Post by kellerbomb on Mar 25, 2016 11:02:59 GMT -5
Here is a design I am working on. 8x16 total but I haven't decided how I want to wall off the room from the weathering area. Was thinking some kind of swinging wall, with maybe a tether cable between two perches or a free loft. Inside the room considering a rubber mat like the type used in horse trailer flooring. Bottom four feet of the room will be coroplast panels for ease of cleaning. Ground is at an angle so I can hose out easily. Is chain link okay for free loft? Are mosquitoes and flies enough of a nuisance to put screening between the inner wall and outer wall?
Here is a design I am working on. 8x16 total but I haven't decided how I want to wall off the room from the weathering area. -I have the same overall shape to my mews; however, it's 8x14 and one end is a 4' wide workroom with two windows; then there's 8x10 mews with a 3x4 and a 3x3 barred windows (1/2" conduit) in a corner at right angles with a shelf perch under them. My weathering yard is a separate dog run (actually relocated to my place of employment after inspection, because if I weather him it's there- he can get loads of sunlight through the corner windows). Entry is through the workroom so there's a built in safety space.
"Is chain link okay for free loft" - I think what will happen is your bird will hang on the chain link and break feathers (although some may have different experiences, this is what my research and personal experience found). IME you tether in a weathering yard but may free loft in the mews. Tether if it's a combo (not appropriate for my location). My sponsor wanted me to be able to darken the mews completely because we freeloft from the time the bird is first trapped. (I nail roofing felt over the windows then just rip it off when he's coming to the fist). Have you asked your sponsor? I would let your sponsor be a deciding factor there. I planned a design then tweaked it based upon his recommendations.
If you want to free loft, you *might* be able to succeed if you use vertical bars for all the open areas instead of chain link. Those vertical bars have to be unperchable.
"Are mosquitoes and flies enough of a nuisance to put screening between the inner wall and outer wall?" -this will depend upon your locale, (again, ask your sponsor) but many times what we worry about is West Nile. You would have to screen every opening, AND prevent standing water inside the mews as well (including under the mats) - or use mosquito control in the mews (I'm planning on using B. thuringiensis (Mosquito Bits) and raking it into my gravel). The best medical advice for West Nile prevention at this point is mosquito control and screening is an important component. Vaccination is of questionable benefit (I am doing it for my red tail). I am ordering B. thuringiensis in a 20# quantity for my suburban yard. We were master mosquito breeders last year, and this will be my first summer intermewing.
I wouldn't go past the design phase until you find a sponsor. Sponsors will want input in how your facilities are constructed and designed.
I'm basically soaking up information and trying to suit it to my situation. I have asked my sponsor the same questions but he hasn't gotten back to me yet.
runnergirl Thanks for sharing from your experience.
Photobucket changed their policies a while back and took down just about everyone's photos unless they paid for it. And no one paid for it so all the photos are down.
