Loft Competition

OK, here is something to get your head around.

What you have to do, is to design the best pigeon loft you can think of. Sort of your Dream Loft.

I am going to give a PRIZE to the winner - I am not sure what the prize will be just yet but it will be something really worth having.

The Rules are:-

1. It must NOT cost a fortune, it must be affordable by most of us

2. It must be realistic in its design and construction

3. It must house at least 25 birds

4. It must be usable as an everyday loft

5. It must be man friendly as well as Pigeon friendly

6. It must be constructed of materials that are easily and locally obtainable

7. It has got be be attractive

8. It has to be easy to clean

9. It has to be well ventilated

I need to know about the inside as well as the outside and I would prefer it did not have a 'pan-tile' roof.

I am not expecting a CAD piece or an architect's plan. If you can draw the loft, so much the better. If not, just describe your ideas.

As you all know - we are moving back to the South West of England at the end of the month, and the house we are moving to has got a big garden. That's one of the reasons why we are buying it. We are taking our existing young bird loft, so it doesn't need to be a loft for young birds. I am thinking more of a racing loft.

I have some ideas of my own but I am looking for some different ideas. You can send your entry to me as a PM or you can put it on the open forum. I will make a decision about the winner around the middle of November, so you have got plenty of time to get your ideas to me. I am deadly serious and there will definitely be a great prize for the winner (even if he/she lives in Canada or Australia!)

Phil

wish this topic had come up 2 weeks ago when I started building my new loft, I was at a loss how to design it so just went about it half heartedly, knowing I wasn't happy with the design.......its easy to copy some of these lofts for sale by loft building companies, but with me already having the roof tiles and roof trusses it had to be designed to take quite a bit of weight, which compromised light into the loft.

look forward to seeing members ideas.

David wrote:

wish this topic had come up 2 weeks ago when I started building my new loft, I was at a loss how to design it so just went about it half heartedly, knowing I wasn't happy with the design.......its easy to copy some of these lofts for sale by loft building companies, but with me already having the roof tiles and roof trusses it had to be designed to take quite a bit of weight, which compromised light into the loft.

look forward to seeing members ideas.

What about showing us what you came up with David.

Phil

ive some photos of the build so far phil, only the front, back and side sections prior to painting , then I will be clearing the area the loft will be going, and putting the floor down before the loft goes up.....even though the loft is "made", that's the easy bit......it gets harder from here.

Phil. I have some ideas. Actually have been designing one for over a year now.
However, you have a relatively mild climate, so would not be the same as the one I envisage for here. Snow loads etc,. So lighter material. How do you intend to trap them? 25 birds. Widowhood cocks? Roundabout with 12 pair? Size preferences/limits? Very interesting post!

NO BODY will be excluded from the Loft Competition.

Hal, you have one set of problems and our Ozzy friend will have a different set of problems. I am looking for ideas, more than a totally completed loft. Although, if you have a 'Fully Working' loft idea, please send it along.

Everybody - just send your entries in when you can and we will go from there.

I have thought - Even if you can't draw, you might see a loft design you like but would modify it to suit your ideas. However, I will not accept photos of other professional people's lofts.

If you are not sure how to get your drawing or idea to me or onto the forum, I am sure David will help you.

The number of 24 birds was only a round figure, it could be up to 40 birds! The trapping system has got to be ETS friendly; whether you use a commercially available sputnik or have your own ideas, that is up to you. Probably more roundabout or natural than widowhood.

Any more questions or queries please ask.

Phil

Flooring. The pics below are of 24 inch by 12 inch plastic panels. They can be joined together. 1 inch thick and 2 inches thick underneath. I use a few in each loft. Would be too cold in Winter for a full floor. Great in the summertime as the cool air comes up. There are many variations of them. Different colours, sizes. They were used here on the two sides of a farrowing crate. Manure from the little pigs falls through. Full floor under a loft unit, would be or could be used above a sheet of plywood covered in plastic. Angled back to front, so droppings roll to the front for removal. Or washed there. Will hold up a 400 lb sow.

halcanada wrote:

Flooring. The pics below are of 24 inch by 12 inch plastic panels. They can be joined together. 1 inch thick and 2 inches thick underneath. I use a few in each loft. Would be too cold in Winter for a full floor. Great in the summertime as the cool air comes up. There are many variations of them. Different colours, sizes. They were used here on the two sides of a farrowing crate. Manure from the little pigs falls through. Full floor under a loft unit, would be or could be used above a sheet of plywood covered in plastic. Angled back to front, so droppings roll to the front for removal. Or washed there. Will hold up a 400 lb sow.

Sounds like a great idea. If you wanted to cover an area, say 4 metres square, that was only touching the floor at the corners and a couple of places in the middle. Like a 'grill floor works. Do you think that would be possible? How would they hold together?

Also - what sort of price is a piece?

Phil

Not sure of the price so looked up UK pig site. Different ones there but same principle. For lighting suggest fiberglass translucent panels, corrugated, roof or side. Usually 2 feet by 8 feet.
UK flooring site.
http://www.philbennissales.ie/pig-flooring.html

I would have a 3 section roundabout loft that could be used for just about any system with old or ybs ...I think a loft that does not limit you is the way to go ...so I would have a side entrance and 3 sections 1st section 4 ft 2nd 8ft 3rd 6ft in the first section would be v-perches for the hens in the middle I would have nest boxes and the far section I would have box perches for the cocks...sliding doors on each of the sections ...I would not house any birds in the middle section this is the motivation for the birds this section is for basket day and race return this will allow you to get more motivation for the cocks on roundabout ...as for trapping I would have a half flight on the front (top half of the loft) and the roof of the flight would be the landing board and trap in on top of this into the loft through bolting wires your pad just underneath...vents at the bottom beneath the half flight with a conventional pent roof with 2 inch gap front and back at roof height ...you could make the vents removable so you could put a basket over the vent opening and drive birds in for training etc...I would not have a corridor ,never seen the point of one if I am honest ,I would rather have more loft space and besides yer still in the loft with a corridor anyway ...hope this gives you a few ideas phil and hil atb

Do you think 18 foot (6 metres) is quite long for the average garden Darren. And how wide would the loft be?

Phil

my loft I have up now is 18 x 6 in 3 sections phil, that size works for me phil....my new loft I am building is 14 x 8 which may include corridor, ive not decided yet, and will be two sections of either 7 x 6 or 7 x 8 and will be used for yb racing next season.

6ft wide 2ft aviary I would say most gardens would be 18ft wide you could have a "u" shape set up with yb loft and stock loft you could have it smaller anyway for 12 pairs you could knock 4 ft off that length ...just an idea maybe you can gather something of use from it and with various points of view maybe come up with a good loft that's ideal for you but I would certainly have it adaptable to different racing systems ie roundabout ,natural,widow,or celibate without having to give yourself work

I like the versatility aspect guys. To me the more you can do with a loft the better, eg, have young birds in a section part of the year, and stock hens in the same section at a different part of the year.

Keep your ideas coming in people, and try to be as explicit or detailed as you can.

All sounding good so far!

Phil

I have always want a loft with a corridor the full length, so that would be incorporated in my design. .I would have removable trays on tbe bottom to save cleaning the floors as well as removable trays in all boxes ..the reason I say this is to save time , so I could concentrate more on the pigeons. .skylightS in every section with traps on the roof..seen this idea on a loft once and lived it.it was like a balcony kind of thing in the roof...last of all it needs to be full of winning birds lol

I hope you guys are working on your loft designs as there has been very little action over the past few days.

I really thought you would be full of amazing ideas.

This is an opportunity to think outside the box on whatever you wished your ideal loft to be like.

So 'bring it on!'

Phil

peel bros wrote:

I have always want a loft with a corridor the full length,  so that would be incorporated in my design. .I would have removable trays on tbe bottom to save cleaning the floors as well as removable trays in all boxes ..the reason I say this is to save time , so I could concentrate more on the pigeons. .skylightS in every section with traps on the roof..seen this idea on a loft once and lived it.it was like a balcony kind of thing in the roof...last of all it needs to be full of winning birds lol

Can you please explain a bit more about these 'Trays' Ray - what are hey made of, would you need two per floor or box. Would you put anything in the trays like sand or shavings or this new Bio Pulp.

Also - explain how the traps in the roof would work.

Phil

I will have a rethink and explain in more detail if possible. Give me a bit time

peel bros wrote:

I will have a rethink and explain in more detail if possible. Give me a bit time

Take all the time you need honey!

Phil

OK. Just a thought or two. The loft has to meet certain criteria. Not in order but the following aspects should be met. Pigeon friendly. The birds have to love the loft. The nest boxes are very important. It is a cocks/hens home. All other criteria notwithstanding, that is what they home to. Eggs, hens, young birds whatever. That is the center of their universe. That is when you get the steak and not just the sizzle. Nothing elaborate or fancy. 2 foot by 2 foot boxes work as well as larger ones. Ventilation can be state of the art or wired covered whole front. Yes, even in Canada. Have a friend with wire covered front loft. On advice covered the front with plastic one Winter. Dismal results. We have floor vents here in the house for the furnace. 1 or 2 each room. 12 inches by 4 inches. Have used them in the loft at strategic places in the floor. Can open or close as needed. Cheap and effective. 2 inch high surround. Wood. I use deep litter so the barrier stops them clogging. Natural immunity builds up. Winter time just shut the vents. So no problem. Pigeon friendly. Lights? Important in the racing season. Natural light. Front or roof. Has to be enough light so the bird does not hesitate on trapping. Artificial for other times of the year. Early breeding etc,. The rest of the loft, is usually for the fanciers benefit. Would love corridors, automatic cleaning etc etc,. Much less work load. But it does not really matter. It is the birds that race. Personally I would prefer winning birds to a winning loft design. But again, each person has their own preferences, own ideas. Feeding, medicating, not many agree on the best way. If your system works do not change it. I suppose it all comes down to stock sense. Does not matter how many birds are kept. There is only one winner each race. Just my opinion anyway.

FANTASTIC posting Hal - well done!

Phil