mews floor covering

[F.Red Tail]

hi guys what is the best covering to use on the floor of mews ie gravel or sand etc... ? especially for the broadwing ......and why ?????:supz:

[Finnish]

Moved thread to correct place......

[Sprout]

Depends if you feed in it or not - sand can compact on the food and cause crop impactions

[Puzo]

Probably pea gravel. Why?, it can be periodicaly washed & disinfected

[Coedhirion]

Depends what you have on the floor to start. If it is earth floor it is a good idea to make it rat/mouse proof first. Either very fine mesh or concrete. After that I use gravel, smallish size and round not sharp. In areas where the bird lands I have astro mat which is taken out, changed for clean. the filthy bit gets a power wash and disinfect.

[BrianM]

i like pea gravel, but it does strip feathers and break wing tips if youve got a batey bird,,,,,,,,, i now use astro turf,, and cant fault it,, ,, well except price

[Coedhirion]

Hawk on a bow then Astro is best, old clean washable carpet is second best, may be with plastic under, depending on the floor. Was thinking more on free lofting with the gravel.

[Hardcore Hawker]

Kiln dried washed silver sand about 10 inches deep this is the best floor covering i have used but you have to ensure it does not get damp my mews is a converted leanto garage with a concrete floor then a polythene damp proof membrane under the sand. I also spend 10 minutes each day seiving the mutes out of the sand with an old vegatable collander keeps it nice and clean sand also keeps the feet nice and clean and also keeps talons razor sharp.

[Juzzer]

(http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9560&highlight=mews+flooring)http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9560&highlight=mews+flooring (http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9560&highlight=mews+flooring)

been discussed.

[garyh]

Kiln dried washed silver sand about 10 inches deep this is the best floor covering i have used but you have to ensure it does not get damp my mews is a converted leanto garage with a concrete floor then a polythene damp proof membrane under the sand. I also spend 10 minutes each day seiving the mutes out of the sand with an old vegatable collander keeps it nice and clean sand also keeps the feet nice and clean and also keeps talons razor sharp.
Kiln dried sand worked for me,very little waste . I didn't have it to deep so it could be scraped /brushed away from any wall during cleaning to avoid getting it wet/contaminated.

[QuickDraw]

I use equine rubber mats. They've never caused the bird any problems, they're easily hosed down and dried within minutes, plus they add extra insulation in the winter. They cost £12 for a 4'x3' mat. They are great!!

[Albie]

This is what I use, it's easy to keep clean too!

[CJ#HaRrIs HAwKs RuLe#]

I would use the equine matting inside the sheltered part of my avariy plan. we use it up the stables too great stuff!

for an outside avariy with natural sunlight can you just have earth and grass?
to stop foxs and rats you can put paving slabs aroung the edges.

would that work?
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