You may or not remember that last Summer, we found ourselves the very proud owners of a 75 year old tortoise called Speedy!
She hibernated over the winter, and we were a little worried that she might not wake up this Spring (average life expectancy is apparently about 75 years..!) but she has-hurray!
When we re-homed her, she came with her own house, which was one of those plastic garden storage cabinet things, modified slightly to become a tortoise abode. But it wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, or the warmest, or very waterproof…
So we decided to treat her to a new house, and Hubby took it upon himself to make it.
He came up with intricate plans and designs over the winter, and as soon as we knew she had woken up ok, he set to work.
He was donated this old dog kennel as a starting point:
After some sawing, some hammering, a spot of painting, this is Speedy’s new house:
Hubby is keen to point out the following features:
- insulated walls-a work colleague moved into a new house, and found a sheet of insulating material in his back garden (as you do!)
- the floor is lined with the rubber floor stuff that is used in playgrounds-again this was donated by someone who for some reason had some kicking around
- the Perspex window, to provide a conservatory area (the Perspex is one of the few things we had to buy new), which is also where her heat lamp hangs down, so she can stay nice and toasty
- the hinged flap at the back for access to clean her out, that is also insulated with salvaged material
- AND all the extra bits and pieces of wood that were needed were ‘pre-loved’!
Speedy is very pleased with her new house. Don’t ask me how I know this, I just do.
Stay tuned for the next exciting pet home upcycle-hubby is currently in the process of turning a sideboard into a cage for the guinea pigs we recently re-homed 🙂
My Make Do and Mend Year 
Reblogged this on Linda's wildlife garden and commented:
lovely post Jen have a Blessed day
Thanks Linda 🙂
Let’s hope Speedy has many happy years to come to enjoy hubby’s hard work … It looks fab !
Yes, let’s hope so Vivienne!
Loving speedy ‘ s new home x
Thankyou!
wonderful-a very clever hubby.the upcycled guinea pig house will be far better for them than anything you could buy xxx
Thanks Helen. Looking forwards to the big reveal, but he’s now been sidetracked making them a run..!
Lucky, lucky Speedy!
Yes she is, thank you!
Lucky speedy, all the mod cons a tortoise could need 🙂
If only it were self-cleaning…!! I’ve requested that modification for the guinea pig’s cage 😉
Excellent upcycle will have to remember this when my tortoise grows out of his table top pen! Have you done anything “Green” in terms of heat lamps etc as it bothers me how much I have it on etc
No 😦 But we have solar panels, so some of the time the heat lamp is powered by this (although as is always the way with solar-when you need the heat/light the sun isn’t there..!). We did discuss a drainpipe to collect the water off the roof!
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