Cobb material for outdoor enclosure?

[Owllea]

Has anyone used a Cobb construction (straw+clay+sand+water) to make retaining walls or a hide for any of their turtles?

We are planning to upgrade a 5 year old ornate box turtle’s living space for the upcoming year. Any digging around our place pulls gobs of natural clay up, so I thought working with what nature gives us could be good.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Maro2Bear]

As the hide or the actual enclosure?

I’m going out on a limb here, but i am pretty sure no one has used a clay/straw structure for a tortoise.

 

[Owllea]

If I decide to do it, I may make the walls of the enclosure out of the cob, rather than the hide. It may take some experimenting. The walls would probably need a roof to keep the turtle from climbing out.

 

[Maro2Bear]

If I decide to do it, I may make the walls of the enclosure out of the cob, rather than the hide. It may take some experimenting. The walls would probably need a roof to keep the turtle from climbing out.

Have fun. Keep the photos coming. Yes, you will want a good cap stone as the very top overhanging on the outside and inside. Good luck.