Outdoor enclosure

[mhensley121]

Does anyone have an outdoor "pen" for their dragon? I've been thinking of building one and thought maybe there are some good ideas out there. I take Lizzy out to get sun a couple times a week, but she usually just sits on my shoulder or lap. I thought she might enjoy some kind of enclosure better. Thoughts? :study:

 

[mhensley121]

Another point: I live in Alabama. The heat index right now is running at about 100 degrees. I know they're desert creatures. As long as I give her a hide and some shade, will she be ok at these temps? Or should I only let her out morning/evening?

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....outdoor pens are great, you can use pvc pipe and screen or wire that your beardie can't squeeze through. 100 degrees is no problem as long as you have shade, best for the shaded area to be open, [ like a decent sized board propped at one end not a cave that would heat up inside. And you could put a shrub or large fake plant on the outside that could cast more shade over a larger part of the cage. But it would be good of course to check on him regularly and if you just want to put him out for an hour or so when it's cooler [ morning or evening ] then that would be fine too.

 

[FLZooMom]

I live in SW Florida and built York an outdoor enclosure a couple of years ago. Here's a pic right after I built it before the big piece of wood was added for him to climb on. I also keep a tray with water in it so he can soak if he wants to to help regulate his temperature. The right top is corrugated roofing panels so that he has shade. I'm trying to find a newer picture but this at least gives an idea.

I don't have mulch in there anymore because it never dried and got nasty. I switched over to rubber tiles.

It's 3' x 5' x 4'. Nice round numbers so there's no lumber waste.

 

[AHBD]

That's a nice one.

 

[FLZooMom]

That's a nice one.

Thanks!

I found the pictures I was looking for.

 

[mhensley121]

That's exactly what I was thinking! Thank you! I was thinking of using a sand mixture for her to dig in, but with it getting wet I don't want bacteria to live there. Maybe just a spot of sand... I'll have to think about it. Thank you for the ideas!!

 

[FLZooMom]

You're welcome! I've since added the roofing panel on the other side, as well because of the way the sun goes in my backyard. I have the roof overhang all the way around to help keep the rain out and because it gives him more shade.

A fun side effect of having him hang out outside is that he's gotten much stronger. When I first started putting him out there he would try to climb the sides and couldn't get a third of the way up before falling off. After a few months he could climb all the way up and actually slept hanging there a few times.

You could probably give her a sand box in an area where it doesn't get wet and then just change it out periodically to make sure it's not harboring too much icky stuff.

 

[mhensley121]

I think i will use a box. That would be much easier to change. Do you worry about him eating outside bugs? I'd put the enclosure in our garden. There are always grasshoppers flying around. We don't use pesticides, I don't think our neighbors do.

 

[FLZooMom]

I don't worry about him eating outside bugs. I've never seen any get in there, but even if they did none of my neighbors use pesticides so I think he'd be OK.