how many y/b in a 8"x6/"

how many younge birds will fit into a 8"x6" section and would be comfy just that im saying about 20 and colleen saying 15 ....
phil

always agree with wife phil, then put 20 in lol

lol agree with steve
Ken

well my section for the young birds this year will be 14 feet long by 8 and i will be puting in 50 to there

as long as the ventilation is right, would have no hesitation starting off with 30

well the ventilation is on top of the loft and back with mesh and 6" and then got ventilation grids on the front at the bottom of doors

well i would certainly have a starting team of 30, one thing if you decide to put them on the darkness system make sure you dont reduce the ventilation (biggest mistake a lot of fanciers make, because the light coming thru the mesh etc, it doesnt have to be pitch black inside loft)

best of luck

phil411 wrote:

how many younge birds will fit into a 8"x6" section and would be comfy just that im saying about 20 and colleen saying 15 ....
phil

phil, i was planning on putting 30+ ybs in a 6x6 but thought it might be over crowded.....so if you are going to put 20 in a 8x6 you should be ok.

i would only put around 20 youngbirds in a 8x6 shed any more and they will be overcrowded

as long as the ventilation is adequate you should be ok phil......

remember, must standard widowhood sections are 8ft and people range from 12 to 15 cocks per section.

when breeding 12 becomes 24 with the hens and then all of a sudden there could be 48 birds in this section and nobody bats an eyelid at this amount (i appreciate that its only for a month or so)

I agree over crowding is a problem and trial and error process, I have put 40 in a 8x10 excellent vents and more than enough perches for all with at least 12 spare, but it was over crowded and I didnt relise until too late and I had problems and a crap season, now the same section has 30 in it. and thats on the limit if you ask me and thats with 20 ish perches spare. so be carefull, when its too late its too late.

i think over crowding is often overlooked and not took as seriously as it should be......ive read that it can be a cause for desease and birds not being happy and not wanting to come back to the loft.

That is very true David, u must get the ventalation right house the correct number of birds
Ken

i was planning on housing approx 36 ish in a 6x6 section but am having second thoughts about it now unless i can drastically alter the ventilation......

Hi david, I have a small stockloft 6x7, which last year had 14 pairs in it so obviously 28 birds. taking into consideration at least 1 was on the nest at all times except when on big chicks, and I had a block of 10 perches in it.It looked a bit over crowded but worked well and reared good youngsters, however apart from the vents on the front 8inches x 8, an open window on one side with mesh, I also put a false mesh door on the front which went into the space of the door which was then pinned back, so thats lots of ventilation. It was ok but the door was open from 7am to 10 pm every day and any weather as I feelt this was what it needed to keep it healthy, and the wind whistled through some days...so I would say 6x6 30 woud be maxed out. hope this helps martyn

hi all ive just been posted this from a guy on other pigeon site about small lofts
thought i would sheare

http://www.articles.racing-pigeon-post.org/Smallest_loft.html

The max would be 20/25, you have to have plenty of room for the young birds to feel comfortable

Phil just read the small loft artical spot on mate brilliant read

I will have 2 sections for young birds both 8ft x 6ft - Plan to allow the birds to run free around the loft until such time as they need seperating by sex.

Think 30 in each 8x6ft section is plenty will however have 40 Pipo's in each + about 15 V perches in each - More for the birds comfort than anything.

There will be an aviary on the side 6ft wide, 8ft deep, 8ft high not considered that space though.

Have found in the past when overcrowding young birds you tend to lose them to the loft enviroment (or its just coincedence?)

Good point made

my young,uns where pretty crammed last season in two small ends,there where enough perches and boxes but i had a 12 foot aviary on the side which i think made a big differance.i lost a few birds training but i put that down to me training hard not overcrowding.if i did,nt have the aviary on i would,nt have had as many

That article about the smal loft is great, It reminds me of when I was 15 and raced. My loft looked exactly the same but was 8x6, I kept all my birds together like that and bred 12 youngsters, and flew the programme. But its changed down here now I could loose 12 around the loft easy with the perigrines here, this winter I let the birds out 4 times in four months and lost birds each time and had one returned smashed up. But proves it can be done if your birds are good enough.

good point martyn, since i seperated the cocks and hens they have rarely been out for exercise.....the other day when i lost a stock pigeon i let the hens out and they were all over the place and didnt come back for hours, 3 spent the night out and one is still out now after approx 4 nights out......when it comes dark it goes off somewhere but i still cant get her into the loft during the day ???? its the first time ive kept them in during winter but i dont think ill do it again in future.

David i know a lot of fanciers who keep in there birds in the winter and during the moult