INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Bird netting materials can prevent owls from getting into your chicken coop. Netting is typically placed over structural openings on your coop and can be attached with bird netting mounting clips. You can also use a tarp sheet if you want to give your chickens some shade.  Local hardware or garden stores should stock all of these materials. Be sure to get some measurements from your coop so that you purchase something that is big enough.  Use orange netting if possible, as both owls and hawks see this color well. Larger coops usually provide adequate protection for your chickens, making netting unnecessary. Areas with plenty of bushes and shrubs can provide natural cover from predatory birds like owls and make it more difficult for them to attack.  If you plant your own ground cover plants, make sure they are varieties that chickens can eat like lavender, rosemary, sage, wormwood, fennel, thyme, nasturtium, and comfrey. Double-check that they are suited to your climate zone. Purchase pH papers online to check if your soil matches optimal pH levels. If it's outside of the recommended range of the plant you're going to grow, use an appropriate adjustment technique. Ground cover also provides shade for your chickens during the hot summer months. Prune branches and remove any trees that make ideal perching spots. Before you conduct any removal services, make sure that any tree or structure you're removing is on your property.  Hire an arborist for anything you are uncomfortable doing on your own. If there are trees on neighboring property that are giving you owl problems, discuss the possibility of removal with your neighbor before taking any action. Roosting spike strips have vertically-positioned spikes that make it impossible for owls and birds to land on them. Owls typically perch in high spots to observe your chickens and plan their method of attack. Take note of any regions that could be used for roosting in proximity of your chicken coop and place roosting spikes on them, such as near rain gutters.  Roosting spikes can be purchased online or at local home hardware stores, and are also called "pigeon spikes." Use non-silicone-based outdoor construction glue to apply spikes to steel.  You'll need at least 4 number #8 wood screws for every 0.61 m (2-foot) section of spikes installed. with at least 15.24 metres (50.0 ft) between each post. For free range chickens, electric fences are fairly cheap and not too tough to install. Although they are more effective for defending from ground prey, these fences can also prevent owls from attacking. You can attach electric fences to pole shockers, which can prevent owls from perching on any poles close to your chickens.

SUMMARY: Cover your chicken coop with protective material. Raise your chickens in regions with ample ground cover. Remove perching sites within 91 metres (299 ft) of your chickens. Place roosting spikes on perching areas 91 metres (299 ft) past your coop. Install an electric fence


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you expect to be forgiven and aren't, you're understandably going to be really disappointed. If you expect very little and are forgiven, then you'll be a lot happier. Prepare yourself for the worst but hope for the best. If the person does not forgive you, show empathy. Say something like "That's okay, I don't know if I could forgive myself either. I just hope that time can bring us closer together again. I really value your friendship." Don't get mad at the other person for not forgiving you. Forgiveness is a privilege, not a right. Remember that you're more likely to be forgiven if you're a likable and understanding person afterward. Small transgressions may be forgiven easily, but some wounds need time to heal. Do not expect to be forgiven easily if what you did was especially hurtful. Even if your request for forgiveness is denied, continue trying. Apologizing in person is usually the best method, but if that is impossible, reach them through other means of communication. Text them, send emails, but do not give up.

SUMMARY: Expect little, but hope for the best. Be understanding. Be patient.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Soil that’s constantly damp attracts pests, including gnats, and promotes mold growth. While you shouldn’t let your plants wilt or turn yellow, try to hold off watering until the soil is completely dry.  To test the soil, stick your finger about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) into the surface. If dirt sticks to your finger, it’s probably best to hold off watering, unless your plants look sad. It’s also best to use containers with drainage holes in the bottom. If your pots sit on saucers that collect excess water, be sure to drain them after you water your plants. Nematodes are tiny worms that eat the larvae gnats, fleas, and other pests. You can purchase them at a garden center; look for a product labeled for gnat control that contains the nematode species Steinernema feltiae.  Typically, you mix beneficial nematodes with water, then add the mixture to your soil. Check your product’s label for specific instructions. Beneficial nematodes are safe for people, plants, and pets, so try not to get grossed out or worry about harmful health effects. Mix a teaspoon or less of gentle hand or dish soap with a 1 US pint (470 mL) of lukewarm water. Add the mixture to a spray bottle, then spritz your plants’ leaves. After 2 or 3 hours, rinse the leaves thoroughly with water.  While they’re more expensive, you can also purchase insecticidal plant soaps at a garden center. Using a homemade soap spray increases the risk of leaf damage. It’s wise to test the spray on a small area before spraying an entire plant. As a rule of thumb, if a soap dries out or irritates your skin, it’s probably too harsh for your plants. your plants if other methods don’t work. If you haven’t had success keeping flies out of your plants, it’s time to transplant them. Water the plant, remove it from the old pot, then gently shake away as much soil as possible from the root system.  Fill a new pot nearly to the top with fresh potting soil. Dig a hole in the center large enough to accommodate the roots, bury them, then cover them with soil. If your gnat problem persists after transplanting, you might need to resort to chemical treatment. Head to your local garden center for a plant-safe liquid insecticide labeled for flying insects.

SUMMARY:
Allow the soil to dry out before you water your houseplants. Add beneficial nematodes to your soil. Make a homemade gnat spray with gentle liquid soap and water. Repot