New Loft need advice

Hi All

Need advice on sizing internal sections of a loft I'm having built

Loft dimensions;



Loft size 20' X 8

I'm aiming for no more than 65 birds total

I need advice on the following please?

What size should the stock section be? I will only be having 4 breeding pairs initially.

What would be the best size for the widow cocks and widow hens sections?

thanks for any help

are you intending racing both cocks and hens?
If you're not racing the hens keep them in a seperate shed with wire floor aviary out of the way then you got more room for the race team, YB's and a small stock end. Personal choice but I'd put an aviary on the side for stock birds aswell.
Roughly speaking you'd have 8 stock, 12 cocks, 12 hens and 32 yb's.
Looking at your sketch you'd need about 4 ft stock, 5 ft cocks, 5 ft hens leaving 6 ft end for young birds. But there's a corridor so maybe that's @ 3 ft deep so the yb end with most birds will only be 6ft x 5ft, not very big for over 30 youngins imo, (maybe others will disagree).

hi stu, personally I would have a 4ft section for the four pairs, two 5ft sections for widowhood cocks and hens and a 6ft section for young birds..........and in my opinion I think 65 birds in total may be a bit too much.

I think I would maybe try for 12 each of the widowhood cocks and hens, 20 max of ybs and the four stock pairs.....

this is just my initial opinion...

David wrote:

hi stu, personally I would have a 4ft section for the four pairs, two 5ft sections for widowhood cocks and hens and a 6ft section for young birds..........and in my opinion I think 65 birds in total may be a bit too much.

I think I would maybe try for 12 each of the widowhood cocks and hens, 20 max of ybs and the four stock pairs.....

this is just my initial opinion...

thanks David that is extremely helpful

I think your right in regards to the total numbers i.e. 52 if I have totalled it up correctly, I really don't want to stress any of the birds so 52 sounds about right

many thanks

that was a rough guide really stu, its always best to air on the side of less rather than more in my opinion, and if you could house a few less in each section ie ybs, widow cocks and hens that might be even better.......as you mentioned over crowding isn't what you need...

maybe other more experienced members will give their opinions too.......

barnie wrote:

are you intending racing both cocks and hens?
If you're not racing the hens keep them in a seperate shed with wire floor aviary out of the way then you got more room for the race team, YB's and a small stock end. Personal choice but I'd put an aviary on the side for stock birds aswell.
Roughly speaking you'd have 8 stock, 12 cocks, 12 hens and 32 yb's.
Looking at your sketch you'd need about 4 ft stock, 5 ft cocks, 5 ft hens leaving 6 ft end for young birds. But there's a corridor so maybe that's @ 3 ft deep so the yb end with most birds will only be 6ft x 5ft, not very big for over 30 youngins imo, (maybe others will disagree).

barnie many thanks I intend to race both hens and cocks, think your right about the YB end what if I did this:



I could also decrease the corridor to 2 foot

good idea extending the yb section out into the corridor stu, 8 x 6 would be a decent size.......

David wrote:

good idea extending the yb section out into the corridor stu,  8 x 6 would be a decent size.......

thanks David

work it to suit your needs not others, its the only way, trial and error ?.  

  

stu1102 wrote:

barnie wrote:

are you intending racing both cocks and hens?
If you're not racing the hens keep them in a seperate shed with wire floor aviary out of the way then you got more room for the race team, YB's and a small stock end. Personal choice but I'd put an aviary on the side for stock birds aswell.
Roughly speaking you'd have 8 stock, 12 cocks, 12 hens and 32 yb's.
Looking at your sketch you'd need about 4 ft stock, 5 ft cocks, 5 ft hens leaving 6 ft end for young birds. But there's a corridor so maybe that's @ 3 ft deep so the yb end with most birds will only be 6ft x 5ft, not very big for over 30 youngins imo, (maybe others will disagree).

barnie many thanks I intend to race both hens and cocks, think your right about the YB end what if I did this:



yes that gives more room, maybe do something similar at stock end instead of corridor have an aviary or open fronted section? You'll probably still end up taking a hammer and saw to it end of each season to strive for what suits, it, s all part of the game

I could also decrease the corridor to 2 foot