Field notes on caring for the pets you love.

Dog boarding guide: simple dog boarding tips and a boarding kennel checklist to help you prepare your dog for a stay. Choose a clean, secure kennel with trained staff and visit first if you can. Make sure vaccinations, flea and worm treatments are up to date, and that microchip and collar details are correct. Pack your dog’s usual food, favourite toys and bedding, and give clear written instructions for feeding and medication with your vet’s contact. Practise short separations, exercise your dog before drop off, keep goodbyes calm and confirm booking and paperwork. Watch for signs of stress such as loss of appetite, pacing or unusual behaviour and contact your vet if they continue.

20 May 2026

Hybrid chickens are common in UK backyard flocks and are bred for strong egg production. They often lay about 250 to 320 eggs a year, start at 18 to 22 weeks and live about 3 to 5 years. Popular brown egg hybrids include ISA Brown, Warren, Goldline, Lohmann Brown and Bovans Brown. White egg hybrids such as Lohmann White and Hy-Line White are lighter and very efficient. Coloured egg hybrids like Easter Egger and Olive Egger lay blue or green eggs. Hybrids are generally calm, friendly and adapt well to free-range or enclosed runs, so they suit beginners. Give each bird at least 0.3 square metres in the coop and 1 square metre in the run, provide one nesting box for every 3 to 4 hens, and supply a layers feed with grit and calcium plus fresh water. Watch for common issues like mites, egg binding and egg peritonitis, and keep regular parasite checks and good coop hygiene. In the UK follow DEFRA biosecurity advice, check local council rules and keep neighbours informed to protect your flock and the wider poultry community.

19 May 2026

Rabbits often hide illness, so spotting small changes is very important for rabbit health. Watch for appetite changes (not eating, leaving hay, weight loss), droppings changes (fewer, smaller, soft or none), low energy and behaviour changes (lethargy, hiding, aggression), breathing problems (rapid, wheeze, discharge), dental signs (drooling, trouble chewing, wet fur), coat and grooming issues (dull, matted, bald patches), digestive problems (bloating, diarrhoea, loud tooth grinding), eye and ear signs (discharge, head tilt) and pain or mobility issues (limping, stiffness). Urgent signs that need a vet straight away are not eating, no droppings, breathing difficulty, severe lethargy, sudden collapse and a bloated belly. These problems can get worse very quickly, so quick action helps your rabbit get better and keeps their health in good condition.

18 May 2026

This guide shows how to set up a safe home for semi-aquatic juvenile amphibians like newts, salamanders and some frogs. Use a low, wide tank: about 30 litre for a few juveniles and 60 litre or larger for groups. Aim for a roughly 50:50 land and water split, with water 4–8 cm deep and easy ramps or cork bark for access. Keep water clean with a gentle sponge or low-flow filter and change 25–50% twice weekly. Use dechlorinated water and remove uneaten food. Keep daytime temperatures about 20–24°C for temperate species, up to 26°C for tropicals, and humidity at 70–90% with regular misting. Feed small live prey daily or every other day, dust with calcium twice weekly and give multivitamin every 1–2 weeks. Spot clean land daily and replace substrate every few weeks. Avoid stagnant water, strong currents, poor land access and oversized prey. This setup helps juveniles grow healthy and show natural behaviour.

17 May 2026