Almost done with a new, larger enclosure for Russians. Ran out of 1x6 to finish up. So, next week sometime
New Russian Enclosure
- Thread starter MikeCow1
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I like it 
. What are the bricks for in the corner in front of the bush? (Nosey me)
. What are the bricks for in the corner in front of the bush? (Nosey me)
Cuz that part isn't done and it's keeping the male Russian in
Thanks...lol
Nice! So the 1x6's are upright and you screwed them into a cross piece above and below? Nice and high sides.
Those cement blocks will make a nice hide or sight block (with some plants in them?) when you are done with the current use!
Those cement blocks will make a nice hide or sight block (with some plants in them?) when you are done with the current use!
I like the idea of plants in one of the blocks. Yeah, 1x6 are screwed into 2x4 top and bottom and are 12 inches tall, it's 9' x 7' with a boysenberry bush in the middle which he seems to love the leaves on.
Looks great.
I haven't done anything, yet. Back cinderblock wall goes pretty deep and the concrete extends out several inches. Plus I've lined the back with bricks which will, hopefully, sink in if they get dug under. The front, if he digs out he's in the yard, no biggie. But there's sod that I planted last spring which his that nylon mesh in it. Probably can't dig through that. At some point I'll probably remove the top several inches a foot or so around the edge and lay some wire mesh and then recover it.
I have done a few different things to prevent dig outs.
1.Lining the inside edge with the inexpensive 8" x6" pavers (the long way, of course), seems to deter them (thanks for Yvonne for that suggestion). They walk the perimeter, but don't seem to want to dig under it. This has worked very well for me.
Having attractive burrows in the middle helps too.
2.Another suggestion is pounding in 12" rebar down every 4" or so. This is an alternative to digging a deep trench and lining it with concrete or wire. This is a bit easier to do before you have walls, but I have managed.
3.Then there is always the chore of digging a 12" deep (or more) trench and lining with wire/concrete/pavers, etc.
4. If you are creating a raised bed, just tack heavy duty plastic garden fencing to the bottom, flip it over, and back fill with soil. This has to be done generally at the onset.
1.Lining the inside edge with the inexpensive 8" x6" pavers (the long way, of course), seems to deter them (thanks for Yvonne for that suggestion). They walk the perimeter, but don't seem to want to dig under it. This has worked very well for me.
Having attractive burrows in the middle helps too.
2.Another suggestion is pounding in 12" rebar down every 4" or so. This is an alternative to digging a deep trench and lining it with concrete or wire. This is a bit easier to do before you have walls, but I have managed.
3.Then there is always the chore of digging a 12" deep (or more) trench and lining with wire/concrete/pavers, etc.
4. If you are creating a raised bed, just tack heavy duty plastic garden fencing to the bottom, flip it over, and back fill with soil. This has to be done generally at the onset.
Nice.
Finally.
Looks really good to me!
Very nice! Satisfying to have it done!
Thanks for posting, I needed some ideas on how to build an enclosure for the female russian I picked up yesterday,I have never had a tortoise that is so busy, she hasn't stopped moving and digging since I got her, she did take a break sometime today to eat some weeds I gave her. Do you think ceramic tiles either 12 in or 16 in would work in place of the pavers around the inside walls?
Len said:
I'd be afraid that the tiles would be too light and moveable. But if you bury them a few inches it may work.
Yvonne suggested the pavers. I think the tiles might be to light and shift around. The pavers are nice because one placed, they stay put.
Could you dig a trench and lay the tiles up on end, overlapped? As long as the tops rested against the wood or cement block side, they should be stable. (of course, that gets you back to digging a trench...)
Could you dig a trench and lay the tiles up on end, overlapped? As long as the tops rested against the wood or cement block side, they should be stable. (of course, that gets you back to digging a trench...)
After I ask the question I thought about using vinyl siding for the walls, if I use the 16 in tiles and some lumber, say 2x4s to strengthen the siding and set the siding attached to the 2x4s on the tiles, I will still have at least 12 inches of tile inside the enclosure, I will be able to caulk (glue) the vinyl siding to the tiles, so they can't move. I set bird baths, large flower pots, etc on tiles in the yard and after they set for awhile they are hard to move and get up. -I think it may work-
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