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advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 23/08/2009 by winnie

Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me a little advise please. Today I finally got around to starting Queenies permanent outdoor pen so I can get her out of her temperary one. I have taken up some of the patio flags which were already down before I moved in almost 6 years ago. Once the flags were up and all the sand was skimmed off I've found myself with a bit of a problem. The end of the pen closest to the house is a concrete base which I've figured I should get away with leaving down as it should help with keeping her claws down and this is were I can also feed her, it does puddle a little when raining but I thought I could put a plastic roof over this bit but at the other end the soil is very black and is holding some water so I'm thinking it may be like the rest of the garden around the house and have clay in it. Digging it out I think would make it worse as I did this when building my pond and found that the further you dig the thicker the clay. What's the best way to deal with this?, would it be ok if I just covered the origional soil with topsoil and if I can, do I need to mix in playsand as I did for her table. Picking a different spot I'm affraid is a no no as the patio is right off the kitchen so is the safest place and also I plan to knock a small hole in the wall so Queenie can gain straight access to a small enclosed area in the kitchen itself were I can have her bed and bulb as it has an electric supply directly in the enclosed area. Any advise would be very greatly appreciated by myself and Queenie.

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 23/08/2009 by VivTPG

Hi this sounds a great idea that you have suggested.  You could either mix in some play sand into the clay soil, or add a few bags of top soil, this way you could make hill and mounds breaking up the eye line, and giving her more exercise climbing them. You could also add large pebbles to give different surfaces, even lay a little lawn or grow grass seed.

Hope this helps, let us see it when you have finished!

Regards VivienneClick and drag me down to the editor

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 23/08/2009 by winnie

So, if I put topsoil straight on the soil that's already there that should be ok?, I'm just a little worried that it might be to wet for her as I know they don't do well in damp/wet conditions.Click and drag me down to the editor

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 24/08/2009 by winnie

Another question I have is can I leave the weeds in that will grow in Queenies enclosure. They grow like they're on steroids in my garden and mainly consist of nettles, dockleaves (which she doesn't eat but likes to hide under) and dandies. My only concern about this is that if she prefers to eat the fresh growing ones how do I get her to eat her limestone flour and nutrabol?. Soz for all the questions, I feel like I'm starting from scratch again, which I basically am seeing as it's the first proper outside enclosure I've ever done.

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 24/08/2009 by VivTPG

Hi Winnie, regarding the dampness this will always be an issue on clay soilClick and drag me down to the editor Mine is clay too, but I find that during the spring summer and autumn it dries out (even cracks like a crater!!) and when it rains it just gets soaked up!  You could put a layer of stones over the soil to raise it (just mind you dont cover the damp proof on you house walls), then put the soil on top, and as I mentioned before put lots of top soil down in hills and mounds again this will aid the drainage and be deep enough for her to burrow.

Regarding the weeds, if doing the above with the stones this may prevent them, or you could put a membrane weed sheet down you get from garden centres to stop weeds growing through, then just sprinkle a weed mix ontop.  But it wont matter if you dont do this and let the weeds you have come through, you can always pull the dock leaves out or as you say leave them for shade.  As for eating the weeds outside, I just let mine, I reduce the food I am feeding let them browse naturally, they are getting the goodness from being out in the sun, you cna leave cuttle bones and make limestone flour 'cakes' for her to nibble.

Regards VivienneClick and drag me down to the editor

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 24/08/2009 by winnie

Many thanx Vivienne. Just been to pick up my friends dad who has been kind enough to help me. We're just 'avin' a coffee then it's back to work so now I know what I'm looking at.

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 24/08/2009 by winnie

Really sorry to pester but I have a few more questions. I've put the wire mesh down the sides of the pen by about 8 inches, is this enough (please say yes coz i've just broke my spade and the thought of more diggin' isn't very appealing. Also because I've been doing alot of landscaping on the rest of the garden I've been getting the big bags of topsoil from a firm called beesley & fildes. Is this topsoil ok to put down in Queenies encloser providing I check it for bits that shouldn't be there.

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 26/08/2009 by TPGDarren

Hi Winnie,

Sorry, would you please remind me what species you keep?:-)

TC
Darren

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 26/08/2009 by winnie

Queenie is a horsfield Darren.

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 31/08/2009 by TPGDarren

Hi Winnie

If he's a little un - then he should be fine - but as they get older going down a couple of feet is a piece of cake for a Horsfield.

HTH
Darren

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 01/09/2009 by winnie

Oh pants!, does this mean I have to dig down further as Queenie is aged at 6+ years. Can I put weed membrane down just around the edges or will she dig through it. The area around the pen is all flagged as I've taken up the middle of the patio to build this pen. Now I don't know what to do!

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 02/09/2009 by TPGDarren

LOL:-)

Hi Winnie,

They generally only dig down this far when they are looking to hibernate.

The problem with Horsfields is that they do tend to tunnel as well as dig down so putting a plastic membrane down probably wont help a great deal. Other Horsfield keepers may have some tips? & I'll certainly ask Viv & Ali to look in as both keep Horsfields.

Darren

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 03/09/2009 by winnie

That would be great if other Horsfield owners could pass on some of their tips. I haven't done anything more on it for now as the rain has been that bad here that the pen has flooded (which isn't a good sign), it looks like the concrete base we found under the flags will have to come up as it's this that is holding all the water. Never mind, it'll save me money on gym fees, lol. Hope to hear from some one soon so I can get stuck in on my next days off.

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 03/09/2009 by tpgAli

Hi Winnie,

If you are lining the enclosure you need to dig down about 2-3 feet and the best thing to use to stop them escaping is chicken wire. My Horsfields enclosure and greenhouse are both lined with this, the best way to do it properly is to remove all the soil from the area making sure you have a flat surface before you lay the chicken wire. I attached the ends of the c/wire to the log roll with a staple gun (this gets rid of all the nasty sharp ends), once you are happy that they cannot escape underground put the soil/sand back in. Mine tend to tunnel more, they dig down a few feet and i always find them about 4 feet away from where they originally dug down.

Good luck, you'll need it with horsfieldsClick and drag me down to the editor

Ali

Re: advise on outdoor pen
Posted: 03/09/2009 by winnie

......and she looked so angelic and innocent when we first met (ha, and still does) but now I know. Looks like I'm off shopping for chicken wire and a new spade (or 2).

Thanks Ali, for the tips and the luck.Click and drag me down to the editor

 

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