Building a Mew

   / Building a Mew #1  

E/S

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2009
Messages
473
Location
Reno, NV
Tractor
Kubota M8540HDC12-1 4x4 w/ Cab
My wife has decided ( after 15 years of offering ) to take me up on my offer to build her a mew. She is going to get her own falcon and needs a place to keep it.
So now it's time to " put my money where my mouth is". I've read the books and been on the Internet, but could use all the insight anyone can offer.

E/S
 
   / Building a Mew #2  
Even after googling "mew", I have no idea what you are talking about....:ashamed:

Can you add a link to what you might be talking about? Thanks...
 
   / Building a Mew #4  
Sig line
 
   / Building a Mew #5  
I assume you mean ""Google" is a proper noun, not a verb." ...Not yet but give it a year or so to be adopted. :D

Getting back on track ;) I googled
:) "falcon mew" and it's about what I thought it was going to be... OP, How big are you thinking about making it?
 
   / Building a Mew #6  
When I was a kid, my brother got his falconry license. We built a weathering with standard stick-frame construction on pressure treated 4x4s, open on the bottom. It was 8x8, with 3 sides of T1-11 sheeting, and the fourth side being a single large door with chicken wire. We used pea gravel as the floor. It worked fine, especially for young, agile children. (He was fully licensed in every way, as I recall, at age 12)

If I were going to do one again (here in this area), I would largely keep the same design, but add a standard 36" (or bigger) door on another side. Our winters were/are quite mild, so the open side was never an issue in that respect, but it was sometimes a nuisance because it was often convenient to be able to "black out" the bird, and we had to use a tarp draped across the opening. A sliding or rolling mechanism to close off the open side would be nice. (We didn't know any better or really care as kids, so climbing up on the roof to drape a tarp was fun.)

In Reno, you'll have colder weather to deal with, so will need to adjust your plans accordingly to climate control the structure, I imagine. You may want to go to a weathering adjoined to the mews, where the mews is insulated and smaller (depending on how much space you have) while the weathering is open and airy.

Most of all, though, I'd suggest talking to the falconer to whom your wife is apprenticed and see what he and the other falconers in your area recommend, like, don't like, etc.

I don't know if you're just getting into this or not, so if you're already licensed and know what you're doing, I apologize. In California, at least, one can't own a peregrine or other falcon until out of their apprenticeship. That doesn't really change anything about your constructions project, but you'll end up having to work closely with the falconer to whom she is apprenticed. You'll also need to get the mews inspected and approved by the state first. You should really solicit the input of the local falconers, since their assistance will be needed to get her apprenticeship and everything else.

I'm happy to offer any other help I can, but I'd really suggest finding the local falconers and going from there. They'll have experience in what sort of structures best function in that area.

Merry Christmas!
 
   / Building a Mew
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thanks 284 International, she has been doing this for 25 years on rehab. birds. Now she is ready to have her own birds.

Here you go Teg;
The Modern Apprentice - Mews

E/S
 
   / Building a Mew #8  
Falconry is definitely a lifestyle more than a pastime. It's rewarding in way other things are not. Will your wife have to do an apprenticeship? Can you use your current facilities for rehab birds for living quarters for the raptor?
 
   / Building a Mew
  • Thread Starter
#9  
She all ready has her sponsor, the facility she was at is no longer available to her.
I guess I got off easy for 15 years.

E/S
 

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