Pigeon Lofts: Loft Concepts
(click to see larger photos)
 

    The first step is to keep the birds off the ground. No problem, just place them on a wire flooring roughly 12" off the ground. At this height, the droppings will fall to the ground and you can remove them quite easily with a rake. The pigeon droppings are great for your vegetable garden and your plants. The next thing keep down the number of birds you breed from and never overcrowd. Otherwise, you will only reproduce sickness and spend a lot of money on expensive, unnecessary medications. If you cannot breed good birds out of four pairs, then twenty pairs won't help! Remember, less is more, and more is less!

    Additionally important is to make sure a breeze flows freely through your lofts. Don't think this is bad for your bird's. Ventilation in hot climates is absolutely necessary for your birds health. Ask yourself this; where do the pigeons live in the wild? Under freeways and on top of tall buildings right?, Sounds pretty drafty to me. If your birds are healthy to start with, the fresh air will keep them that way. I have drilled several (half inch) holes in the exterior walls of my lofts for ventilation. In winter however, I do cover them up.

    An aviary located in the sun is especially important. The suns rays will revitalize and replenish the birds. I cannot emphasize enough that the birds must have an opportunity to bask in the sun in order to be extra healthy. Equally important should be that you have perches available for the birds to sit on. An opportunity for the birds to take a bath once a week is also a good idea. A little borax in the water won't hurt them either.

    Borax in the water will kill any lice you may have on your feathered friends. The best prevention is to always keep your loft clean. Many people have written about the graces of a "deep loft". I personally think this is nonsense, and sheer laziness. If you have doubts about my attitude, take a scraper and peal away some of the pigeon droppings. You will see many critters lurking just under the surface waiting to attack your birds. If you really want to see an eradication of insects, clean the loft twice a week minimum. As they say, "it works for me", and I have never had any infestations.

    A product that has been in use in my lofts for several years now is called "Horse & Stable". It is a synthetic derivative of a flower that naturally grows in South Africa. What that means to you its simply that if you end up with birds from others that have flies or lice. A one time spraying will kill the pests and guarantee that they will not re-appear again. In the summer it is quite hot in Texas and the mosquitoes can be brutal on you, and your birds. Using this product sparingly will ensure a good time by all. It smells pleasant and has no harmful effects on the birds that I have seem. It can also be purchased at most feed stores for very little money. About once per month I spray a little in the loft and it works like a charm. Horse & Stable will also control; Horse flies, Horn flies, Face Flies, Lice, Mosquitoes, Fleas, and Ticks.
 

      Click on the thumbnail to the right, and study the perch design. It is 2" by 2" by 6" high with a 45-degree angle on each end. I have found it to be invaluable. There is no cleaning (unlike the "V" shaped perches). I highly recommend you try them.

      A pigeon fancier told me the birds wouldn't sit on this kind of perch! I guess he has never seen pigeons balancing on telephone wires. If you are smart, you will take your perches out of the nesting area and place them only in the aviary. This makes the birds use the perches more often allowing them to get more fresh air. It will also cut down on fighting for certain boxes and provide a private place for the birds to mate in the evening hours. In addition, the living quarters will be cleaner due to your birds spending less time there.

      In order to preserve the integrity of your primary breeding pairs, it is an excellent strategy to build individual cages. Individual cages give you the opportunity to pair up the birds the way you like. Over time you will get an idea as to what you can expect out of the different pairings you work with. Individual cages are the only way to be 100% sure what you are truly raising. As you may know an open loft is not the best place to breed for accuracy. We have some of our individual cages in our front yard. They were placed behind large bushes and are hard to notice from the street. My wife Dora enjoys seeing the various pairs with their young when she arrives home from work.