my college situation, facility question

[Falcon Boy]

Alright so my school is letting me have a room on like the 5th or 6th floor of a building, it is a room approx 10x10, and opens to the outside. So my question becomes, what will be the best way to cover the open side? Keep in mind i will be in syracuse, NY and it will be VERY cold in the winter

Here are the options-

1)Vertical bars, would require building a frame and somehow connecting that to the cement building

2) Use a mesh netting, like the stuff pictured below.


3) Use a windscreen like this


The problem i find with the windscreen is the bird will not be able to see out of the room, equaling a VERY bored bird.

Opinions?

[johnh]

A college is letting you use a room to keep a bird in? Wow! I'm amazed they won't mind the mess!

I would try and design a framed, barred window that could be placed there, secured and removed. My reasoning for this over the mesh is not all birds can learn what mesh is, whereas barred windows are pretty time tested.

However, if you know your bird is used to mesh, that might be the easiest. Guess it depends on whether there is a possibility you could have a different bird along the way. Gonna be freakin' cold in that room over the winter for sure up in Syracuse!!

[kurt]

When you say opens to the outside is that a door or window? If your sleeping in the room there has to be two means of egress ( that's a fire code). If you're blocking the second egress they might use that to deny your bird. What about a table with a perch and keep the bird tethered? As long as you take it outside everyday getting enough sunlight won't be a factor. Kurt

[Falcon Boy]

Ah sorry i should clarify. I will not be sleeping in this room. It was used for growing plants and storage. When i say it opens to the outside, i mean, it opens to the outside. There is a little fence sorta thing [im assuming] so people can't fall off, but that is it. I will have to cover a 10x10 area approx. with whatever method i choose.

Also, the bird will be teathered. I will be taking him outside to weather or fly everyday.

[m4tt]

FB how cold resistant is the type of bird your getting..? you plan on getting a peregrine or a hybrid right? is it a peales? dont they have a pretty good cold resistant? or arctic?

and how bout windscreen on most and some areas of mesh?

[benj]

Matt, if it's a captive bred hawk it won't be any different no matter what type of bird it is temperature wise.

My advise FB - go for a netting, and attatch a blind or curtain or something that you can pull across it over night, and pull back during the day.

[morganf]

i would use bars... as johnh says, it's a pretty time tested thing. and it can still look out side... i also recommend putting in a canvas curtain, easily modified to make it a roll up screen, that should keep the weather out. good luck

[Falcon Boy]

The bird is a peregrine x prairie, not sure if it is peales or anatumn. Either way when the temps drop down, i plan on using a heat lamp or something of that sort.to keep the bird somewhat warmer and prevent frostbite.

As of now i am thinking of what benj said, the netting with a curtain to put up in bad weather, but i really want more opinions from those who are licensed!

[johnh]

Since the bird would be tethered, I'd use whatever let in the most light. As far as cold goes, a peregrinxprarie should tolerate some pretty cold temperatures, but on really frigid nights you could just put it in a transport box to sleep. During the day, even if it's cold, should be fine, espeically if it can get some sun. Even then, it should be fine. Just be careful of block perches with any metal near the top because the bird's toes can freeze to them.

[Falcon Boy]

The block i have does not have any metal near the top, but thanks for that it had completly slipped my mind. I will have heat lights just in case, i do not intend to use them unless it is REALLY REALLY cold. So general consencious is that the netting will work, with a windblock if needed?

[kurt]

One more question, which direction does the opening face? the south or east shouldn't be a problem as the walls should provide some radient heat if protected from the wind. North or west may cause problems but a wind screen may help. Hopefully you'll be able to secure the door against drunken college students. Kurt

[Falcon Boy]

The door should be key card locked, i just sent an email as to find out the direction, lock information, dimentions, pictures, etc.

[SheHawka!]

Doesn't sound like a bad setup FB. I would use the bigger link mesh unless there is a problem with bugs. The barred window would work too. That is cool that they are letitng you use a room. I had to go find a house off campus that would let me build a mews in the back yard.

melissa

[raptrlvr]

The netting should work fine. I have heard of flight chambers being made out of the netting that is used for batting cages. The rehab eagle I have was in a flight cage that was almost completely netting. When it is extremely cold, keep an eye on the birds weight. It will use a lot more food to keep itself warm

[tytan]

damn, u sure do have one hella understanding school to let you do this. is this room going to be in a biological science building or your dorm?

also, if you have a vehicle you can always visit home and use those facilities often, with the amount of breaks you get the time u actually spend at college seems really short.

especially during the cold season, i know here in illinois -since we get a month off- much of the winter passes while im at home, so that should be helpful to you.