Looking for cheap, sturdy fencing ideas!

Status
Not open for further replies.

mercurysmom

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2012
Messages
77
I am rescuing a 100+ lb Sulcata. I have three others, but this will be my first adult. I'm extremely excited, but there is work to be done. My backyard is already secure, we have brick walls all around the perimeter. We plan to allow him to roam freely back there, but I have a vegetable garden that I need to block off. It's a large area, about the size and shape of a swimming pool. I'm hoping to figure out something practical, easy and possibly pretty to keep him out. If he was to get in, it wouldn't be the end of the world, so I can lean more towards practicality. Open to all of your awesome ideas!! Thanks. :)
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Congrats on the coming shelled family member. Don't forget to post pics when you get him. You could look through the enclosure section of the forum. You might see ideas in there that will work for you. Good luck keeping him out:)
 

Laura

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
7,502
Location (City and/or State)
Foothills above Sacramento CA
cinder blocks, or use 2x 10 boards and brace them with posts or rebar or concrete foudation stakes...
 

saberfire06

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
56
Location (City and/or State)
Hampton, VA
How exciting congrats! Please post pictures when he arrives, I would love to see.
 

Momof4

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
9,709
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego
I was thinking cinder blocks would work great. Easy to remove or change it up if needed.
 

N2TORTS

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
8,803
Rule #1 = Don’t go cheap ……
A tortoise that size will need a well built barrier. Don’t fool yourself thinking stacking blocks /Bricks will do the trick . He will knock them down in a heart beat…..As others have mentioned 2x10 or 2x12 with 4x4 post ( mounted in cement footing) will build a strong fence line to protect your torts. Blocks will work but you will need to support them with *pounded in Rebar * or the real deal … footings , rebar ..and solid grout fill.
Still another idea and depending on your available resources is railroad ties , lag bolted together with Simpson straps. These are excellent and will last many of years in all types of weather. Yet another idea and this one was brutal but a very cool outcome …. A whole summer ( for me ) of collecting large cut off logs ( these were from a magnolia tree) and cutting “flat bottoms” to each log …then strapping together with Lags and Simpsons. The outcome was pleasant to the eye , very strong ( my veggie garden was behind the logs ….. A Sullies Feast in a heart beat ) and will last many years. I also used this method to block off the pond area as well ………
Happy Building !


P1010431_zps4b891e10.jpg

P1010414.jpg

P1010115.jpg

Behind the logs here is the pond.

P1010107.jpg

Something like this is fine for my RF’s as they have no where near the strength …. But are good climbers ….( a thing to remember for other builders….make sure it’s tall enough )
Nh23a.jpg
 

Levi the Leopard

IXOYE
10 Year Member!
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
7,958
Location (City and/or State)
Southern Oregon
JD, thank you for reminding me why i don't want a sulcata..

To the OP, awesome you are doing a rescue! Looking forward to seeing what you decide to do!
 

Momof4

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
9,709
Location (City and/or State)
San Diego
Thanks for the great info JD. I learn something new everyday!!
 

mercurysmom

New Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2012
Messages
77
JD, WOW! You're yard is gorgeous!!!! Can you come landscape mine?? Haha! Thanks for all the tips.
The garden is just weeds right now until April or so, so we have plenty of time to figure something out. Hopefully Tilt will help us clean it up in the meantime ;) all of those sound like huge projects... But that's the cost of having a Sully!
We hope to bring him home this weekend, we're just working on the fine details of his move. I will definitely post a pic of him when I get him. I'm excited!
Thanks everyone!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

New Posts

Top