Hi all,
I got bored one day.... (how many of your DIY projects start with those words?)....and decided to make my own hidey hut. I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets for a suitable container to start with.
I ended up using a plastic Folgers coffee container (the small plastic ones with a snap on lid). I cut a nice size hole in it with an exacto knife. I did not put the hole all the way at the bottom of the container....I centered it vertically about midway up the side of the can. The reason was that I wanted to bury the bottom of the hut and fill it with some EE/gravel.
It seemed silly to just have this useless surface at the top of the hidey, so I decided to try to make a 'nest' on top. I used the measuring top from a cool-aid canister (like a shallow plastic bowl) that fit nicely on top of the coffee can. I hotglued it to the snap on lid of the coffee can.
Next I wrapped fishing net around the sides of my hut/nest and hot glued it in many places to keep it from stretching out. Then I took some fake plant vines and wrapped them around the whole thing from bottom to top and back again. I hot glued and also tucked leaves and stems through the net to secure it.
I filled the bottom inch of inside the hut with fine gravel (weight to keep it from tipping) then covered it with about 2 inches of EE. I dug a nice spot in the tat for it, making sure I was on solid 'ground' for a firm base. I firmly backfilled around the hut. Then I filled the nest (2nd level) with EE.
Here are the side and top views of it:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/candimcca ... pg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/candimcca ... pg&.src=ph
All four of my guys know how to get up and down from it, they have enough room to dig in the nest and in the hidey. And it is sturdy enough for my fatty, Pumpkin, who is a large bordering on jumbo and likes to wear his shell too big.
Anyhow, just wanted to share my DIY hidey/nest combo.
Candi
