Thanks!

I’m aware that most people keep kestrels indoors but my wife is pretty set on me creating a temperature controlled mews. My parrots can be blamed for that because they’re kind of punks when they’re irritated and will throw food just to show you how seriously irritated they are and I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out how to keep them from throwing seed everywhere while having their little tantrums.

So I’m going to setup both an outside mews and an inside mews incase I can’t control the temp well enough in deep winter. Something small indoors. Basically a shelf mews with a ring or bow perch elevated from the ground so it won’t be surprised or stressed by curious dogs. I will probably make it a 4x4x4 with a door so they can be separated from any other birds. (I only have one parrot now and will not be getting another.) The indoors will only be for if I can’t control the temp and weight in the winter or if I need a place to manage a sick bird.)

For outdoors, I’m thinking of an insulated mews (using xps foam) on either side of a prep room since I have a freezer and stainless steel food prep table already.

I have to figure out the substrate. I’d prefer pea gravel on the ground but I think that might contribute to it being hard to keep warm in the winter and my soil is clay which might contribute to the pea gravel staying moist. I was thinking about astroturf on dricore on cement as that gives you the ability to remove and pressure wash the astroturf while the dricore and the air movement under the dricore really contributes to the substrate being dry and I’ve had my parrots on it before without health issues. Love to hear any other ideas and I’ll definitely be searching the forums for ideas.

Still trying to work out what to do about the bars on windows and whether I can find a stainless steel hardware cloth that’s strong enough. Mostly wanting the hardware cloth to control visits from mink or snakes. (We get some awful big black rat snakes that would be large enough to take a kestrel.)

Thanks again!



Quote Originally Posted by Kaz5071 View Post
Welcome aboard! Good luck on both your journeys. As far as having two birds go. Kestrels and other micros tend to be kept indoors to make weight management easier. There is a lot of great information here.

Have a great day,

W