Time for some outdoor enclosure building

[tortdad]

That's right folks, time to build one of Toms famous insulated night boxes and an outdoor set up. My Sulcata is 150lbs so he getting a 4' x 6' x 3' night box and his pen size will be about 300 square feet. He's too big to have a bird carry him away and I don't have any dogs so for right now his set up will be a block wall about 3' tall. Once it's all done it will be completely predator proof so this is just phase one.

Phase 1:
4 block walls
1 insulated night box
Electrical for night box
Shade table

Phase 2:
Add a cool soaking pond (a temp one will be set up for phase 1)
Additional landscaping

Phase 3:
Make completely predator proof

 

[tortdad]

The framing for my night box will be steel studs, concrete board on the bottom, plywood sides, R11 batt insulation, and metal panels to dress it up a bit. The best part is all of this was free, left over parts and pieces from 2 of my job sites ( it pays to be a superintendent for construction). I called in a favor and had the block delivered for free so the only money I'm out of pocket right now is $10 in silicone to seal the box and I will need to buy the heater and thermostats.

 

[mike taylor]

If your planing on putting by that fince you will only need two block walls .

 

[tortdad]

If your planing on putting by that fince you will only need two block walls .

I didn't think a wood fence Wouk stop him if he really want to get out. Plus my neighbors have a dog so I want block against the fence to block the view

 

[tortdad]

Holy freaking crap it's one hot humid son of a gun today!

Base with the cement board Gavin the ground and two steel stud boxes to hold it off the ground 4"



The floor before I insulated it


Insulated and decked with 3/4 CDX plywood

 

[Abdulla6169]

My building skills are almost as good as my tort's I hope everything goes well!

 

[tortdad]

My building skills are almost as good as my tort's I hope everything goes well!

It is. It's just stupid hot and I have to keep taking breaks for water and some AC

 

[tortadise]

I didn't think a wood fence Wouk stop him if he really want to get out. Plus my neighbors have a dog so I want block against the fence to block the view

He is very docile. Like very very docile for a Sulcata. I'd definitely take all the preventative measures for sure, but I wouldn't worry too much about him knocking through the fenced he does however have quite a large burrow he dug. So i would keep this box away from the fence for sure. His burrow is about 6' down now.

 

[Abdulla6169]

It is. It's just stupid hot and I have to keep taking breaks for water and some AC

I think it should be mandatory that they invent an AC that works outside. The scientists should stop the spider surveys now!

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I think it should be mandatory that they invent an AC that works outside. The scientists should stop the spider surveys now!

That would be so nice! the torts could enjoy it too!

 

[mike taylor]

Looking good so far.

 

[mike taylor]

Hey, Kevin I know you have got some walls up by now .where's the update?

 

[tortdad]

All walls up and double insulated. Sealed the seams on the inside with GE silicone 1 per toms advice and I put down a layer of that killz brand primer. I only did the floor and up the walls 3". I still need to build the lid and trim it out. Then put the metal panels on in instead of painting it.


I built this to have a single slope ahead style roof. It's 2' tall on the low side and 2'-6" on the high side. Its going to take a little thinking but I'll have the lid done tomorrow after I get back from Kelly's

Right now Im stack cinder blocks making an escape proof area for mikes Redfoot that I'm babysitting over night. I'm whipped and these dang blocks are getting heavier and heavier with each dolly load. I've only done a few loads and don't think I have much more in me for the night.

 

[mike taylor]

Looks like you know what your doing . Its going to be perfect.

 

[T33's Torts]

I built mine by myself. And... 3 months later its still standing! Covered in bird **** but still standing!

 

[tortdad]

Got it done thanks to mike and his son.

30' wide by 18' deep

Time to dig his soak pond and do some landscaping.

 

[samsmom]

wonderful job! our box is almost ready then we'll start on enlarging the enclosure! can't wait until samson can spend more time outside, he loves it!

 

[tortdad]

Hal came out to graze after the sun started to set.


0.0.1 Redfoot (Spike)
0.0.1 Cherryhead Redfoot (Bruce Wayne)
1.0 Sulcata (Hal Jordan)

 

[N2TORTS]

Very nice .....I like the metal stud , heck next structure maybe a tilt up? .....

 

[tortdad]

So far I'm out of pocket for the tort, gas to get him, and supplies to build his enclosure I've managed to only invest $85.
Next is the soak pond and some landscaping.


0.0.1 Redfoot (Spike)
0.0.1 Cherryhead Redfoot (Bruce Wayne)
1.0 Sulcata (Hal Jordan)