New Chipmunk Aviary

[chris]

First of all my apologies for not posting for sometime but work and other commitments have made time precious, although me or Sharon have checked the forum regularly.

Anyway the new luxury Chipmunk abode is now underway.

Sharon posted a while ago that we had been given an old shed and asked for advice on how we should go about converting it into Chez Chipmunk. We read the really good advice that was given, and today I went out with a hammer and knocked big chunks out of the shed  . After I had done this all hope left me of the Des Res for Scrat & Chip evolving. What stood before me was a 6' x 4' shed with big chunks bashed out and looking in no hope of being revived.
After some thought I decided inspiration may come from a visit to the local DIY store, so off I went with no idea of what I was really looking for and indeed after 45 minutes of looking at the array of timber and nails available I still had no idea of what I was looking for. I'm a self employed Computer Technician, in my world everything has an order and I buy parts to fit particular slots and sockets. The DIY store was a complete jungle to me.
In desperation I took a variety of timber, nails and cage wire to the checkout then loaded it into my car and headed home.

Well don't laugh to much at my attempts of building a chipmunk palace but here are the results of the first days work.

Sharon would like suggestions as to the interior decoration but after seeing the pictures of Stephens aviary in another post she insists it must contain a fern

Regards


Chris

[tarcus/Kevin]

What an excellent start to the chipmunk Hilton prhaps a couple of old high planters for the inside corners for them to burrrow into.

[Gilly]

That's looking great Chris. I think a long pipe from there to the conservatory 
Was you adding a safety porch to prevent any escape attempts?

[chris]

I will be adding a safety porch but as my DIY skills are not great it may take some working out and allot of mess. OOOPS!!!!!! I mean mesh

[sarah-J]

Hi Chris,


Would you like me to take close up photo's of my porch, to check my diy skills and see how it is done!!!!!!!   

Great looking so far, was a funny post! Also i like Gilly's idea about the pipe n conservatory!!

Sarah.

[sarah-J]

Chris,

Just had another look at your photo,  Is there a gap under the shed? If they chew a hole in the bottom would they be able to escape? if so you could put a skirt on the bottom around the outside, a thick piece of wood or spare bricks would do.

Tarcus,

Great looking aviary, i like the full size bench, and lots of pipes! and branches.  I made mine human friendly so I could move about in it when feeding and cleaning etc, but after seeing all yours I think i will have to put the chips first!!!!

Sarah.

[chris]

No need to worry about Scrat and Chip Gnawing their way out, Sarah. I've covered every conceivable possibility so much so that Steve McQueen and the rest of the escape committee at Stalag Luft 3 would find escape impossible  . However I'll make sure they don't have a stove under which they may conceal a tunnel 

The floor is 3/4" thick covered with wire mesh, on top of the mesh I am going to put vinyl floor covering. I've reinforced the joins between the floor and walls with 1" square timber.

One end of the aviary is going to be filled with deep compost for them to tunnel in and after seeing what they have done to the bottom of a plastic plant pot full of compost in their indoor home I've decided to put another layer of wood against the inside of the outer walls with mesh sandwiched between. Haha try gnawing your way out of there 

The only thing left to do now is to construct the safety porch with the odd looking brackets and wood I bought in B&Q 

Will post some more pictures tomorrow hopefully when the project should be complete apart from the internal furnishings

Regards


Chris

[Nate]

Hi Chris noce to see ya back. What a clever way to use a shed, I like the photos. I think your chippies will love the outside live this summer.

Any thoughts on what you will do for winter, will they saty outside or will you bring them back inside?

[chris]

I think the aviary will be their spring, summer & autumn home but in winter we will bring them back indoors.