Top 5 Exotic Fish For A 10 Gallon

Are you tired of Neon Tetras, Bettas and so on? Do you feel limited to only certain types of fish because you have just a 10 gallon? Look no further!  You will mainly have smaller fish, but don’t be disappointed! They are still neat!

Shell Dweller Cichlids

Shell Dweller Cichlids are very small. In fact, they are one of the smallest cichlids out there! Males only get about 2 inches and females can less than an inch! Because of their name, shells are needed as they live and breed in shells.

Sand or very fine gravel  is the best substrate as they will dig in the substrate. These fish should do fine in a 10 gallon, given that there are plenty of shells and sand. You can have about 6 in a 10 gallon aquarium The recommended temperature for these fish is about 78-80 F or about 25.5-26.6 C.

Scarlet Gem Badis

These little guys are VERY little. In fact, males don’t even reach an inch, and females are smaller than males! Because of their size, they should do fine in a 10 gallon. Some in fact, even say these little fellows can live even in a 5 gallon aquarium!

The tank setup should be lush and have plenty of live plants and hiding places. Plants will help them establish a territory. The recommended temperature is 71-79 F (or 21.6-26.1 C) and hardiness should be about 10-20 dGH. Make sure to give these guys a slow current as well.

Dwarf Seahorse

The only thing with these interested, little fish is that they are hard to care for and not for the beginner! But despite that, they can technically live in even a 5 gallon tank. They should be fed only live food (this makes them really hard, at least for beginners) such as baby brine shrimp and they should be in water 71-75 degrees F. They unfortunately only live about 2 years in capacity and only 1 year in the wild. Don’t forget about salinity! They should also be in water with a salinity between 1.022 – 1.024sg.

Pygmy Sunfish

Pygmy sunfish aren’t actually a sunfish, but they are tiny! In fact these guys only grow to about an inch and a half maximum. Pygmy sunfish are carnivore and actually won’t accept flake or pellet food (brine shrimp are a good choice)! Recommended pH is 7.0-7.5. They can also live in a 5 gallon as well.

Dwarf Pencilfish

Dwarf Pencilfish grow around the size of a neon tetra (1.5 inches). The recommended pH for Dwarf Pencilfish is 5.0-8.0 and their recommended pH is 5.0-8.0. They live for about 2-3 years and they do best in schools of 8 or more. Hardiness should be about 4 to 7 dGh. They do best in warm water.

Have you found one you like? Feel free to comment down below?

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7 Foods That Are Bad For Dogs

DISCLAIMER: WE do NOT take RESPONSIBILITY if your dog has CONSUMED ONE OF THESE FOODS. ALWAYS DO RESEARCH and MAKE SURE that the food you want them to eat are SAFE for them. NEVER give your dog a HUMAN FOOD without RESEARCH. ALL THIS INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED FROM ONLINE RESOURCES.

We know that there are foods that are bad for dogs. It’s important to know which foods exactly so they don’t get sick and lose our little (or big) fur-babies. We all don’t want our dog or dogs to get sick, do we? There are common ones and there aren’t as common ones. There are obvious ones and then there aren’t so obvious ones.

Some obvious foods that are bad for dogs could be alcohol as alcohol is bad for humans, and is no means even closely healthy for dogs, and then one that may not be so obvious could be something like grapes (we will try to cover toxic ones, there are more foods that are bad for dogs at the end of this article) We will cover all these plus some.

Foods that are bad for dogs

These foods you should avoid. Some say that garlic which is in this list can be consumed in moderation. However, make sure that you do research before you give your dog something that you usually don’t give them.

Macadamia nuts

foods that are bad for dogs

Perhaps you may be wondering, “Are Macadamia Nuts bad for dogs?” Unfortunately, it is. Macadamia nuts are actually awful for your dog. If your dog has eaten a macadamia nut, you need to call a vet as soon as possible. The symptoms go on and on. Some of them include vomiting, lethargy, increased heart rate, ataxia (lack of voluntary muscle coordination) and much more. There are multiple sites warning of the symptoms of macadamia nuts for dogs. This is nothing to shrug off and could actually be fatal if nothing is done immediately.

Garlic

There is a controversy about garlic and dogs. Some say it’s actually healthy while others say it’s unhealthy. According to www.petfinder.com, it’s actually almost both. Garlic perhaps could be okay for dogs, but it’s probably best not to give them a lot of it, and if you think you should give them some, make sure to do some more research before you do!

Avocados

Are Avocados toxic for dogs? As a 2 word answer, yes and no. The worst part of the avocado is the pit (you may know why, because of choking and getting the seed stuck in their intestines), leaves, and skin. All the parts of the avocado has at least a small amount of persin. Humans are very tolerant, and so are dogs — but not as much as humans are. If a dog consumes a large amount of persin by such as eating a a lot (like a lot) of leaves then they may get a reactions (and not a good way). Some have had worse reactions than others, but simply avoid avocado and don’t take any chances.

Grapes

Grapes are actually a horrible, life threatening food to give to your dogs. It is known to cause multiple symptoms such as decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, dehydration, and more. Please call a veterinarian as soon as you can as grape poisoning in dogs could be fatal. Grapes have a toxin that can also cause kidney failure, which can kill your dog, as it can with us humans. Also, raisins and grape products may also be toxic to your dog.

Cherry Pits

Just as cherry pits are bad humans, they also fall in the “foods that are bad for dogs” list. Not only are cherry pits a choking hazard, they are also pretty toxic for dogs. As you may or may not know, cherry pits have cyanide.  Cyanide is toxic for both humans and dogs. Some say the flesh is okay, but avoiding cherries all together is the safest option.

Make sure your dog isn’t having one of the symptoms listed if they ate a cherry pit constipation, decreased appetite, difficulty in breathing, , red gums, lethargy, and more. There could be more, but those were some. If your dog has 1 or more of of these symptoms, call a vet as soon as possible!

For humans, read this article here.

Lemons and Limes

Dogs can’t have lemons as there are toxins and oils that are bad for your dog. The acidity of both lemon and limes are bad for dogs and cause a number of problems such as gastrointestinal upset. It make your dog vomit and have diarrhea. You may not have to worry about lemon and lime poisoning as dogs generally don’t like to taste of lemon or lime, but you still need to consider not giving your dog lemons OR limes.

Chives

Chive poisoning is considered mild, but they still are one of the foods that are bad for dogs. Symptoms could be some of the following: drooling, nausea, pale gums, and much more. Toxins in chives damage red blood cells which can lead to anemia. GI upset can also occur for example nausea, drooling, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you have one of the problems, call your vet.

Other examples of foods that are bad for dogs

Here are some more obvious examples of unhealthy and toxic foods.

  • Candy, baking goods that have high amounts of sugar and carbs
  • Chocolate
  • Xylitol
  • Alcohol

There are also other examples as well, so study carefully and think twice before you give your dog some human food.

Check out these articles!

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5 Dogs That Stay Small

Want a tiny dog in your life? You may want one for many reasons. If you have small kids (this post is NOT about dogs that are kid friendly, we have an article about that exact subject though), live in an apartment, or want an indoor dog, you should look into getting a small dog. Again, this is NOT the article for you if you are looking for a dog that is good with children. Having a small dog may mean that they won’t be expensive. Saying that most small dogs just don’t need as much food as larger dogs and that they don’t need such huge toys or beds. Also some of the dog breeds in this list you may also not recognize as they aren’t as popular.

American Eskimo Dog (Toy)

The toy version of the American Eskimo Dog is the only one that will make it on this list, as the two other kinds, miniature and standard are actually too big. The American Eskimo Dog is a great dog for those you like to play. These dogs are pretty energetic so exercise could be necessary occasionally. Daily walks and fetch can be good ways to give your dog exercise. You could also let your dog out in a fenced yard.

These dogs have a beautiful white coat that’s fairly dense. Despite their look, it’s only recommended to brush and bath these dogs weekly (which perhaps could be too much for you if you’re busy and perhaps it doesn’t need that much bathing). These dogs can be very social and may develop social issues if neglected or is not trained enough. These dogs are not the friendliest to other pets or dogs, but are somewhat affectionate. According www.thesprucepets.com, the dogs were bred by Germans in the Midwest of the United States of America, not Eskimos and was only recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995.

Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear only gets 9-11 inches tall and only weighs 8-13 pounds! The dog’s coat is so soft that the French refer to it as cotton. The word cotton in french is “coton.” This dog comes from the seaport town of Tulear in Madagascar, so thus this dog gets it’s name, “Coton de Tulear”which simply means “Cotton Tulear.” So in english this dog breed would actually be “Cotton Tulear,” not “Coton de Tulear.”

Daily brushes is recommended by the American Kennel Club. Coton de Tulears are  fairly active so daily walks are recommended if you don’t have a fenced backyard. You could also fetch with your dog and play with various dog toys. For ages, this dog was isolated as the people of Madagascar loved the dog so much that they didn’t want to want the dog to leave the island, thus it became isolated. Eventually in the 60’s, some French tourists discovered the breed. The Coton  de Tulear is also friendly to both strangers and other dogs as well. Unfortunately though, Coton puppies generally cost over 2,000 US dollars!

 

Lhasa Apso

The Lhasa Apso, usually found in a white, brown and black mix is very small. These dogs, getting less than a foot tall (10-11 inches) has thick skinned and needs a lot of protein and fat. You can try feeding your dog dog foods that contain fish, as fish as both some protein and fatty oils.

These dogs only weigh 12-18 pounds. “Lhasa Apso” means “Lhasa Apso long-haired dog (Lhasa is a town in modern day China)”. These dogs can be very strong-willed and may bite if pushed and should be socialized at a young age. It could also be hard to train the Lhasa Apso as well.

Chow Chow

The Chow Chow, with it’s abnormal name is the biggest dog in this list, getting around 40-50 pounds. They are quite sturdy, but should go on long jogs as they simply are too bulky and have too thick of a coat. The Chow Chow was seen in China since the ancient times. Because of their sturdy body and thick coat, these dogs do well in cold weather. Also because of their thicker coat, grooming about twice a week is recommended.

The Chow Chow isn’t super friendly, but is a decent watch dog. Please keep in mind that these dogs could be aggressive to dogs of the same sex. Also, believe it or not, the Chow Chow’s tongue is actually a dark blue! As you may also see, these dogs, like the Bulldog, generally have an “unhappy” look while other dogs such as the Samoyed and Shiba Inu usually have a happier look.

Keeshond

The Keeshond, having Dutch origin is only slightly smaller than the Chow Chow, weighing around 35-45 pounds and 17 inches tall for females and 18 inches for males. They are usually always a mix of black, gray and a creamish white color. The Keeshond have a long straight coat with a curly tail, like most spitz breeds of their size. They are fairly vocal and does pretty well in the cold weather.

They are intelligent. friendly, and now the national dog of Holland, was used a good bit in political cartoons and soon later became known as “barge dogs,” as they were commonly kept as watchdogs on small vessels navigating the Rhine River. Their lifespan is 12-14 years and could be prone to epilepsy, skin problems and could also get renal cortical hypoplasia. Cortical hypoplasia is a disease where the kidneys aren’t fully developed which then may the blood have more toxins than usual. Unfortunately, according to www.terrificpets.com, this disease cannot be avoided.

Again, there is no guarantee that these dogs are good with children however, there dogs should always stay small and never get too big!

So, did you get any ideas on what dog you may be getting? Comment it below!

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5 Dogs That Are Good With Kids (According to Research)

DISCLAIMER: The author of this article RESEARCHED ONLINE ONLY. Individuals may vary. Make sure that the dog you get is a friendly dog, as dogs, like humans will vary. PLEASE check to see if the dog will be friendly toward your children regardless of what breed it is. Thank you.

I’m sure that there are some parents that want a dog, but have young kids, and don’t want them to get hurt. I get that. You’re most likely going to need a small dog. Now not always, as some dogs like to Golden Retriever are popular for it being kinder and more gentle toward kids however,  at the same time, you still may want a small dog for other reasons. This this article, I will feature both small and slightly larger dogs. Please pick carefully and always make sure to research more about the dog breed you’re thinking about getting.

Pug (For kids 8+)

The pug is almost a controversial dog when it comes to if they’re truly a dog for kids. Most sites say they’re a good pet for kids, and even have research backing it up. According to the ATTS, and other sites like this one, pugs have a high temperament and are pretty passive.

These dogs should have an average amount of exercise. Make sure to exercise them regularly, but also make sure to stay at their own pace. Pugs can be a good dog for kids because of their fairly energetic, playful nature. They aren’t too thin, but not too heavy either. As I stated before, pugs have a high temperament, with a temperament percent of 91.7 according to the ATTS (American Temperament Test Society). Which the higher the percent, the better.

Of course, all dogs may vary, but these things that are mentioned are more stereotypes. So please don’t think that every dog will be exactly like this. Some dogs may not be good with kids, despite being a “kid-friendly” dog breed. And of course, they are still animals, and may snap at any time. These dogs that we are showing are more

Cocker Spaniel (For Kids 8+)

The Cocker Spaniel is a small, playful dog most suitable for kids 8 years of age and older. They were and still are a popular American breed. Not to be confused with the English Cocker Spaniel, these dogs have droopy ears, often found in black or a mix of black and white, and actually has different variations of fur throughout the body.

Due to their thicker coat, it is recommended to groom these dogs daily. Grooming is rarely mandatory, but grooming dogs that have thick coats is highly recommended, as the coat can get tangled and just look messy. If you don’t want to groom much, a short haired dog such as the pug may be a better option.

A walk occasionally is recommended, as well as fetch. They are moderately energetic. Not super outgoing, nor extremely lazy either. According to the ATTS (American Temperament Test Society), the Cocker Spaniel has a temperament percent of 82%, which a slightly better temperament.

Wire Fox Terrier (For Kids 6+)

The Wire Fox Terrier is an amazing dog for children 6 years old and older. They are a great companion and and fairly small as well. They don’t shed a ton and are decently energetic. With their rough fur, long head and stubby tail, they are definitely a compelling dog breed.

Because of the dog’s fairly short hair, it is only recommended to groom the Wire Fox Terrier weekly. They may not be as friendly to other dogs as other breeds, but are actually pretty dogs for kids. They may not be the best watch dog, but they are still energetic. Yet at the same time, they can make good hunting dogs as well. Please note that we do not know that every dog will be like this for mainly two different reasons. One, because dogs can change any moment, as they are still animals. And two, because dog personalities are all different! So please again, do not take anything we say true for every dog out there!

Basset Hound (For Kids 8+)

Despite the size of this small dog,  the Basset Hound can be a solid, muscular dog. These dogs only get around 13-15 inches tall and generally around 25-30 inches long. They tend to live around 12-13 years and has a generally longer tail. They have short legs, as you can see in the image above.

Please note that these may be a slightly harder dog breed to care for, as they need plenty of exercise and need to have a leashed when outdoors. If you somehow don’t know already, Basset Hounds have a strong sense of smell and may start chasing an animal if it smells it. These dogs are considered a hunting dog breed — you know why.  As stated before, these dogs need plenty of exercise. The hardest part about getting them to do what you want is that one, they can hear that well. And two, they’re just lazy. But you must take your dog off of that couch, leash it up and take it for a walk — or just let them outside.

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (Children 14+)

This dog breed is best with kids 14 and older. Yes, the dog has a super strange name for us English speakers. If you haven’t noticed by it’s name, this dog comes from the Netherlands. The word “Nederlands” means Dutch in well, Dutch! The dog breed is pronouced, “netherland-se coy-ker-hond-tsje.”

This dog breed is decently old, being bred at least 500 years ago in the Middle Ages. These dogs like stated before should be older kids because according to some, they might not stand a lot of noise. This dog breed because of it’s rarity, can be very expensive, especially for someone who is middle class. According to www.puppyarea.com, these dogs cost almost 3000 US dollars!

WARNING: PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH TODDLERS, INFANTS AND CHILDREN AROUND DOGS. PLEASE RESEARCH EVERY DOG YOU THINK YOU WILL GET IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN. WE DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE TRULY CHILD FRIENDLY. WE RESEARCHED EVERYTHING ONLINE. PLEASE TAKE CAUTION! (SECOND AND LAST WARNING!)

Please note that we don’t completely child-friendly and please research the dog that you are wanting to get for you and your family before you get the dog. But maybe this can give you some ideas at least!

Have any questions, comments or concerns? Comment them below![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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3 Things You Should Do When Buying And Caring For Your Betta Fish

There are things that may need to know about or do when getting a betta fish. These things I feature can help assure you that you’re getting a healthy betta fish and that you’re not getting a sickly one, as well as other information that can help you when you first get your betta.

Check for illnesses and injuries

Obviously, this may be a good step to take when picking out your betta. Some common symptoms such as lethargy are super common and generally the #1 symptom for most illnesses in betta fish. Here are some symptoms you may should look for when getting your betta fish.

  • Rotting fins
  • Ripped Fins
  • Floating at an irregular way – lethargy
  • No or very little response when container is tapped
  • bland coloring on betta
  • Injuries, areas on body or fin where it is red and fleshy
  • Golden “dust” on betta fish (commonly reported as a possible sign for velvet)

If the water is blue, than it may another sign that the betta is sick, but this is not to do with the sickness. This is just a medicine the pet store could be using to aid the betta. They tend to do this when the betta is sickly.

Symptoms for a healthy betta includes …

  • Vibrant coloring on betta fish
  • Lush fins
  • Active
  • Respond to tapping

Let your betta fish get use to it’s new environment

Once you actually get your betta fish, try letting your fish get used to it’s environment. All you need to do is after you feed it give it till the next day to rest and explore. Just stand away for a day or so, then you can start training it and interacting with it. You don’t necessarily have to, but it may be a nice precaution so it doesn’t get sick or stressed out too much.

You may also get your betta used to the other fish in the tank if you have any. Your betta may be curious and decide to explore and see what your mystery snail is doing on the wall of your aquarium as an example, or look at your neon tetras. If you do have other fish, consider getting a female or a passive male.

Check for signs of stress when it’s home

You can also try looking after a few days for any signs of stress for your betta fish. From my research, bettas can get stressed after they’re transferred to the new tank. According to Betta Fish Care Guide, some of the symptoms of stress can be …

  • Lack of appetite
  • Skittish swimming behavior
  • Hiding a lot
  • bland color

To read the resource where I got this information from, click here.

These are just good thing you should do. All these tips can simply make sure you have a healthy betta fish.

Any comments on this article? Type them below.

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5 Reasons To Get A Betta Fish

The betta a extremely loved fish and is really popular in the fish hobby. I would say it would be around #2 in the most popular fish list. The most popular fish is most definitely goldfish. The betta fish is a beautiful fish and has plenty of reasons to get one.

Betta fish are stunningly beautiful

The betta fish really is beautiful. The betta fish comes in a number of colors and color variations, plus having tons of different fin variations. There are so many variations that just about everyone has a betta that they like.

Let’s look at a few variations, shall we?

1. Crowntail

The crown tail has fins that seem to look a lot like a crown. Their also look a lot like needles as well.

2. Halfmoon

Halfmoon betta fish have roundish caudal fins (back fin used to swim with), making it look a lot like half of a moon.

3. Veiltail

The veiltail seems to be the basic of bettas and the most common. The veiltail has fins that come together to form a point and makes their fins look the letter V.

As you can see, Bettas come in a variety of colors and fin shapes. These fish truly are beautiful fish!

Betta fish take less room

Although I don’t recommend keeping betta fish in bowls, I do think they can live a healthy life in a 5 gallon tank. I would say 2.5 gallons is a minimum, but you don’t have to take my advice.

But again, in my opinion, a good tank size for betta fish is around 5-10 gallons. This would make it so the betta would have space to swim plus other benefits for you and the fish, but wouldn’t be too big. The betta fish is a good fish to keep if you don’t have a lot of room, perhaps the betta fish is for you.

Betta fish are quite smart

The betta fish is pretty smart for an aquarium fish. They can be “trained” to follow a toothpick and even go through hoops (underwater of course). Bettas are very curious fish. Bettas may even bite people simply out of curiosity (or for protection).

The betta seems to be almost like a goldfish when it comes to interacting with people and their environment. You may notice that your betta has actually learned tricks and is able to interact with his/her environment. The bettas intelligence and it’s instinct to catch insects on the surface of the water makes it pretty easy to train. Training your betta to follow a toothpick can be done not soon after it gets settled in an aquarium.

Bettas are hardy

The betta fish can survive a number of conditions. These hardy fish can live in not-so-great conditions such as lower temperatures as small areas. Bettas actually live in small areas in the wild, as well as in a variety of water parameters.

They are quite amazing creatures. Saying that bettas can live in a variety of conditions, you don’t have to worry if the conditions aren’t exactly perfect. Sure, it is best if you can get it as good as you can get it, but you don’t need it to be completely perfect.

Betta fish are calming

These fish are quite calming. With their long, gracious fins, it’s hard not to be calmed by them. As bettas are slow swimmers, make sure to keep that you don’t have a strong filter. These fish truly are calming and amazing fish!

Bettas are great fish for beginners or experts. They’re beginner friendly, beautiful, and simply calming. It’s no wonder that bettas are one of the most popular fish out there!

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My Top 5 Favorite Animals

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Not only do I have my favorite dog breeds, but also at least 5 favorite animals in general. They may all have something in common, as I do have specific things I like out of an animal, and you may have a whole different set of favorites.

All of these can be pets, but some might be exotic and unspecific. If you’re looking for a good pet for you, this is not the article for you. I may be making that later, but for this article, this is about the best pet for you. And sure, this article might not be fancy, but let’s get started!

Dogs

Yes I know, the dog is extremely popular and is extremely loved all over the world. But I thought that I should include them anyways. Dogs have been tamed for hundreds of years. There are lots of reasons to get a dog, but the biggest reason being companionship.

There are so many dog breeds and there’s bound and determined to be a dog breed for you! Some dog breeds are for companionship, while others like the German Shepherd is known be a great guard dog and the dog breed that basically all police officers use as police dogs.

The dog can help a lot of things such as depression and anxiety. As you might of seen, dogs tend to be the most common out of support animals as they not only can be trained to help sick and disabled people, but also fight depression and anxiety as I stated before.

Cats

Cats like dogs, are extremely popular as a pet. For the most part people keep the house cat, being small and perfect for houses. But some even keep huge cats such as lions and cougars!

Although the house cat generally scratches everything and stick their heads in just about everything it can, the house cat is a wonderful creature and quite ad0rable. Well, unless it’s pouncing at you like a cougar. Oh, and also when it whacks stuff off your counter and scratches your couch until it has a enormous hole. But besides that, they’re amazing creatures!

Foxes

Yes, the fox is an actual pet, just not as popular as dogs and cats are. There are at least three different types of foxes, but the red variation tends to be the most  popular variation in the pet world. The fox is also generally found is zoos as well, but can be pets as well. The fox is described by some as a mix between a cat a dog. As foxes look somewhat like dogs, but act almost like cats. The other variations include artic foxes and silver foxes as well as possibly more.

Fish

Fish can be calming, relaxing and well, stressful. Sure, having a fish tank may be fun and relaxing, but like any pet, stress comes with it. But, like I said earlier, they can be fun and relaxing at the same time. Simply that keeping fish can super exciting makes them one of my favorite animals and especially pets.

There is an over-whelming amount of fish out there, from neon tetras, one of the smallest fish out there to huge fish like Oscar fish and Koi fish. There fish out there that are great for beginners, and there are fish that are harder to keep. Fish are kind of like dogs when it comes to variety. Fish are a great pet for people who don’t a want that gets in there way, as some smaller aquariums aren’t as invasive like a dog or cat could be.

Chickens

Raising chickens, might sound horrible, or it might sound amazing. It one of those things where, you may not like it until you try it… or it may be that you absolutely love the idea without even having to try it before.

Raising chickens, not only could be exciting, but it could also reward you for your hard work! You might know what I mean if you know know where supermarket eggs come from. That’s right, chickens when they’re old enough, will start laying eggs if you care for them right. In fact, as long as they get enough food, water, calcium, other nutrients and a low-stress life, your chickens should, if they are healthy, lay eggs almost every day!

Now that I shared my favorite pets and animals, it’s time to share your favorite animals and pets! Comment them below!

Try reading, “15 Reasons Why You Should Get Your Kid A Dog,” by Dog Is Good!

Also try, “10 Tips for Raising Backyard Chickens for Beginners,” by Rural Living Today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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