Tort outside hide construction and results, 20 f lows.

GreatWest

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Joined
Oct 1, 2022
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
LAS VEGAS
Hide I built for Shellie. We are in Las Vegas NV where it gets down to 20f. Thanks to Tom for his crucial construction tips ( not to big!, heat above and below Tort and many more). While some may find this a little rough , I remember my fathers words "Your not building a Piano!" Don't get bogged down on making it perfect. The base is Pressure Treated (PT) 4x4 with PT 2x4 rim joists, the base insulation is the same 1 1/2 foam through out (except lid is 1"). use 9/16" or better for the floor itself. Walls are 2x2's with 1/8" hardboard (Masonite) on the inside and 3/4" 1x 6" used as siding. It is all nailed & stapled together . The lid/roof can be 2x2 frame also, but i used light angle as I had it laying around. In fact I only purchased the roofing , insulation and plywood floor. Teh rest i had , that is why you see some PT 2x2's. The lumber I had was twisted and ugly but it worked. The heat is Kane (100w?) pig mat below that runs 115f though it supposed to be 95f max. Above heat is 200 W Cozy Products Chicken coop heater mounted to the lid that runs111 base underside.JPEG2 top  base & front side.JPEG3 two sides insulation started.JPEG4 detail.JPEG6 lid-roof blocks  for hinges.JPEG7 siding started.JPEG8 caulk joints.JPEG9 siding  & hinge detail.JPEG10 tin  roofing.JPEG11 overhang.JPEG13 outside location.JPEG12 heating.JPEG14 door.jpg15 Shellie at 69f in 39f  morning.jpg16.jpg17 hide note  hot spots from  heaters.jpg5 door can  be  cut  bigger & stadard  for fitment.JPEG12 heating.JPEG
 

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Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Location (City and/or State)
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Hide I built for Shellie. We are in Las Vegas NV where it gets down to 20f. Thanks to Tom for his crucial construction tips ( not to big!, heat above and below Tort and many more). While some may find this a little rough , I remember my fathers words "Your not building a Piano!" Don't get bogged down on making it perfect. The base is Pressure Treated (PT) 4x4 with PT 2x4 rim joists, the base insulation is the same 1 1/2 foam through out (except lid is 1"). use 9/16" or better for the floor itself. Walls are 2x2's with 1/8" hardboard (Masonite) on the inside and 3/4" 1x 6" used as siding. It is all nailed & stapled together . The lid/roof can be 2x2 frame also, but i used light angle as I had it laying around. In fact I only purchased the roofing , insulation and plywood floor. Teh rest i had , that is why you see some PT 2x2's. The lumber I had was twisted and ugly but it worked. The heat is Kane (100w?) pig mat below that runs 115f though it supposed to be 95f max. Above heat is 200 W Cozy Products Chicken coop heater mounted to the lid that runs11View attachment 352856View attachment 352841View attachment 352842View attachment 352843View attachment 352844View attachment 352845View attachment 352846View attachment 352847View attachment 352848View attachment 352849View attachment 352850View attachment 352851View attachment 352852View attachment 352853View attachment 352854View attachment 352855View attachment 352839View attachment 352851
I love your semi-circle door, and your roof is fantastic!

Yeah... The chickens gotta go somewhere else, or the tortoise does.

I don't think the heat mat and RHP will be enough to heat a box that large in those temps. I use the Kane mat/RHO combo in my 4x4 foot box which have an internal floor of around 39x39 inches and 21 inches of airspace once its all built.

Your box appears to be white a bit larger than that. Your thermometer will answer this questions for sure, but I think you need a mini radiant oil heater for a box this size. You also need weather stripping around the top and clear door flaps to hold heat in.
 

GreatWest

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Joined
Oct 1, 2022
Messages
8
Location (City and/or State)
LAS VEGAS
But the chickens. Are they in there as well.?

Nice build!
The chicken have their own coop, they are nosy. Thanks . Some questions I still have - There is a "master" thermostat (if you will) that is set for 75. The under mat gets to 115, overhead 112 , surface temps. The stat reads 74 while Shellies shell reads 69 (as shown). I have found her off the mats a few times (cooling down?). Does she need a window to see the time of the day? It is totally weather stripped so I'm wondering about ventilation. The hog matt says no flammables so no to hay substrate. I'm thinking of p gravel or dirt . What would be a good substrate? I'll be looking at a mini oil heater. Thanks again.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
The chicken have their own coop, they are nosy. Thanks . Some questions I still have - There is a "master" thermostat (if you will) that is set for 75. The under mat gets to 115, overhead 112 , surface temps. The stat reads 74 while Shellies shell reads 69 (as shown). I have found her off the mats a few times (cooling down?). Does she need a window to see the time of the day? It is totally weather stripped so I'm wondering about ventilation. The hog matt says no flammables so no to hay substrate. I'm thinking of p gravel or dirt . What would be a good substrate? I'll be looking at a mini oil heater. Thanks again.
Set the thermostat to 86 in winter, so that heating elements remain "on" when the air temp in the box is less than that. Reduce them to 80 when favorable sunny weather abounds in spring and fall, and shut it all off during your scorching summer.

Place the probe from the thermostats far from any heat source and down low in the box.

Don't worry about the surface temps of the mat or RHP.

Regular dirt from the yard makes the best substrate. Safe, easy to clean, and good for the tort.

No need for a window. Their burrows have no windows in the wild, and once you open the door in the morning, the tort can see the daylight through the clear flaps.
 

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