is this big enough for the next couple years?

[Melly-n-shorty]

I just extended Duma and shorty's outdoor pen from 2.5'x3' to 3'x9'. I was wondering if this would be considered enough room for them until they are big enough to have run of the back yard? or should i be planning to make room for something larger in the future? Shorty is a yearling and is 266g and Duma is just under a year and is 109g. I almost feel bad for them come winter time. next i am going to have to find a way to make their indoor enclosure bigger!

 

[Tom]

Opinions will vary, but I think that is enough room for a while. Still, I always end up making it bigger. I can't seem to stop my mind from figuring out ways to expand and make things better.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Opinions will vary, but I think that is enough room for a while. Still, I always end up making it bigger. I can't seem to stop my mind from figuring out ways to expand and make things better.

hahaha thanks Tom! I always Value your opinion. in about a year or two we might replace the cinder block with brick to match the planters... it might end up getting bigger at that time I pulled some of the cinder blocks slightly out of line and placed flagstone over the nooks it created to add even more room just now... its only midnight and i am making improvements to tortoisetopia! its a good thing i stopped myself at only 2 tortoise!! Ill post progress pics in the morning. I probably should have made two covers rather then one gigantic one.

 

[Tom]

Whew! I'm glad it's not just me!

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Ok... Here is the before:

And here is the incomplete after:

I still need to add another sprinkler, the new big hide, organic soil, and some planting. Might add a support bar in the middle... But not sure I want to break up their sky. The look tiny in it!

 

[RonHays]

Is the PVC a sprinkler system?

 

[wellington]

Is the PVC a sprinkler system?

Doesn't look like it to me, but it would be a great idea, good one

 

[RonHays]

Doesn't look like it to me, but it would be a great idea, good one

Yeah I've done that before. Just hook up a water hose adapter to the end of the PVC, drill very small holes a couple of feet apart, and it works pretty good. You just need to have really good water pressure to pull it off.

 

[Jacqui]

That's what I use on top of the enclosures is PCV with the sprinkler heads added. Here you also need to add a way to drain them, otherwise come winter the PCV pops under the pressure from the frozen water trapped in them.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Hahaha there is no water hooked up to the PVC. That is my ghetto-fabulous bird net enclosure cover. Bird net is tied to the PVC frame. Got the idea from one of tom's threads. We had a lot of PVC already so there was no out pocket cost to make it.

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The sprinkler is hooked up to the drip line... It comes up from the ground.

 

[RonHays]

Hahaha there is no water hooked up to the PVC. That is my ghetto-fabulous bird net enclosure cover. Bird net is tied to the PVC frame. Got the idea from one of tom's threads. We had a lot of PVC already so there was no out pocket cost to make it.

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The sprinkler is hooked up to the drip line... It comes up from the ground.

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Lol! Yeah I ghetto rig stuff myself. But hey... That's a good idea on the net.

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That's what I use on top of the enclosures is PCV with the sprinkler heads added. Here you also need to add a way to drain them, otherwise come winter the PCV pops under the pressure from the frozen water trapped in them.

Yeah it's the same way here. One good freeze and the PVC breaks.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

I didn't notice at first but shorty is in the "after" picture!

 

[Redstrike]

I think you have a couple lucky tortoises, that looks very well sized for them for at least a couple years. Especially after you add the additional hides and such.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

I think you have a couple lucky tortoises, that looks very well sized for them for at least a couple years. Especially after you add the additional hides and such.

Thank you! I hope they enjoy it and get good and strong. Here is a picture of the progress I changed the little green hide into a bigger hide and the two prices of flagstone are actually hides too... 4 hides total.

Inside the flagstone hide... The pic is kinda dark but there are lawn trimmings in them (changed every Saturday) to dig into.

Don't know if you can make it out but i was trying to get a picture of the sprinklers running.

This what they look like

Duma enjoys them

The water bowl being filled by the drip line. I am going to make it bigger as soon as Duma is a little bigger.

This hide has a drip line in it to keep it moist inside.

It's not fancy but I think it has everything they will need. There used to be lots of grass but it died when a squirrel chewed the sprinkler wires. I planted some grass seed and some of the old grass coming back. Have tortoise seed on its way also. We are going to plant some plants in the holes in the cinder blocks too

 

[Laurie]

Looking good! They're going to love the extra space

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Looking good! They're going to love the extra space

Thank you very much Still have lots I want to do to it... Like make a buried hide. It will look lots better when the plants grow back

 

[TortieLuver]

Melissa that looks awesome! Fabulous job and they will thrive so well

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Melissa that looks awesome! Fabulous job and they will thrive so well

I hope so! I look forward to turning them loose in the back yard some day... Duma is loving it! She loves the sprinklers. I am so happy you are on the forum so I can share Dumas progress with you! We just love her!

 

[Momof4]

Looks wonderful!! They are so lucky to have such a nice space!

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

Ok so I have been working on the enclosure... Added sight barriers, started planting more grass seed and trying a little bird seed. I ordered grazing tortoise seed. My husband surprised me with flowers for the cinderblock holes... It was so sweet I had to plant them... But please let me know if any of them need to mysteriously die for the safety of the tortoise

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