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Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 09:55
by Kimberley
Hello :P

So my balcony enclosure for Timmy is almost done. It's missing the uv plexiglass roof for the right back corner, but that will be delivered next week. It will be the greenhouse. And also the weeds, plants need to grow in the pots, but things are coming up :) I also have to place the hooks for the net to cover the whole enclosure for when I'm not at home etc. Just to make sure birds can't go in.

My balcony is 8 ft by 13 feet and the sun comes up on the left side around 9 and slowly moves to the right until 7 pm in the summer. So there will always be shade and sun.

The enclosure is 6 ft by 5'8 ft and made of a rockhard synthetic material named HPL, it doesn't rot, mold and is very smooth, no climbing possible. I've made a door so he can use the whole balcony when I'm home because it's tortoise proof. I also have a sunscreen that I can lower over the full balcony and half of the balcony has a roof.

I was able to use some things I already had, like the 2 tubs for the cocopeat. Everything that needs to draine has holes and is a bit lifted of the floor. The balcony drainage is on the full rightside and a bit at the end where the pipe is.

Timmy has already used it a couple of hours because the weather is quite nice, very sunny and because it's so sheltered very nice temperatures.

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 09:59
by Teddy28
It looks lovely!

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 10:04
by Kimberley
Timmy outside

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 10:09
by Kimberley
Teddy28 wrote:
> It looks lovely!


Thank you, it was fun to do😊

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 13:11
by Nina
Oh my goodness, that is an absolutely brilliant enclosure! I think everyone should look at this thread because Timmy has been provided with an absolutely excellent home, and it just goes to show what you can do if you don't have access to a garden for a tortoise. It's really superb, and also great that you were able to get UVB-transmitting plexiglass (if people don't know, UVB doesnt go through glass and most plastics, so you need a specialisst material to enable your tortoise to benefit).

Well done, Kimberley. If you didn't live so far away I would hire you to re-design my outdoor tortoise enclosure, which could really do with some improvement!

Nina xx

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 16:11
by Kimberley
Hi Nina,


Thank you so much, it was alot of fun to do and to think about the layout etc! Today he was out from 11.30 till 15.30, he explored everything and walked and climbed alot, so much fun to look at!

He can also walk and hide under the bridges on both sides and he really liked that. I made them out of chickenwire and thick cococloth.

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 28 Mar 2020, 22:29
by lin
I know I am coming in late on this Kimberley, but your enclosure is brilliant, so spacious, bright and interesting. Well done for making one very happy tortoise.
Lin

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 29 Mar 2020, 16:43
by Kimberley
Thank you so much!

I'm also growing different things in hanging tubs and pots.

Dandelion
Lambslettuce
2 types of testudo mix seeds
Pansies
Calendula
Echinacea
Campanula
Plantain

Things are coming up, very exciting 😀

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 29 Mar 2020, 17:03
by lin
A great choice of plants you have picked there, Kimberley.
Lin

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 09 Apr 2020, 19:58
by Shepherd
Hi Kimberly, I hope you don't mind me butting in.
I've been lurking for about 3 years now, but I registered just to ask you a question ...

Where did you get the UVB TX plexiglass?

I tried for months without success, I could only find bulk suppliers.
I did find a greenhouse supplier that sold me some UVB polythene sheeting, but a solid piece would be so much better 🙂

Best wishes
Shep

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 10 Apr 2020, 10:18
by Kimberley
Hi,

I'm Dutch, so I ordered it from a Dutch company called plexiglas.nl.

www.plexiglas.nl

I have it now and this is what it looks like in the right corner.

Kimberley

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 10 Apr 2020, 16:45
by Kimberley
Eating own grown tortoise weeds😄

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 12 Apr 2020, 12:44
by Shepherd
Many thanks for your reply Kimberly.
I was hoping a U.K. supplier had suddenly appeared :)
My search continues ...

Your balcony set up looks great, with lots of different features and textures.
Now that I've registered, I'll have to post a pic of my set up for our Horsfield.

Thanks again

Shep

Re: Balcony enclosure almost done

Posted: 13 Apr 2020, 09:23
by Kimberley
Maybe you can order anyway, I believe they ship in Europe. I would just check it out!

Have a great day! 😊