Pandemic Fun: Building a Barn

Well, the summer of 2020 just seems to be dragging on and on, doesn't it? Things are still closed, people are still home from work, and kids haven't been able to go to school for months. A pandemic will do that, and it can become increasingly difficult to keep children entertained.


We are incredibly lucky here, and we know it. We haven't been hit as hard as some areas, and our government responded quickly and efficiently. Everything was shut down and people stayed home, so our active caseload is under 10 at the time of this writing. We're doing well.


But staying home all the time is hard on the kids. So we need projects. We live in the country and have the ability to have a variety of animals, so we're lucky again. Building a Barn became our next project.


Well, my kids built the barn. Now 12 and 14, they're growing up and getting bigger. So we ordered a barn package and they got to work. They read the directions, nailed boards together, attached paneling, and even erected the walls. There were moments of hilarity, frustration, and a fun moment where the kids practically dropped a wall on me. Two kids and their mom building a barn does lead to some interesting moments.


I fully realize not every family can build a barn during quarantine. But everyone can do something. Try to find a useful and fun project to do with the kids. Maybe you can't build a barn, but how about making a bed for the cat? No cat? Well, it doesn't have to be pet related. You could decorate dishes with a dishwasher and food safe paint and varnish. Buy white dishes and brightly colored paints. The kids will enjoy themselves and you'll have plates you can use for years.


There are dozens of project ideas out there. But the best ones will be projects you can see for years to come. They'll remind you of the time your spent months upon months with your children while they couldn't go to school and most activities were shut down. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Pandemic Fun: Building a Rabbit Hutch

Well, it's summer of 2020 and kids have been off school where I live for almost 3 months. They'll be off school for another 3 months. That's nearly 6 months at home. Nothing is open because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we can't exactly take the kids to the zoo or sign them up for summer camp. With the kids home for an entire spring and summer, we had to come up with some projects to do.


Our first project was conceived of for two distinct reasons. First, the kids were off school before spring break. Spring break, at least where I live, is a terrible time of year. Snow and wind and rain and slush. Occasional blizzards. Getting snowed in. It's not usually a fun time of year. So the weather prevented us from starting a large outdoor project at that particular time.


But the kitchen was also mid-renovation, so inside activities sucked. That meant the garage was our option. Fun times. We had to do something, and it needed to be something fun. And useful. After a little discussion with my two boys, who are 11 and 13, we decided to build a new rabbit hutch. My younger son has 3 rex rabbits outside, and they needed a new house anywhere. The old one just wasn't good enough. So building a rabbit hutch it was.


But this would be tricky for a couple reasons. First, getting the materials during the pandemic proved to be a little bit of a challenge. Even though hardware and lumber stores were open, they had limited hours, were allowing only a few people in at a time, and had strict rules. Those rules meant I couldn't take the kids with me. We had to make a list and I had to buy everything without them actually being there. Okay. I bought wood, paint, screws, and some of the hardware we'd need.


Turns out I'd be short on wood, but that only mattered until my older son found some extra wood in the basement. So we had wood. I'd also forgotten paintbrushes, but I stole a few from my neighbor. So we had everything we needed.


The building was fun, though I ended up banned. My older son was afraid I would cut off my fingers so he manned the saw. My younger son got tired of me measuring wrong and took over that job. So they built it under my direction and using the blueprints I'd drawn for them. They're great kids and the hutch looks great. It took 2 weeks to finish because it was cold out and we needed to wait for the weather to warm a little before painting. But they did it.


My talented boys completed their first quarantine project. They worked hard, worked smart, and made something the rabbits love. They still intend to add a gambrel roof to the top so it looks more like a barn, but they're happy with it.


Quarantine projects have become a necessity. Whether it's building a rabbit hutch or painting a bedroom, giving your children something productive to do can be a lifesaver. They can learn new skills and have some fun.


And we ended up with a rabbit hutch out of it.

How to Tell if Your Guinea Pig is Male of Female

My children love animals, so we have a lot of pets, including seven guinea pigs. Many unsuspecting and responsible people have brought home two guinea pigs and housed them together with the intention that they’d keep each other company. Before long, baby guinea pigs arrive, usually not long after you’ve been told that you purchased two animals of the same sex. It happens, mostly because the people at the pet store didn’t sex the animals properly, or didn’t sex them at all and are simply guessing.

To prevent this from happening, you should learn how to sex guinea pigs yourself. This is also an important skill to acquire if you wish to breed your guinea pigs to avoid getting home with two females or two males. But it's equally important just because your kids are going to want an answer when they ask, "Is it a boy or a girl?". If you can sex guinea pigs yourself, you can be assured of getting exactly what you ask for. You can also answer your children truthfully.

It is not easy to sex young guinea pigs. Their genitalia is not yet fully formed and so is difficult to locate. Mistakes are always possible, though regrettable. Most pet stores will tell you of the “y” and “i” method of sexing, but since guinea pigs should be sexed at 2 weeks old, this method isn’t infallible. There are other ways to tell, and once you know what you’re looking for, sexing a young guinea pig becomes quite easy.

Sexing Female Guinea Pigs

Many times, pet stores will assume that a guinea pig is male because it has bumpy genitalia. This is not the case. Female guinea pigs have bumpy genitalia, so roll your guinea pig on its back to look closely at the genitalia. Run your fingers over the area and look for a “y” formation. This usually indicates a female. To be sure, press on the “y” gently. It should open up just a little. If it doesn’t, you might be holding on to a male guinea pig.

Sexing Male Guinea Pigs

Male guinea pigs have genitalia that is almost shaped like an “i”. There will be a vertical line with a dot. That dot is the penis. There may also be a small bulge, though this often isn’t visible in a guinea pig as young as 2 weeks old. If you don’t notice the “i”, then turn the guinea pig over on its back. Press gently on the stomach just above the genitalia. This should cause the penis to protrude, if the guinea pig is indeed a male. No penis should indicate a female guinea pig.

It is important to know what gender your guinea pigs are. If you’re breeding them, you’ll want to sex the newborns quickly, as young males should be removed from their mother and sisters before 4 weeks of age to prevent inbreeding. If you don’t want to breed, but you do want to house two guinea pigs together, your ability to sex your own guinea pigs is even more important. If you’re ever in doubt, you should take your guinea pigs to a qualified small animal veterinarian. He or she should be able to determine the sex for you with very little effort.

How to Care for a Pet Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons are stunning animals that make perfect family pets. However, their good looks often prompt people to buy them before actually preparing to bring a bearded dragon into their home. If you’re considering purchasing a bearded dragon for your family, make sure it is in good health and is older than 6 weeks. Younger ones may be cute, but an older dragon will be less prone to stress and other ailments.

Take the time to research the bearded dragon and create an environment suitable for its tastes. Caring for a bearded dragon is really no more complicated than most animals. However, your bearded dragon is not a cat or a dog and needs specialized care.

Enclosure for a Bearded Dragon

Your bearded dragon needs a house, and it needs a very special house to stay healthy and happy. It is often tempting to stick a bearded dragon in any old aquarium, but consider how large your bearded dragon will eventually grow. Within the first few months of life, your bearded dragon will grow to need a 40gal aquarium. Save yourself some time, money, and frustration and purchase the correct size in the beginning. Also make sure you have a proper lid. Bearded dragons require airflow, so consider a screen or mesh lid that is well secured. Solid materials such as glass, plywood, or plastic should not be used.

Feeding Your Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons eat a wide variety of foods including both plant and animal matter, as long as the pieces are small; large pieces are hazardous. Supply greens such as kale, mustard greens, and collard greens for your pet. Also consider offering sweet potato, green beans, and parsnips. Squash can be offered, but only if it has been cooked until soft and then thoroughly cooled. Keep greens available at all times, spraying with water to keep them fresh. This will also help hydrate your bearded dragon.

Most people feed their bearded dragons crickets, anywhere from 20-60 a day. In general, you should feed your pet until it doesn’t want any more. Older dragons can be offered more than crickets. Try mealworms, red worms, earthworms, and even cockroaches. However, purchase these things only from a pet supply store. Wild insects and worms may carry diseases or parasites that can harm your dragon. Remember to dust the crickets (or other food) with calcium powder and a multivitamin supplement to keep your dragon healthy and happy.

Lighting for Your Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons like light, so you’ll need a UV light of some kind. Place the UV light so that it shines directly on the bearded dragon, not through the glass. This usually means placing it above the enclosure so that it can shine through the mesh top. It is generally a good idea to provide your bearded dragon with 12-14 hours of consecutive light, so keep replacement bulbs on hand.

Substrate for a Bearded Dragon

One of the biggest mistakes new owners make with bearded dragons is not providing appropriate substrate. Younger dragons are usually happy with newspaper or paper towels. Reptile grass may look good, but make sure it doesn’t have little loops that can tangle around your bearded dragon’s claws. This can cause trauma that you and your pet simply don’t need. Older dragons enjoy sand. You could purchase fancy reptile sand, but it’s expensive. Instead, consider play sand that can be acquired for very little money from your local hardware store, especially in the spring. Don’t get too creative in your choice of substrate. Your pet may eat it and become ill.

Temperature for a Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons like a variation in temperature. To this end, you’ll have to provide a cool area and a warm area that can be used for basking. The cool area can be room temperature, but the warm area needs to be significantly warmer. 95F is a good temperature for most adults. Younger bearded dragons may like it as high as 110F. Use a basking light to create this heat, not heated rocks. Heated rocks can burn the sensitive underside of your bearded dragon.

Bearded dragons need very specialized care. You’ll have to take the time to supply an appropriate habitat and the right foods. However, this effort is rewarded by a pet that is trusting, fun, and endearing. Bearded dragons can bring joy into your home, and you owe it to your pet to take proper care of your new family member.