Screening For Animals

by Nancy P.
(Bronson, Michigan)

QUESTION: (Topic - Screening for Animals)
Hello, within the next year or two we plan to raise the roof of our attached garage and build an outdoor aviary or 4-season room up there.

We live on a farm and own a foundation for rescue animals. We will need to have the room warm in the winter and breezy-cool in the summer. There are plenty of coons around here so everything needs to be coon proof.

The house is attached and we will have a walk-thru door and stairs from outside. We will probably use an electric oil-filled radiator to keep the space warm in the winter since that is the safest heat we can think of.

We currently have an elderly (chicken) hen, a baby orphan goose, and an orphan chick together (in the house) also a baby crow, baby squirrel, and the vets will be calling soon with orphaned baby opossums. There are also 10 cockatiels in the house.

I need the addition to be climate controlled as the house but more windows and easier cleanup. This will be the "nursery" for all the baby orphans. I plan to build the walls and floors with waterproof materials such as ceramic and build floor drains in so that I can "hose down" the whole place to keep it clean.

I need to find windows/screens that will be very very strong and keep the tiniest critters out also. With the variety of animals we have, we need to be scrupulous in parasite control. We also have a problem with birds flying into the larger windows on the main house side, so we will want to avoid the "clear window" appearance to wild flying birds also.

It might just take us two years to figure this out! Please let us know if you have any ideas. Your website is awesome. I bookmarked it!

ANSWER: Nancy, thanks so much for contacting us.

You have an amazing story and we applaud you for your efforts to care for so many animals. Unfortunately, we aren't really qualified to answer all of your concerns and am reluctant to give recommendations for fear it may not be ideal for your animals.

Screening for animals - I'd opt for either stainless steel or pet screening. Stainless steel is really strong but is also very shiny. Pet screening is heavier polyester screen.

Something else to consider is sealing the garage from the 2nd floor due to carbon monoxide, etc. It should be dry-walled to include the ceiling.

Love the idea for the floor drain - that will surely make your life easier!

I would also contact the facilities manager at the Toledo Zoo (419-385-5721) to get ideas as what products, etc., they use in their facilities. There may be products specifically designed for what you are building to prevent parasites, control climate, etc.

Best,
Dave

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