In the Missouri Falconry Regulations, it states "each bird shall be provided enough area to allow it to fully extend its wings. " and "The floor shall be well drained and shall permit easy cleaning. "
Does this mean that the mews doesn't have to be 8 by 8 feet( or is this just a good rule of thumb?)
"Falconry is not a hobby or an amusement; it is a rage. You eat and drink it, sleep it and think it. You tremble to write of it, even in recollection. It is as King James the First remarked, an extreme stirrer up of passions." --- T.H. White
The answer is yes it can be smaller but the bird will do better in at least a 8x8 mew.
Well drained pretty much means that is dosen't stay wet all of the time. There are lots of ways to do this but the easiest is to build the mew on the highest ground that you have. It should be easy to clean. Pea gravel or little bit larger gravel is good as long as the bird isn't teather to a perch. When it comes in contact with the gravel all the time talons tend to dull. I know falconers that use sand, plain dirt, and Astro. The main thing is for it to dry fairly fast and not have mud puddles or standing water. -Zach
Last Edit: Feb 1, 2006 21:52:42 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
I would NEVER suggest sand in a mew or anywhere where a raptor is to come in contact with it. It will get in between the anklets and it can mess up their scales pretty bad.
i agree with falco, and FG how long do u think you will be living with your folks? and y build a small mews? if you are staying a long time with them.. build a 8x8, or even a 10x10! its not a bad idea to make a large mews so when u get bigger birds later on in ur falconry you can get them and have a suitable mews for them. and what if you free loft them?
and Tiercel78, ive heard of pea gravel SHARPENING the talons... is it possible it does both??
M4tt, Well, Im my expirence when I had my bird teathered in the weathering area with a peagravel floor it dulled the talons. I now have carpet laid in the areas that he hits when he bates. That fixed the problem. If it was in the free loft mew where he didn't come in contact all of the time like when he bates off the bow perch. Then I can see it maybe aiding in sharpening. I rely on my perches for keeping sharp talons and that works great for me. Also, I should of explained more on Foor coverings. Falco is right about the sand (sand box stuff) thing it gets everywhere. I will say that natural sand/dirt areas like here in Florida are fine. It's not straight up play box sand. This stuff packs down and it has never caused problems that I have seen. I know of many falconer that have a Sand/dirt floor mew and never had a problem.-Zach
Last Edit: Feb 2, 2006 8:46:21 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
Well, I don't think you can buy it . This is the type of ground cover that is the most common here in Florida. I bet you can make some by mixing regular dirt with sand though. Probally a 60/40 dirt and sand mix will get the desired effect. Then all you have to do to clean is rake and wet down a tad. The only thign I worry about up north is that it way stay a little more wet due to the weather. You don't want to start growing bactiera. Maybe if you laid a base area of gravel.-ZAch
Last Edit: Feb 2, 2006 9:48:02 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
So like I wouldnt have to have a sewer system or anything? Also, behind my house I have a designated area where precipitation NEVER settles. part of it is shaded and part of it is in sunlight.The ground here is normal dirt and grass. If i built my mews on top of that whould that b ok?
"Falconry is not a hobby or an amusement; it is a rage. You eat and drink it, sleep it and think it. You tremble to write of it, even in recollection. It is as King James the First remarked, an extreme stirrer up of passions." --- T.H. White
Well, My mew is acutally a Royal Outdoor products Shed modified. THe sheds they make slip together in panels and are viynl. So very easy to clean and I have a large cut out of Astro that can be taken out and washed. While that is drying I can keep him in the weathering area which use to be all I had. Florida only requires a weathering area. It's 10x10x6 and the bird is teathered to a bow perch. It's flooring is peagravel with indoor/outdoor carpet over the top like your friends. I will warn you that a bird that bates alot on that outdoor carpet will also dull talons. So when my bird use to bate a lot I put down rubber mats in those areas.
If you want to see the mew go to the raptor housing section and look st the Royal Outdoors shed. That is it right befor I put all the trim on the outside and after I manufactured the windows
Last Edit: Feb 2, 2006 19:55:02 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.
So like I wouldnt have to have a sewer system or anything? Also, behind my house I have a designated area where precipitation NEVER settles. part of it is shaded and part of it is in sunlight.The ground here is normal dirt and grass. If i built my mews on top of that whould that b ok?
how bigs the area? you might wanna concider the WEATHERING YARD to go there.. have you thougth about the weathering?
So like I wouldnt have to have a sewer system or anything? Also, behind my house I have a designated area where precipitation NEVER settles. part of it is shaded and part of it is in sunlight.The ground here is normal dirt and grass. If i built my mews on top of that whould that b ok?
I wouldn't get too far down the road with building (or even planning) a mews for that matter, without getting some input from your sponsor. What does he or she think? If you don't have a sponsor yet, then you are "putting the cart before the horse" (in my humble opinion).
oh.. yea.. we forgot about that.. ask your sponsor what he thinks about the site you wanna put your stuff. a sewer system.. might be over doing it...
my uncle has a sewer system for a dog kennel.. its pretty impressive.. but he lives there and it took ALOT of effort and time to get it working fluently.. so i highly doubt.. id be worth the trouble. for a mews. dog dirt, is a bit bigger then mutes!
So, would concrete be adequate? my dad poors concrete
"Falconry is not a hobby or an amusement; it is a rage. You eat and drink it, sleep it and think it. You tremble to write of it, even in recollection. It is as King James the First remarked, an extreme stirrer up of passions." --- T.H. White
for the mews flooring? i THINK that might be ok if u put peagravel etc over it.. im not sure. for the weathering yard.. dirt, or really just the green grass will work!