Forest Pet Services
New Forest / Waterside pet visiting, dog walking and caged pet boarding service
Professional, kind and reliable care for pets
enquiries@forestpetservices.co.uk
Tel: 02380 871008
Mob : 07796 117 052
Newsletter -
At last Spring has arrived, after a very long and cold winter! Hopefully you are managing to get out and enjoy the first mild days. Our pets too, are able to relax and enjoy the spring sunshine.
For dog owners, it means time to start enjoying - rather than enduring! - your walks again. In the New Forest and Waterside we have so many good walks to choose from, all virtually on our doorstep. Whether you want a long family ramble, or a short stroll just to enjoy some fresh air and exercise your dog, a linger over a map of the Forest is very well rewarded for providing inspiration.
Click here for some ideas of where to walk this Spring
For dog owners, it means time to start enjoying -
Click here for some ideas of where to walk this Spring
RABBITS/GUINEA PIGS
Once the temperature approaches 15 degrees (usually mid March - April) your guinea pigs can be safely put back into an outside run on grass during the day. Rabbits are somewhat hardier and can be put out sooner. Remember to still supplement diets with fresh veggies for the extra vitamin C they need, and dried food to ensure optimal nutrition and keep their teeth down, although the actual amounts eaten may reduce as their appetite will be partially sated by grass. Guinea pigs & rabbits are nature’s little lawnmowers so you may wish to move their run around every day or two!
If your pet is normally brought indoors for winter, remember to check the forecast. As the temperatures rise you can obviously start to leave them out overnight in their hutch, with plenty of hay to cosy up in.
Once the temperature approaches 15 degrees (usually mid March -
If your pet is normally brought indoors for winter, remember to check the forecast. As the temperatures rise you can obviously start to leave them out overnight in their hutch, with plenty of hay to cosy up in.
CATS may want to stay out longer as the temperature warms up. If your cat stays out overnight, you may be interested to know that the RSPB recommends a bell on the collar, as this has been proven to reduce cats’ predation on garden birds and young bats by 90%! An elasticated collar is safest to avoid entanglement on tree branches.
POULTRY – as the days lengthen you can finally stop rushing home to put them back so early!
Ducks will begin a spring moult, which may reduce the eggs and cover their house with feathers, but their beautiful new feathers will more than make up for that.
A spring clean of houses and runs will discourage rodents (which will be reaching optimum breeding conditions), minimise the risk of infections and encourage egg-
Laying hens and ducks will need good quality layers pellets (ducks should really have specific duck or goose pellets for best nutrition) from now until at least the autumn.
Cockerels and Drakes will eat mostly wheat or mixed corn, and hens/ducks will supplement their diet so feed this alongside the layers pellets throughout the season.
Remember to provide a source of mixed grit for your birds if confining them to a run.
A final word – foxes are bringing up hungry cubs in spring and easy food will be welcomed – make sure your birds are well protected if your area has foxes!!
And finally – I do hope you get plenty of opportunity to get out and about this Spring and enjoy all that our area has to offer.
We would like to thank our customers for their support and wish you and your pets a happy, healthy and active spring and summertime.