Wooden floor, mews in a shed

[kitana8]

Hi everyone,
I will soon start to transform a big shed (21x24) in a mews for a broadwing and I need some opinions and input from experienced people...
The floor of the shed is wooden and I was wondering what option would be the best between astroturf and a sheet of plastic (with drainage of course) covered with pea gravel. I am not a fan of cleaning the astroturf and I do not want the wood to smell...
Also, it will be an «inside» mews if I may talk that way, enclosed in the shed, because we get to -40Celsius in the winter here. There is already 3 small windows were the mews will be, and I do not want a large window with bars like I see in most mews, just to protect the place from the cold (ventilation is assured by another system of openings). So I planned to build a 10x12 mews inside the shed, and keep the rest of the shed as a preparation room. I want to put bars on the upper half of the inner wall of the mews, a little like a horse stall, but was wondering if it really is a good idea, considering the stress that the bird may resent when it sees people in the shed... what do you think, do I completely enclose the mews or do I open half a wall with bars?
Thanks for your opinions, I'm very excited about all this...

[Master Yarak]

Once manned the bird should not have stress as people go about there business in the shed. I just discovered some of the local falconers here use pine park. They say pea gravel dulls talons. I guess if your bird spends alot of time walking on it maybe. My bird does not so she does not get dull talons.
Yarak

[crbhawking]

are you going to have a glass window behind the bars, if not the heating won't do much, also the bird shouldn't care about the people walking around the shed, this will actually help the manning process.

[kitana8]

Thanks for your answers!

There is already glass in the windows, I will just add bars in the inside. Don't worry, here with the weather a shed with opened windows ends up its career being an overgrown freezer full of snow!

About the floor, I would be afraid of Asper using any kind of vegetal material as litter, no? Maybe I am too concerned by the medical aspects of keeping birds of prey, professional deformation I guess...

[falco]

Pea gravel could work in that situation. maybe put a 2X4 frame down over the wooden floor, attach wire, then put the gravel on top of that?!?!?! Just a thought, you're the one that will ultimatly decide, heck, i dont even know if will work.

[kitana8]

falco said:

Pea gravel could work in that situation. maybe put a 2X4 frame down over the wooden floor, attach wire, then put the gravel on top of that?!?!?! Just a thought, you're the one that will ultimatly decide, heck, i dont even know if will work.

Why would you choose wire over plastic sheet, for aeration?
I am not decided at all, it's the first thing I build with my hands (or modify! lol) in my life and don't have access to much technical help. My main concern, and I don't even know if it is a valid concern, is that I don't want the wood to rot if it comes in contact with humidity or to absorb bacterias from the mutes. Even though the mews won't be humid, I'm gonna wash this gravel once in a while, there will a bath in there in the summer so water will come in contact with the wood... Do you think I worry too much?

My idea so far was to cover the wood with plastic, to place some small pipes through the floor to carry the water below the shed (it sits on cement blocks away from the ground) and to put the gravel on top of that. I searched a lot for infos on the best way to go, but most mews seems to be built directly on the ground or on cement, which does not help me...!

[hawkstir]

How about rubber mats? They could be put over the plastic barrior (see note below). I saw some in Walmart that are adour 2' sq. and snap together. They could be removed to clean easily. Or a piece of rubber membrane roofing, cut full size to fit and layed loose for easy removal.
Note: I would apply a good seal coating to the wood, such as Thompsons waterseal or a couple coats of exterior deck enamel instead of plastic which well trap moisture under and actually promote the wood to rot. Ventilation in the space under the floor is paramount.

[Joby]

Actually, I use the rubber mats that Hawkstir was talking about over a concrete floor (in the mews) and then I cover that with two layers of carpet padding. The great thing about carpet padding is that it is easy to find (for free). And once it gets dirty you just throw it out and replace it. I also use it ouside in the weathering area around the two perches (over a 6" layer of pine bark mulch) on my zip line. It helps keep the birds talons nice and sharp and it dries out quickly. I don't think I'll use anything else.
-Joe

[kitana8]

Wow, good ideas, I never thought of that!

Joe, why put carpet over the rubber mats, aren't they enough by themselves or is it to help with easier cleaning? Do the birds get stuck with their talons in the carpets (my cats do... stupid cats! lol )?

[kurt]

I've been using the rubber mats about two years and they show very little wear. I haven't had to replace any sections yet. I have a wooden floor in my mews that I painted with porch paint and drilled 1" holes that I covered with hardware cloth for drainage. Make sure it's well ventilated underneath and you shouldn't have any problems with rot. kurt

[Joby]

Kitana,
I use carpet padding, not the carpet itself. So, nothing gets stuck in it, really. The reason I put it over the mats is that it simply makes it easier to keep it clean. Just pull it up, throw it out, and put down some more. Also, in my opinion, the rubber matts provide an extra layer of protection/padding, should the bird come down hard on the floor. Plus, the padding is free, if you know where to find it, and I don't have to hose down the foam padding.
-Joe

[kitana8]

THanks to all for your suggestions, it opens an all new persective to me... I will definitively put a water-proof seal on this floor and drill drainage holes, and I have access to rubber mats that may very well be perfect... I can't wait to begin, I take possession of the house in 1 months and it will be the longest month of my life! ;D

[stormcloud96]

Kitana, I recently bought my own home that came with a shed so thanks for starting this thread even though I won't build my mews for another yearish. Anyway yes it seems to take a while to take possession, but its awesome! Me and my boyfriend had to live in a one-room cabin for a week before we could move into our house. It was the only place that'd let us have our kitty. So best of luck! Hope your closing goes quicker!

[crbhawking]

do you have to have a drain in the middle of the floor if you have astroturf and a drain in your bath pan, if you have some sort of a pop shoot that you push the mutes into then clean that out, or just clean off the astroturf frequently.