*Guess I have to do this in 2 posts!*
Well as the weather has been nice (50's+), I started Thor's temporary outdoor enclosure. Took me about 4 days to do everything. I used pressure treated lumber for the entire thing.
Started off by digging a 6ft by 18 inch hole and filled it with regular top soil. And I edged it with 5 inch plastic garden edge so the old grass won't overrun the new stuff.
I then planted my seeds. About 1/3 LB of the Grazing Tortoise seed mix from caroline pet supply. And then I got about 1/3 LB total of Orchard, Timothy, Rye and Kentucky Blue grass.
I read that adding peat moss on top would help growth so I did that.
I made these 4 stakes for the corners of the enclosure.
And green hardware cloth from Home Depot.
Outline of the enclosure. It's 6x4 feet. Height is about 20 inches. The bottom wood pieces are 7.5 inches tall, so no climbing for Thor!
Carried the enclosure to the spot and put the green hardware cloth around the outside of the enclosure.
Hammered in the stakes with a mini-sledge.
Now all that was left is to build the lids. I decided to do two, 3x4 foot lids.
And the finished product! You can see I split the enclosure in half the long way. That is just temporary so I can bring Thor outside now and not have to worry. Waiting for the seeds to grow on the other half.
Continue to post 2...
Once it's nice out for "good", probably not until Mid to late may it's going to stay split that way so I can bring Thor outside. He won't get to taste the goodies on the other side until they are established.
I added two Hosta's in the corners for a shade and hide spot.
Green one. They are still growing, pretty small right now.
And a green/white variety.
Enclosure with no barrier.
And last but not least, Thor exploring outside. He's been out today since 1pm (now 5pm). Still out there now. Yey for 75 degree weather.
And him looking so small in there.
I also have Alyssum, California Poppy, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Pansy and Petunia's growing inside here. Going to have to take them out soon!
Finally glad it's finished. I needed lids because we do have hawks around here. There's a creek near the house and there are tons of them. Oh and the giant sabertooth tiger, Max!
And those voracious bunnies...
Here's a hawk in the winter eating a morning dove.
Anyways...
I didn't put any chicken wire or anything underneath to prevent digging. However, the 6x1.5 ft hole I dug is lined with the green edger, so no way he'd get out that way. And the rest, well i'm in Michigan and the ground is HARD. Good ol' michigan clay dirt. He's just a year old and has honestly never even tried to dig yet. No way he'll get out by digging through the other soil. Now if he was a 30 lb full grown guy, then possibly but he isn't .
His final outdoor enclosure will be 12x15ft (minimum). And will have a chicken wire underneath, but thats years off haha. And that's that!
Well as the weather has been nice (50's+), I started Thor's temporary outdoor enclosure. Took me about 4 days to do everything. I used pressure treated lumber for the entire thing.
Started off by digging a 6ft by 18 inch hole and filled it with regular top soil. And I edged it with 5 inch plastic garden edge so the old grass won't overrun the new stuff.
I then planted my seeds. About 1/3 LB of the Grazing Tortoise seed mix from caroline pet supply. And then I got about 1/3 LB total of Orchard, Timothy, Rye and Kentucky Blue grass.
I read that adding peat moss on top would help growth so I did that.
I made these 4 stakes for the corners of the enclosure.
And green hardware cloth from Home Depot.
Outline of the enclosure. It's 6x4 feet. Height is about 20 inches. The bottom wood pieces are 7.5 inches tall, so no climbing for Thor!
Carried the enclosure to the spot and put the green hardware cloth around the outside of the enclosure.
Hammered in the stakes with a mini-sledge.
Now all that was left is to build the lids. I decided to do two, 3x4 foot lids.
And the finished product! You can see I split the enclosure in half the long way. That is just temporary so I can bring Thor outside now and not have to worry. Waiting for the seeds to grow on the other half.
Continue to post 2...
Once it's nice out for "good", probably not until Mid to late may it's going to stay split that way so I can bring Thor outside. He won't get to taste the goodies on the other side until they are established.
I added two Hosta's in the corners for a shade and hide spot.
Green one. They are still growing, pretty small right now.
And a green/white variety.
Enclosure with no barrier.
And last but not least, Thor exploring outside. He's been out today since 1pm (now 5pm). Still out there now. Yey for 75 degree weather.
And him looking so small in there.
I also have Alyssum, California Poppy, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Pansy and Petunia's growing inside here. Going to have to take them out soon!
Finally glad it's finished. I needed lids because we do have hawks around here. There's a creek near the house and there are tons of them. Oh and the giant sabertooth tiger, Max!
And those voracious bunnies...
Here's a hawk in the winter eating a morning dove.
Anyways...
I didn't put any chicken wire or anything underneath to prevent digging. However, the 6x1.5 ft hole I dug is lined with the green edger, so no way he'd get out that way. And the rest, well i'm in Michigan and the ground is HARD. Good ol' michigan clay dirt. He's just a year old and has honestly never even tried to dig yet. No way he'll get out by digging through the other soil. Now if he was a 30 lb full grown guy, then possibly but he isn't .
His final outdoor enclosure will be 12x15ft (minimum). And will have a chicken wire underneath, but thats years off haha. And that's that!