I am going to buy sod for it, so it will have grass. I am also going to have shad cloth on the east and west sides of the weathering area to knock down the direct sun in the morning and afternoon. Part of the top will also have shade cloth on it. I have purchased all the wood and will start building the mews some time next week. This project is all paid for by my friend, but, I have to put it on my Home Depot card and then he will pay me back. I do have water and electricity to this area. This area is where my horse stalls used to be, but, for now i am horseless.
I forgot to mention that I will not free loft my birds in this weathering area. I have had a couple of experiences with free lofted birds over the years and now I think it is safer for me and the birds to have them tethered. You just never know even when you think you do.
That's huge, I love it! I dunno though, I think I'd put shade cloth on the south and west sides though and let her have the morning sun, which isn't nearly as hot as the midday and afternoon. Actually, I think I may be tempted to use lattice instead of shade cloth..... hmmmm, dam, now you got me thinking.... I hate it when that happens!
For my weathering area I decided to use a big green house frame cover the roof and the sides up for six feet with ply wood the rest is netting, unless yall think it won't work tell me.
You know what, I would be tempted to do completely the opposite: screen or netting on bottom and plywood on top, simply because the bird may end up bating up towards the top edge of the plywood for a higher perch all the time. Otherwise it sounds good to me.
I am going to buy sod for it, so it will have grass. I am also going to have shad cloth on the east and west sides of the weathering area to knock down the direct sun in the morning and afternoon. Part of the top will also have shade cloth on it. I have purchased all the wood and will start building the mews some time next week. This project is all paid for by my friend, but, I have to put it on my Home Depot card and then he will pay me back. I do have water and electricity to this area. This area is where my horse stalls used to be, but, for now i am horseless.
Perfect!
And you even added the double door for added protection. Very cool.
Please send pictures of your mew once its built. I'd like to see more of your creative idea's in making facilitys.
I live in Southern California. Last week we had 3 days of 100 degree plus weather. By 11 am we have a lot of heat. I might not put the shade cloth all the way to the bottom of the weathering area, but, the east and west sides will be almost covered and the cloth will extend into the roof for shade during the heat of the day. The shade cloth will also help protect the birds from the Santa Ana winds that come up a couple of times a year. These winds blow tractor trailers over and are very hot winds. The birds will not be free lofted so I am not concerned about them getting to the top of the weathering area. The mews will be attached to the back side of the weathering area and will have 3 chambers in it. The top of the weathering area is covered with wire and it will remain open {with shade cloth} while the mews will have a solid roof and will drain away from the weathering area. Not counting the labor we figure it probably cost about $1500 for all the wood and doors to build the mews. Then we used 750 feet of 1 inch square steel tubing and 3 rolls of wire {wire was $100 a roll} for the weathering area. I don't know what that cost because my friend had that in his welding shop. We used a come-a-long to strecth the wire tight on the 4 x 8 panels and then he welded the wire into the panels. It took us about 2 days to weld all the panels and then 2 more days to weld the wire into them. I could not have afforded this except my friend bought a horse from me about 3 or 4 years ago and never had the money to pay me for it so this is payment for the horse.
Another reason for the shade cloth on the east and west sides of the weathering area is that in my town, all the houses have horse trails between the houses. If you look in the first picture {look through the weathering area}, you will see the short chain link fence that is the end of my property. From the end of my property to the fence of my neighbor is 15 feet of horse trails. The whole city is set up this way. As you are riding down the trails, you are looking into everyones back yards. The mews will block the view and the shade cloth will also block the view. I will still have a clear view into the front of the weathering area from my front room in the house. Everyone in town knows I have an eagle, because I had to go in front of the city council to get a permit to have one in my city so the newspaper put it in a story. I always keep my housing {for the birds} doors locked and have never had a problem
I was just concerned about the idea of NOT having the shade cloth on the South side, when your getting the strongest rays of the sun. But you think the sun will be high enough for the cloth on the roof to do? I see what you mean about the horse trails, it's just that the sun is the hottest from the south and west so that is what I would want shelter from, imho.
The south end of the weathering is bolted to the wooden mews {not built yet} so that will block off all the sun from the weathering area. As you look at the picture, the sun comes up on your left and sets on your right
I dropped off the eagle on Sunday at the Oregon boarder and when I got home I went outside to let the dog in. When I got out back, I saw that my neighbor and his buddies had come over while I was gone and built have the mews. Its not finished yet, but, you get the idea of how its going to be. I'll post more pictures as we go along.
Minca, this is the neighbor that owes me for the horse and the deal was for him to build the weathering/mews for the horse. I just didn't think that they were going to work on it this weekend while I was gone. He has a contractor friend that is doing the work for beer so, it should be put together right when its done. Or maybe not, depending on how many beers he drinks.