bring your working dog into your home, then your kennel is a great place to potty train them. Moreover, when you teach your dog new tricks or commands, it’s essential to do so in a calm, welcoming, and spacious atmosphere. This will help your dog concentrate, while having minimum distractions around them. Ideally, you want your dog to learn new commands in their kennel at first. Once they begin to master new commands, then take them to noisier and more distracting places to really test them.
Work dogs are animals of habit. They thrive when they have schedules and routines that they follow. Providing your working dog with a kennel designed for their needs will allow them to always have a place to go and call their own. Ideally, you should plan a schedule for your work dog that includes work, fun time, and down time. Having a place to go every day for some down time will allow your dog to not get overworked and to have some consistency.
The importance of dog stimulation has grown in recent years. Thankfully, dog kennels can support mental and physical stimulation for your four-legged companion.
Your dog can gain increased mental stimulation by spending time outside in their kennel and observing nature. Your dog will get to take in new scents, noises, and animals in an intimate way. Spending time outdoors relaxing and experiencing new occurrences is one of the best ways to care for your dog’s mental health.
On the other hand, all dogs need physical stimulation in their life. A dog kennel will allow your four-legged friend to have enough room to play with their toys without damaging items in your home. If your kennel is large enough and you do not have a big yard, then your dog will be able to run around in their kennel to get some energy out. However, you should always make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise outside of their kennel too.
If there is one thing all dogs love, it’s running around and playing. We all know how dogs get the occasional zoomies. Luckily, dog kennels, like our 8×14 Kennel will allow your pet to have some space to exercise in.
Although dog kennels tend to be very spacious and help facilitate exercise, it’s important to make sure your dog gets exercise outside of their kennel. A great way to do this is to take them to the dog park or on adventures. You might even wish to include your dog on hiking trips, runs, or camping. Make sure your furry-friend gets around 45-60 minutes of exercise a day to keep them happy and healthy.
It doesn’t matter if you have a pet dog, show dog, or a dog that works because regardless, they are a member of your family. Treat them as such by providing them with a dog kennel that will best suit their needs and that will show your appreciation towards them.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we’re here to help. Feel free to contact us for customizable kennel solutions that can keep your working dogs ready to give each day their all!
You’re a fan of your backyard. You’re a natural showman. You enjoy spending time with nature. However, you despise roasting in the summer heat. Having a gazebo in your backyard means you don’t have to accept both the good and the bad. What better way to enjoy the great outdoors and entertain friends and family than with a gazebo of your own? This article will break down the benefits of a gazebo and how it may enhance your outdoor space while also increasing your property value.
Your backyard can be transformed into an inviting meeting space for friends, family, and guests by installing a gazebo. You can have a barbeque on the Fourth of July or just relax for a bit in it while enjoying a romantic picnic. And as a bonus, mosquitoes can be kept at bay by adding a screen package. Just imagine all the opportunities! Here are some of the benefits of having a gazebo in your backyard.
Having a gazebo in your yard adds a level of coziness that is hard to beat. Gazebos are an excellent choice for outdoor gatherings. They’re a great tool to make your backyard enjoyable for the whole family. When entertaining, a gazebo provides a spot for your visitors to unwind and enjoy the company of others. Thanks to the structure, you may enjoy the shade of your gazebo on those hot summer days. To put it another way, you’ll be able to spend more time outside in your garden.
A gazebo’s versatility in design is a major perk of the structure. It’s up to you where you choose to put your gazebo, whether it’s tucked away in a secluded spot or right next to your house. If you want a more open-air situation with some shade, the roof can also provide that option. The walls of your gazebo can either be completely open or have some natural coverage.
On the other hand, a screened wall allows you to see, hear, and smell the outside world while protecting you from mosquitoes and other biting insects. The shape of a gazebo might be octagonal, square, elliptical, or oval, and it can even fit a hot tub. The options are endless!
The perfect area to host a get-together with friends, a gazebo makes a great spot for setting up a table or bench and relaxing with a drink or two. Little dew droplets can collect on surfaces under the open sky when the sun sets and the temperature decreases. People either leave or go inside when that happens, which isn’t much fun on a Friday night! No matter how humid the weather is outside, you won’t have to worry about getting wet in a gazebo since it will keep you dry and comfortable. If you explored some backyard lighting ideas with your beautifully lit gazebo, you would finally be able to enjoy the space at night! You can even spend the night here and sleep under the stars if you’re in the mood.
Even if it’s raining or dark outside, a gazebo is a great place to work on your bike, for example. Or, spend time on quieter activities like losing yourself in a great novel or putting together a jigsaw puzzle. When you need to work on something in the winter, having a flat, firm, dry spot to work on in your backyard is invaluable. If your gazebo has a power outlet, you can use power tools with an extension cord. Consider building a log burner or fire chimney to remain warm at night while working, which may also be used to entertain visitors and relax with the family.
A Victorian-inspired design is one of the most popular choices. Still, these backyard buildings may be customized to fit any style or color scheme. In the event that intricate scrollwork, whimsical cupolas, and twisted pillars don’t suit your taste, there are so many more varieties to choose from. You can even plan the style of your gazebo according to your other backyard renovations, so it all fits together aesthetically. Rectangle gazebos may fit more square or rectangular dining tables than other designs with more sides, maximizing floor space while also looking more modern. A rectangle or square footprint for your gazebo may function better depending on the available area. It doesn’t matter what shape or style you choose for your gazebo; everyone who sees it will be impressed.
If you do it right, a gazebo can increase the value of your home by more than the cost of construction. A gazebo can add some much-needed value to a garden that lacks focal points or a designated area for relaxation. Adding a gazebo to your backyard is a great way to increase the value of your home for potential buyers. A gazebo is always a summer outdoor living trend loved by everyone; thus, publicizing this feature is a big bonus.
You may wish to protect your BBQ, furniture, or plants from the elements by building a gazebo instead of a shed in the winter. If you put your lovely garden furniture under a gazebo, you won’t have to sand and re-paint it every year, saving you time and effort. The same is true for pricey BBQs, which may rust over time if left exposed to the elements over the winter. Containerized plants that are sensitive to rainy conditions or are vulnerable to wind or frost damage may benefit from being kept under a gazebo when the weather is harsh.
Gazebos are an excellent choice for spending time in the fresh air. But this is not all they offer. We hope our guide has helped you understand the benefits of having a gazebo in your backyard. So, what are you waiting for? Any time of year, a gazebo is a way to go!
Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/NeTPASr-bmQ
As you know, Horizon Structures offers a full line of pre-built dog kennels for residential (and commercial) settings. A backyard kennel is a wonderful place for your dog to safely enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of the ‘Great Outdoors’ during those times when you may not be available to supervise him outside.
However, a kennel is only one element of creating the ultimate backyard for your dog. Below are several smart and creative ideas on how to make a dog area in your backyard to keep your pet happy, healthy, and safe at home…
When we move to a new house and bring our dog with us, it is easy to forget that the process can be just as stressful for them as it is for us. If you want to make your dog as happy as possible once you settle in, here are eight tips for building the ultimate backyard for your dog. Even if you’re not moving to a new home, use these ideas to make canine-friendly improvements to your current property …
Check the condition of your fences and gates. Look for any damage or holes in the fence. Be thorough because, at a glance, everything could look good. However, if you have a wooden fence, there may be holes or rot somewhere at the base. If your dog spends time running free in the yard you can be sure that he will inspect everything and find weak spots. That is why it is critical to check everything and address any issues as soon as possible.
Providing an area out of the hot sun means your dog is less likely to want to go back inside to cool off. You won’t have to do much if you buy a house with a tree or two in the backyard. However, since you are unlikely to buy a home solely because it has a tree in its backyard, we are here to suggest a few alternatives. These include:
To train your dog to use that shady spot, lead them on a leash while using a phrase like “Go to your bed,” and reward them with treats to reinforce positive behaviour.
Whether you regularly walk your dog or not, they will poop and pee in your yard. This will especially be the case right after you move in. Moving in will be just as stressful for a dog as it can be for you. So don’t be alarmed if you see them “go” more than usual for the first few weeks. It is just their way of settling in. There is nothing you can do to prevent this. You can, however, help them adapt quickly. You can create a dedicated space for them to go when needed, and it doesn’t have to be a large space. You can then train your dog to go where you want him to go. Walk your dog to the designated place every day for at least three weeks, rewarding them with goodies every time. This way, you will keep the mess to a minimum and keep your dog happy at the same time.
Another way to create a dog friendly backyard is to keep your dog’s water dish filled with chilled water whenever they go outside. Choose a bowl with a sticky rubber base if you’re placing it on a deck to prevent it sliding around and making it less likely to tip over. Stick to stainless steel because, unlike plastic, it does not easily scratch and does not harbour germs. Like indoor water bowls, disinfect outdoor water bowls regularly with hot, soapy water and keep out of direct sunlight. When it’s hot, it’s critical to look after your dog, especially if you keep them outside.
Many of the health problems dogs face are caused by contact with chemically treated grass. This is especially the case with older dogs. Many people who enjoy tending to their lawns or backyard crops use pesticides to keep pests and weeds at bay. This, however, can be extremely harmful to your dog. For your backyard, you should use organic fertilizers or compost and chemical-free insect control. If you’re establishing a new lawn for your dog, buy seed for native grass that will grow in your area. This way, you will keep your dog happy and healthy.
All dogs enjoy digging. If you enjoy gardening, this can be a significant problem. That is why, if you want to keep your dog from destroying a flower bed or a small crop of vegetables that you have planted, you should make a digging area for them. A small sandpit could do the trick. A designated digging area will also reduce the likelihood that your dog will dig under your fence.
You can never run out of ideas to keep your dog cool during the summer. Installing a pool just for your dog may seem like a significant investment, but it doesn’t have to be. A simple wading pool for kids may be an economical and enjoyable method to provide this luxury for your dog.
Lastly, build the ultimate backyard for your dog by considering a simple dog run. If you have adequate room, try creating a dog run that goes the length of your yard. While the run should confining, it does not need to be in the form of a stark and unattractive chain-link fence. Conceal the fence with low evergreen hedges and plants, providing gaps for your dog to see through.
These have been our eight tips for building the ultimate backyard for your dog. If you design your yard with your pet in mind, you will ensure they are happy and entertained and discourage them from naughty behaviours.
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