Finished the door.

Stock loft. The wire panels are from a dog cage. Had used them for a small aviary. Nice day today. Snow Friday again but will not stay. Replaced spots of deep litter under perches with shavings plus DE. But a small shovel of soil and pebbles in. They love it! Other traps all ready now. They will be flying soon.

looking good hal, ive the same set up, have mine open all day long, regardless of weather.......I like the perch idea

looking good hal will that be their maiden flight

Can't beat a wire door plenty of fresh air and the birds can see out yes good idea making use of both sides of the beam

Yes will be their first flight from this loft. They do have a small aviary to get out in. Have a few uprights with perches on. Easy to clean underneath and gives them space. Banded the 29th today. Will wean 6 in a few more days then open it up. Probably put bob wires at the cross beam in the door. It is 4 feet up. Other lofts will go out first in a day or so. Hawks are around as usual so expect losses. Few days of racers flying, stock flying young go out. Will see what they learned in the aviary. Lose them now or lose them later.

halcanada wrote:

Yes will be their first flight from this loft. They do have a small aviary to get out in. Have a few uprights with perches on. Easy to clean underneath and gives them space. Banded the 29th today. Will wean 6 in a few more days then open it up. Probably put bob wires at the cross beam in the door. It is 4 feet up. Other lofts will go out first in a day or so. Hawks are around as usual so expect losses. Few days of racers flying, stock flying young go out. Will see what they learned in the aviary. Lose them now or lose them later.

Looking good Hal I suggest thou  a few brick perches there on the floor to give it that homely feel etc .  
*****

I have 16 boxes. 5 or 6 pair prefer to nest on the floor. I am not regimental. If they prefer the floor fine with me. Some floor nesters are maybe two feet apart. No scalped young or stuff like that.

aye,iv got more boxes than pairs in the race loft and still the odd one nests on the floor which
is scraped each day....i always chuck a chunk of straw on the floor for them to play with.
there home do as they like...until racing is nearer.

I put more straw in yesterday, give them something to occupy them selves......I always like those who build a big nest.

halcanada wrote:

Stock loft. The wire panels are from a dog cage. Had used them for a small aviary. Nice day today. Snow Friday again but will not stay. Replaced spots of deep litter under perches with shavings plus DE. But a small shovel of soil and pebbles in. They love it! Other traps all ready now. They will be flying soon.

Will you have problems with wild birds getting in as the mesh is quite big Hal?

Phil

No Phil. Same as the aviary. If they do not a problem.

Look at it this way. If I worried about wild bird contamination I would never let my birds out. The birds go fielding. Drink from puddles if need be. That has never set them back. On a tough weather race and they do have to go down they know what to look for to keep them going.. They get resilient. Not all but the better ones.