Mews Designing

[Isobael]

All righty then...

I live in Renton, WA, which is a 'burb of Seattle.

We have this in the back yard.


The dimensions are 11 feet wide by 18 feet long and the block foundation stands 32 inches up from the ground. This is all exterior measurements.

The idea is to make a mews and weathering area together. There is an entry way into the foundation, but it's blocked by the weeds (right side of the picture).

I want to be able to walk into the weathering area and close/lock the door...then open the door into the mews to enter, basically creating the two door security.

Looking at the picture, the morning sun comes in on the right hand side of the foundation and swings around to the left by the late afternoon. Plus, the left side faces the driveway, so I am thinking of making the left side a solid wall for privacy, and have the weathering area only open on the right and on the door side (open meaning the wire). The top will have a sun shade cloth they sell at Lowe's...it's basically finely meshed heavy cloth. That way, air flow can still happen and light can come through, just more muted and less direct. The sides will be a fencing of some form. I'm thinking chicken wire.

The hawk will be tethered in mews and in weathering.

The mews will be 10 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 8 feet up from the top of the foundation, so about 10 feet high in total. This gives the weathering area about 8 feet in length and 10 feet high, 11 feet wide.

Measurements are subject to change, especially the height. I can't see it being 10 feet high when the bird will be tethered. I'm thinking of just doing the standard 8 feet, which will be 6 feet up from the top of the foundation...

I have no sketches yet...I hope I described it where you can envision it. I'm working on sketches.

There's a couple more pictures of it here: s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff234/SaharaHawk/Mews/

So...do you think it's do-able or do you think it's overkill for what I need? We just want to use an existing "structure" that is available and not build out, using up more space in the yard.

[Falcon Boy]

Sounds like an OK plan, but ditch the chicken wire. Also,don't build or buy a single thing until you have a sponsor- each thinks a certain kind of mew is best and it would suck to have to tear it down and rebuild.

[highhopes]

Just for curiosity, why not free mew?

[Isobael]

highhopes said:

Just for curiosity, why not free mew?

I'm calling the state wildlife department tomorrow to check on regulations for building mews set up for freelofting and tethering...if the requirements are different, and what they prefer for both...just so I have the info on hand. The packet they send you here is lacking of anything more than general info.

I think I prefer tethering for my first hawk. Maybe it's a beginner feeling. It'll probably change when I become more experienced, and with experience more confidence.

Hehehehe...I'm not even close to getting my first hawk and I'm already worried about losing it.

;D

[MarkT]

If the block is sitting on a footer, i would knock it down until I had one block above grade and build on top of that. If it isn't on a footer I would tear it all down and start from scratch.

[Chuck]

I agree with FB about Sponsers, I kinda had to do a lot of re-work LoL. As for regs. on free-lofting I'm not sure there are any. If the interior sides will not damage feathers then it should be ok. My sponser freelofts his Gos and the sides of the mews are wood. Mine is a hybrid made out of a chainlink dog kennel. Feathers can easily become caught up in fencing which is why I have to keep the bird tied up. If you intend to use that cinder block foundation Iwould make sure there is good drainage, other than that I would love to have that setup. Seems like it has great potential.

[chrismt89]

another thing is if its in the sun all day it might overheat in the summer depending how hot it gets there u might want to consider a double roof to keep the mews cooler or some sort of venting wouldnt wanna cook ur buddy lol

[Isobael]

admin said:

Sounds like an OK plan, but ditch the chicken wire. Also,don't build or buy a single thing until you have a sponsor- each thinks a certain kind of mew is best and it would suck to have to tear it down and rebuild.

Good point on the sponsor. I knew this...but in my excitement, forgot.

What would you use in the stead of chicken wire, considering that the bird will be tethered in the weathering?

[Isobael]

markt said:

If the block is sitting on a footer, i would knock it down until I had one block above grade and build on top of that. If it isn't on a footer I would tear it all down and start from scratch.

May I ask why?

[Isobael]

chuck said:

I agree with FB about Sponsers, I kinda had to do a lot of re-work LoL. As for regs. on free-lofting I'm not sure there are any. If the interior sides will not damage feathers then it should be ok. My sponser freelofts his Gos and the sides of the mews are wood. Mine is a hybrid made out of a chainlink dog kennel. Feathers can easily become caught up in fencing which is why I have to keep the bird tied up. If you intend to use that cinder block foundation Iwould make sure there is good drainage, other than that I would love to have that setup. Seems like it has great potential.

WA state regulations give a specific size requirement for freelofted birds.

It does say that birds that are to be kept tethered can be kept in a smaller sized facility...but it does not say HOW small...and even calling and emailing, getting anyone from the state to reply is like pulling your own teeth...without the plus of drugs. GAH!

There will be good drainage. The mews itself will actually be built so that you have to step up a couple of steps, so there will be a wooden floor to the mews, with gaps, a fine wire screen over the top, and pea gravel on top of that...OR...astroturf with holes in a few places for drainage.

Spike, the hubby, is even talking about tiling the floor, with drainage pipes, much like a shower bath pan, and using FSB on the walls for easier cleaning. He's also a flooring guy, he was flooring manager for Lowe's for a while before he struck out on his own.

So...you see...my mews will probably be fit for a human living in it...LOL.

I may end up living in there anyway!!

[Isobael]

chrismt89 said:

another thing is if its in the sun all day it might overheat in the summer depending how hot it gets there u might want to consider a double roof to keep the mews cooler or some sort of venting wouldnt wanna cook ur buddy lol

Good point. I'll be using those sun shade cloths on the weathering area roof, and probably closeable shutters on the "windows" on the mews, ventilation in the summer and to help keep it warm in the winter.

In the Spring and Winter, it usually rains...sometimes I really hate Western Washington weather!...so the weathering area will get a tarp thrown over and probably down one side as well.

[chrismt89]

rain can be a good thing tho if u have a bird that doesnt use the bathpan often the rain can help keep talons and beak sharp just make sure there is a place to keep her outa the rain if it gets to bad.. isnt it exciting planning your mews im in the same stage as you lol no footer or blocks or nething all new build for me tho

[Isobael]

chrismt89 said:

rain can be a good thing tho if u have a bird that doesnt use the bathpan often the rain can help keep talons and beak sharp just make sure there is a place to keep her outa the rain if it gets to bad.. isnt it exciting planning your mews im in the same stage as you lol no footer or blocks or nething all new build for me tho

I am very excited...so many ideas...so many pictures I've seen...

Tomorrow, I go meet potential sponsors...or at the very least, people who could point me in the direction of sponsors. They invited me to check out their mews, they'll show me some of their equipment and we'll talk shop.

Sounds like hubby is also getting into this falconry thing with more and more interest...maybe we can apprentice together. Seems like there's a bit of a husband and wife team going on more and more!

So, Spike will see their mews...and get ideas.

Course, then we'll have to talk about how to build a mews for two birds...*Grin*