Outdoor escape artist

[Alpha752]

I know Russians can be quite the escape artists, and Henry has already shown that he has no problem digging in the short periods he's been outside. I want him to be able to spend as much time outside as possible, since our nice warm days are limited.

I can't build anything permanent in the yard as we rent and the landlords don't want some crazy tortoise pen dug into the yard. I was thinking about maybe some wire fencing that I could just stick into the grass like this:

Would he be able to dig under that and escape? He wouldn't be out there for long periods, maybe a few hours at a time, but would be unsupervised for some of it.

 

[wellington]

Most likely he could get thru it. I used dog puppy play pen in my yard. It's my yard so it's left there with dirt and grass over it. You could use a large wired do crate or chicken wire attached to top and bottom of a wood frame.

 

[RosemaryDW]

My Russian could get over that, either by climbing it or bulldozing it over.

A wood frame wouldn't be permanent, or at least not that hard to knock apart when you moved? If that won't work, what about running together a couple of kiddie pools? I know there was a thread here recently about a similar setup.

I think it's best for them to have outside time but not at the risk of easy escape.*

*Owner of an escaped Russian.

 

[Yvonne G]

I use these when all my quarantine pens are occupied and I need more pens:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H904WI/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[Alpha752]

Thanks for the opinions. I could put together a frame or fence like that, I guess my concern was the Russians ability and affinity for digging. Could he dig himself under a wood or fence enclosure in a few unsupervised hours?

 

[Rosie24]

Hello this is going to sound stupid but how do you post on this website? i have a few questions about my Hermanns but no idea how to post. thank you

 

[eric joranson]

Hello this is going to sound stupid but how do you post on this website? i have a few questions about my Hermanns but no idea how to post. thank you

go to species page; press your species; and you will see "post a new thread". press and press "post reply" when ready

 

[Tom]

They need a visual barrier.

Can you set out some blocks or make a wood frame with a lid on a sheet of plywood?

Here are some ideas:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/

 

[Lyn W]

My tort will try to barge his way through anything he can see through. As Tom said if there is a visual barrier he settles down if his view is blocked with something like a plank of wood or even just a strip of cardboard against the fencing.

 

[TammyJ]

I just set up a circle or square of cement blocks starting from and coming back against a wall, or make a penned off area using the blocks, then cover it securely with a hinged/detachable frame with wire mesh. That is a temporary outdoor pen that can be easily disassembled.

 

[Big Charlie]

I know Russians can be quite the escape artists, and Henry has already shown that he has no problem digging in the short periods he's been outside. I want him to be able to spend as much time outside as possible, since our nice warm days are limited.

I can't build anything permanent in the yard as we rent and the landlords don't want some crazy tortoise pen dug into the yard. I was thinking about maybe some wire fencing that I could just stick into the grass like this:

Would he be able to dig under that and escape? He wouldn't be out there for long periods, maybe a few hours at a time, but would be unsupervised for some of it.

I put some of those borders around some plants in my yard. Charlie bulldozed over them and bent them up. He is much larger than a Russian though.

 

[Oldbattleaxe]

 

[Oldbattleaxe]

Well, crap.

 

[RosemaryDW]

LOL @Oldbattleaxe! I think you have to see a tortoise use their chin as a "fifth" limb to get an idea of what they can do.