Should you paint a mew and if you do, how long should you keep the hawk out of it (due to the fumes)?
"If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it is another nonconformist who does not conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity."- Unknown
Inside of the mew or outside? It doesnt change how long they should be kept away from the fumes but there's really no point to painting the inside unless you use that ceramic (?) paint so that the mutes will wash off more easily.
Aurelia - General I ------------------------------------------- "It's not about the style of the flight; it's about the blood on the glove"
I always apint the inside and then put a few generous coats of scotts water sealer stuff. I usually dont put a bird in for a bout a week. If its warm and breezy thats plenty of time. If you walk in and can smell fumes then dont put the hawk in.
Post by HawkingRage on Nov 5, 2007 15:54:44 GMT -5
Colors shouldnt matter as long as you have adiquate ventalation. Personally id never paint the inside of the mews. I am a big fan of using coroplast for that. Plastic that cleans easy and is cheaper than paint. Plus its a one time thing. eventually with the elements you will have to repaint if you chose to go that route. Simpler the better. The less chemicals you can have building your mew the better.
Put yourself in the birds shoes. Does paint matter? does ease of cleaning matter? I guess if you thought you where a bird and you would want it that way then do it for your bird, but remember dont think of your human wants and needs.
I used siding on the outside so I did not have to paint. I used a good quality white paint on the inside to help treat the wood, plus easier to wash off the mutes. I do plan on covering with coroplast later, I like the idea. As far as waiting, I had my mews up 2 months before trapping. I think one week would be sufficient.
"Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Not to Necro a post or anything, but a tip if anyone else reads this... If you paint the inside, a high gloss paint will wash off better, and resist mold/mildew. Heck, it can even be scrubbed, but will wash fairly easy.
"When faced with what is right, and to leave it undone shows a lack of courage. " ~Confucius~
Just to reinforce what Kai wrote - I once talked with a chemical engineer who made coatings as they call them. He told me that the gloss paints are the better quality as in order to make a semi-gloss or flat paint they have to use additives which weaken the coating.
Cliff. J. “May the best you’ve ever seen, Be the worst you’ll ever see,” From A Scots Toast by Allan Ramsay