flooring

[skolehead]

Whats a good flooring design?

[Falcon Boy]

chicken wire buried under 6-8 inches of dirt or pea gravel is what i use

[Bob Dale]

Yep. Pea gravel, as long as the bird stays on the perch. If it starts to bate off, or walk on the floor a lot, the pea gravel has a tendency to dull the talons. You can stop that by laying a carpet of astroturf over the gravel for a while.
But i would try really hard to get it off the ground. That astroturf idea was recommended by my sponsor and another guy. They claimed that it was easy to pull the astroturf out and wash it clean with a hose. It isn't easy at all!

I use roofing paper. I have 1 large layer that cover the entire floor and little ones so i can move them when the bird seems to take a paticular liking to one spot. Makes cleanup really easy and to dispose you can burn it.

[Falcon Boy]

Alex be careful of
A) bumblefoot
B) talon dulling

I do not free loft.

[roadkill]

FB, you use dirt? that probably feels better for the bird's feet, but what about avoiding things that retain moisture? I'm interested, how do you maintain it and keep it dry?

do your grow grass on it? (would that be ok if i did?)

Using just regular dirt flooring would make my job a heck of alot easier.

[skolehead]

what about wood flooring or that clear plastic stuff they put under pariot cages

[Falcon Boy]

I do not use dirt, i use pea gravel, but ontop of my wire there are 3 inches of dirt and 3-4inches of pea gravel. I do know people who use only dirt, and it works good enough, they do have grass growing, and their mews get a good amount of sunlight, which dries the dirt quickly after a rainstorm throughout most of the mew.

I think woodflooring would be a pain to keep clean, not to mention it will stay wet for long periods, but i have never used it, anyone have opinions?

I dont think that plastic is a good idea. I cant see it being good for the birds feet, plus, if its talons get stuck in it, then it bites to get free, your bird is choking on plastic... I dont recommend plastic

[skolehead]

Dont u have to worry about bugs with dirt or is that even a problem

[Falcon Boy]

Bugs are only a problem if they are mosquitoes. I dont know of any other bug that can harm a raptor.

[roadkill]

wood is actually good one, as long as pea gravel is on top. Of course, be sure to stain the wood with a water proof stain, and if you are using a wood floor, i assume its raised, leave a 1/4" gap between them for it to airate/drain, with wire on top to hold in the gravel or dirt. See:
www.mindspring.com/~uke/mew_progress/mew.html

Thanks FB. However, my mews is in the shade, but then again it's on a hill so, maybe, but i'll probably use gravel anyway. Thanks again.

[Weasel]

Falcon said:

Bugs are only a problem if they are mosquitoes. I dont know of any other bug that can harm a raptor.

Down here in Texas we have to worry about Fire ants. Those little bastards can really screw up your birds feet if they get bitten bad enough. The biggest problem with fire ants is that they forage 24/7 so they are always out.
I put ant poison down all the time (not near the mews) and those little bastards are still there.

[Weasel]

As for putting down the raised floor and then gravel.....I guess it would work but remember that the weight will eventually sag the wood. I prefer to just put the mews to the groung and make a ring of 2x8 treated wood. Then build up from that. This way the moisture will drain naturally and if you want to, you can add a layer of sand under the dirt to aid in water removal, then add the pea gravel. I use approx. 4-6" of pea gravel to make sure the water will not have a chance to sit. Also, don't forget to lay down some kind of mesh to prevent "critters" from coming in unwanted. Just my 2 cents ;D

And a valid two cents it is . though i would add one more penny ,If your are going to use dirt and want a ground cover choose a low clover or other plans that want grow very high. Mews are a bitch to mow. I have dirt in part of mine and am trying to grow chick weed in it. that way when I get to much in there I can just pull it up.