Mew Flooring

[Minca]

See, i'm not sure i see what's so wrong with using stadium turf for a buteo, can someone explain this to me? The zoo here puts this longleaf stuff on their mews floors that has no padding under it, just the upper plastic parts, and I've read somewhere that you can get it at poultry supply places. They've got it in about 3x5ft peices.

[Weasel]

I think the reason that Buteos are more commonly seen on longleaf turf is that it has it's own built in cushioning with the blades of plastic whereas the short leaf stuff need padding under it to cushion the foot. Either can be use equally well, just needs a bit more attention to padding on the short stuff I would think.

[Strider]

Hey does it really matter if its long leaf or short leaf?

[Weasel]

I just explained that.

[Austin]

I tried some of that stadium turf and found that small pieces of the material falls off and really get acculated in pills of dust, I was afraid the bird might drop a piece of food onto the particles and get it inside of her and then there would be problems. The long leaf plastic won't fall apart.

[Dodes]

The Kestrel I work with likes to eat that short stuff. It's real easy for him to tear apart. I like the long leaf.
We're trying a few layers of vet wrap for the little guy now.

[Minca]

I had cured the falling apart issue by roughly sewing a 1/2" strip of cloth along the edge. But i ended up stopping using it anyway because Rosies leash was catching on it instead of sliding around the perch like it was supposed to. All her perches are now covered with either the kind of fine cork you buy in rolls at the craft store, shamois, or vet wrap. She really likes the vet wrap. Sorry for talking about perch coverings on a flooring thread....

[Strider]

Posted by: Weasel Posted on: Feb 18th, 2005, 6:20pm
I just explained that.


Sorry didnt see the second page.

[rt]

I like to use outdoor carpet in my weathering area to keep the talons from dulling its cheap and works good.

[SkyRider]

Weasel said:

Good question. As long as water can safely drain off under the mats then it is safe. I use rubber mats in my Wife's birds mew as she has a tendancy to run on the ground alot and dull the talons from the gravel. I put down perforated rubber matts in the areas that she was on the ground and it aided in sharpening them back up quickly

You wouldn't happen to have a pic of that, would you?

[Weasel]

No, but I can take one when I get a chance. I will post it if I remember tonight.

[SkyRider]

;D Thanks Weasel, I'll be waiting!

[tanaro]

The reasoning for using the long blade turf instead of the stadium turf for Buteos (according to the experts) is:::: The long leaf is better at dispersing the heavier weight of the butoes. The stadium turf tends to put pressure points on different parts of the foot which could lead to bumblefoot. Not saying this is always the case but this is what the experts suggests when discussing perching a Buteo.

[Weasel]

Yes, I have heard the same thing many times. It also keeps their feet above any of the excrement that may get on the perch too, so it aids in sanitation.

[slicedodger]

I use "crummed" rubber on the floor of my mew. I've had it for four years now and it is the best flooring material I have seen - nothing beats it. The stuff is made from car tires. They freeze the tires with liquid nitrogen and shred them. You can get it in different sizes of pieces. The rubber I have is in pieces about the size of pea gravel. This is the stuff you might see covering the ground at the local children's playground. There are a few companys that sell it. One of the names it is sold under is "Playsafe". From time to time I spray down the inside of the mew with a hose and everything washes right through. It does not harbor fungus like mulch or other coverings do and it really makes a nice surface to walk on - NO MORE MUD. All of my hawking buddies that have seen it love it. The only draw back is the expense. I bought 1200 lbs of it for about $285.00 and it is worth every penny. My mew floor is 12' X 12' and the 1200 lbs of rubber makes it 4-5 inches deep. I don't think I would want it any less deep than that. Before I decided to try to use it, I consulted a local (avian) vet and was told that it would not hurt the bird if it were ingested. I have found (twice) some of it in castings and none of the three different RT's housed in this mew have had any problems - all were healthy. So far, I have not heard of anyone else that uses it in this way. If you do, I would like to hear your thoughts.