Anyone use them? can u free loft the bird in there? im not sure you cant becuase of the fencing its made out of.. dog runs dont have roofs usualy, what do u use?
now is $499.36+tax/shipping a better price then buying enough avairy netting to make a 10x10x6 area?
In WA the size for the weathering for a Red Tail is the same as the Mews.. 8X8X7 that dog run is the tallest 6 feet high.. the cover probably wont add much more... any ideas to make it higher?
When I move i'm going to use a dog run as a Weathering area.
You DO NOT.. want to free loft your bird in it. It will break feathers and beat it self up in there.
As for your other questions.. I dont know how to answer them. I dont know how your going to use the Netting and are you thinking about strictly using the Dog run as a permanent holding area for your bird?
Its better to have a Mew and no Weathering area then Just a weathering area.
Unless your planning on sleeping with your bird at night it needs a place away from the elements.
it says in the WA Regs.. i have HAVE to have a weathering... and i was planning to freeloft. so ill probably go with aviary netting. that and its easier to get rid of when i leave home. and i was gonna have mew and weathering. and mainly connect the mews and weathering and put a give 6x4 foot slidding wall i can move so the bird can have a choice of weathering.. or mews.
what about puting aviary netting INSIDE the dog run? (random thought)
Post by Falcon Boy on Apr 24, 2006 20:44:50 GMT -5
it wouldnt make a difference he could still hit the chain link. Another thing instead of aviary netting that might be cheaper is the nets the use on the huge batting cages. My friend has it and it works great
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
Those dog runs are very expensive. You can make something that is portable and much cheaper. I made mine with six panels that come apart, one for each side and two for the roof. The panels are framed with 3/4 inch electrical conduit and wire fencing that you can buy in large rolls. The panels are held together with wire and cable ties that are checked and replaced often. It is 10x10x6 and I made it 8 years ago for about $100 and it took one day to build. I moved once and brought it with me very easily.
My mew is portable as well. If anyone thinks it would help them, I can post pictures of both.
As was already said, you don't want to fee loft a passage bird in a weathering area. It will tear itself up. In mine, the bird is tethered in the center.
if you go to home depot, they have dog runs that are 6'x6' panels.... The ones without doors are like 30 bucks for a pannel, the ones with doors are 60 bucks per pannel. they are perpetually expandable
Someone PM'd me and asked that I post some pictures of my facilities, so here they are.
This is my weathering area. It's 10x10x6 and made of fencing and 3/4" elctrical conduit. It sits on 4x4s and has lasted for 8 years. My yard is also surrounded by a 6' privacy fence for extra protection from dogs, wind, etc. I always check the ties and replace them to ensure it's safe. I added the two 1/2" conduits as supports for the middle this year. The surface is astroturf. The whole thing comes apart in minutes and is portable.
This is my mew. It's 10x10 and over 6' high. It is portable as well, but I built it here and we haven't moved so I'll see how well it comes apart. I only wish it were taller, but wanted it level with my fence. My next one will be taller, and permanent.
It's framed with 2x6s and 2x4s and cedar fence boards. The panels are very sturdy and held together with brackets in the corners. I built this 6 years ago and it's held up perfectly. My goal was to avoid inside beams that a bird might try to sit on. The roof is three panels, one of which is a barred window in the middle. It's very well ventilated for our hot summers, lets in a lot of light, and half the roof is covered so the bird can sit in the shade, sun, rain or whatever. The flooring is pea gravel and drains very well. I must have rearranged the perches a dozen times to suit whatever bird I have. I've molted a coops, a gos, a prarie and a peregrine in there.
Post by Falcon Boy on Apr 26, 2006 11:03:15 GMT -5
Nice lookin mew, only question i have, that might not pertain to you, but does wind in the winter ever pose a problem? Looks like it could get drafty with the boards seperated. Since your in kentucky i guess thats probably not a problem but it may be for anyone up north.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
Yeah, it's not been a problem. It's in the corner near the house, so it's protected from the wind. It could be a problem with a Harris' or another southern bird, but the gos or coops I had were fine since they tolerate a lot worse in the wild with no protection. The falcon even prefers to sit in the window when the weather is a little rough rather than the back, so go figure. If it gets very cold, I will bring the birds in even though they might be able to tolerate it. I prefer the openness because I've seen mews get VERY hot in the summer, and all the ventilation helps prevent things moisture build up which could pose a risk of asper. I built when I had a gos and coops so that's what I was thinking.
Post by Falcon Boy on Apr 26, 2006 11:41:19 GMT -5
Yea i like the design alot, i was just worried about the tempature issue. I also like the idea that the bird gets to see more things going on in the yard, the more socialization the better!
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
My friend, who was my sponsor, came up with the idea. He built one like it year before 8x8 but wished he'd made it 10x10. He still uses his too.
It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure it was like $100 or so to make. You just need:
3/4" conduit corner connectors "T" connectors and hinges for the door screws to hold the connectors in place rolled fencing (it's rectangles about 2"x3") and brackets hold it to the 4x4s
If I were making another like this, I'd find a way to slope the roof though.
I built it when we were renting so it had to be portable. My next one will be permanent and I'd like to use it to surround one of those trolley systems. I LOVE that idea.
Mews heights are very important too, especially if you live in a damp or frosty environment. If you Have a HH they suffer from Frost badly causing Wing tip Edema plus toe frost bite. 6ft high is to low in this weather environment if it drop below freezing the HH is in trouble. Get a Pole heater on a thermostat if its that low.
I only say that as mine is 7ft high and its not enough so i have a pole heater.....ideal.
If you live in Britain its too low but i guess parts of the states its OK. Its not the Low temp its the Frost that gets them.
WHEN THE 'EAGLES' ARE SILENT THE 'PARROTS' BEGIN TO JABBER! SIR W.CHURCHILL
John - did you use the rolled fencing on the top of your weathering too, or something else? I love the design, and I think I might try something like that for mine. I definitely need something portable because I'm renting [though my landlord, also my boss, thinks the falconry thing is cool and doesn't mind the facilities being there at all].
'09- Sept '11 Éowyn - F AK
1 HOSP
1 Golf Ball
many grasshoppers!