Does anyone use part of their garage for a loft?

[moonshadow]

No. The furnace is in the basement.

[moonshadow]

How about a rabbit hutch? Anyone using them for breeding pairs? I'm thinking something like this...

[Charis]

That's really much bigger than you need. Renee can help you with nest boxes. She has quite the set up for her birds. Look at her albums anmd you will see what I mean.

[moonshadow]

I don't have a coop yet and I was hoping the hutch would do for a cage and nesting box. 'Cause if I get my first pair this fall they won't breed until spring, right? (Boy, I'm hoping I'm not totally off. Preparing to be embarrassed.)

[Lovebirds]

Don't be embarassed..........pigeons can and DO breed 365 days a year. Ferals are more apt NOT to because of being outside in the weather and the scarce food. Pampered pigeons though??? LOOK OUT!! LOL
The hutch in the picture CAN be used as a breeding pen. Just keep in mind that where ever the eggs are laid is where the babies will have to be raised. In other words, the pairs could raise their babies in the hutch and the babies be put into the loft when they're older. I however wouldn't leave the pairs in those hutches all the time. They just aren't big enough for "forever housing"......IMO, the best thing is to have a loft with at least two sections. One for breeding birds and one for the youngsters. MORE than two sections is ideal, but 2 is a minimum to have so that you don't have problems down the road.

[moonshadow]

Is it safe for them to breed in winter? I mean for the babies? Should I take their eggs before they have a chance to be incubated? I assume you can swipe them like we do for our hens. I heard something about using dummy eggs too...

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by moonshadow

Is it safe for them to breed in winter? I mean for the babies? Should I take their eggs before they have a chance to be incubated? I assume you can swipe them like we do for our hens. I heard something about using dummy eggs too...

Yea, you can switch the eggs........gotta run for now.......shipping birds tonight.

[moonshadow]

Thanks for all the help Lovebirds.

[Avion]

Renee,
Where is the race this weekend?
George

[moonshadow]

If I was to put my coop/loft out in the backyard where do you think I should put it? We have power lines, pines, and small scrubs. All which, I think, pose danger. Hawk hiding places, etc...

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by moonshadow

I don't have a coop yet and I was hoping the hutch would do for a cage and nesting box. 'Cause if I get my first pair this fall they won't breed until spring, right? (Boy, I'm hoping I'm not totally off. Preparing to be embarrassed.)

Hi Moonshadow. Actually, New England Pigeon Supply has a set up about that size. It is for one or two pet pigeons. But if you were to keep them in something this size, you would have to take them out of it daily for exercise. You can check it out on their website.

[Jay3]

Well, one thing to remember is that since you live where winters can be cold with lots of snow, the further from the house it is located, the further you have to shovel or snow blow, or trek through snow. The trees will hide hawks, and the power lines are dangerous for the birds, but there isn't really much you can do about either. It's a nice yard, and will accomodate a loft very nicely. I'd put it near the house.
Also, you asked earlier about the wooden eggs. If you take the real eggs away, and don't replace them with the fake ones, the birds will just have more eggs. Better to let them sit on the fake ones for a while, until they get tired of it and kick them out. You don't want her to keep having eggs to replace the ones you took. Not good for her.

[moonshadow]

Here's what I had in mind. The yard isn't that long and I really don't want the coop close to house. I grew up with a chicken coop and I don't relish the thought of having it directly beside my house.



The coop being about 8-10 feet wide.

[Jay3]

It would look nice over there.

[moonshadow]

I got some pigeons. Look for my post in the general section. I bought a custom pigeon hutch for them right now. We'll figure something else out soon.