Just bought myself a nice big racing loft!

[Bella]

Originally Posted by SmithFamilyLoft

My only suggestion would be to get it as high off the ground as possible. I am thinking ideally you would have 2 or 3 feet of clearence under the loft. The reason is air circulation. The key IMHO, is to convert this shed into a loft, and that is where air circulation and air flow comes into play. You want a loft which is dry and with the correct air flow. You want the good clean air flowing in, and bad stale air flowing out. Get this wrong, and you won't be sucessful. Or in other words, if you do everything else 100% right, but end up with a damp loft with poor air cirulation, the pigeons will never perform at their best.

Best of luck with your new project !

Thank you for the advice Warren, I appreciate it. We will definitely jack it up before starting construction inside.

I have been contemplating ventilation. NY is tough weather in the winter...I have to find a way to strike a balance - I've got to avoid drafts in the winter, but be prepared for the summer heat too. I would appreciate your thoughts on this idea...

I want to put louvres at the bottom of each section, and install an exhaust fan above the trusses at each short end. I've been eyeballing these:

http://www.industrialfansdirect.com/...E-GPX1210.html

They make downward angled hoods that fit on to them, and thermostatic controls.

Do you think this will be sufficient?


Thank you all for sharing in my enthusiasm! It's just not the same when I try to tell NON-PIGEON people about this...after a few moments their eyes glaze over and I realize that I might as well be talking to myself

Me and the love of my life have struck a deal: This will be the end all be all of my lofts. I get this one, and I can do whatever I like to it. But I'm not allowed to get any more lofts after this

Those double doors are going to get another set of double doors, screened with hardware cloth inside of them. This will be the in the young bird section, and they will face east. In the summer time I'm going to throw them open at dawn and watch the sun come up with my young bird team.
There's going to be 5 sections total: (1) 6x10 YB, (2) 4x8 OB, (1) 4x8 spare section, (1) 6x12 Breeding section, and (1) 4x12 feed area which will allow access to each individual section. Each section will have it's own window, drop trap, and aviary on the long southern side. The feed area will have a large picture window facing north and overlooking the fields out back.

At max capacity my sections would allow 125 birds to be housed comfortably. But I'm going to keep only between 70 and 80 birds. I'd like to collect myself some quality breeders, Keep around 20 OB's, and run a manageable YB team of 30.

Funny thing is, two day ago I was stressing about not having a big enough loft...now I am stressing about HAVING a big enough loft...hehe...can't win.

[g0ldenb0y55]

Originally Posted by Bella

Funny thing is, two day ago I was stressing about not having a big enough loft...now I am stressing about HAVING a big enough loft...hehe...can't win.

Ohhh stop!....You know you LOVE it! Heheheheh.....

[Bella]

Originally Posted by g0ldenb0y55

Ohhh stop!....You know you LOVE it! Heheheheh.....

You're right...I do love it! I've never been so happy-giddy-tired in my entire life

[rackerman]

Thats quit the loft, good luck!! I hope to have something like that someday.

[Bella]

Thanks Rackerman

[g0ldenb0y55]

Originally Posted by rackerman

Thats quit the loft, good luck!! I hope to have something like that someday.

We all do my friend, we all do... But mine will be 2 stories high with an elevator!

[First To Hatch]

Originally Posted by g0ldenb0y55

We all do my friend, we all do... But mine will be 2 stories high with an elevator!

Overachiever!!! lol

[Bella]

Originally Posted by g0ldenb0y55

We all do my friend, we all do... But mine will be 2 stories high with an elevator!

An elevator....now...there's an idea..hmmm

[g0ldenb0y55]

hahahaha....that would be pretty cool though...

[Covenant Loft]

Originally Posted by Bella

Do you think this will be sufficient?



Me and the love of my life have struck a deal: This will be the end all be all of my lofts. I get this one, and I can do whatever I like to it. But I'm not allowed to get any more lofts after this

Bella

I'll bet most of us have said this at least once in our pigeon carrers It sounds like you have a very good plan. Take lots of picts and keep us updated.

Walter

[Possum Fat]

Thats THE loft, Bella! Congrats! I actually just signed papers on my 1st house today, and the 1st thing I'm gonna do is move in a storage building like that for my birds. I want to be able to keep my mookees, fantails, and other showbirds inside, as well as be able to fly my tipplers and homers out of other areas of it.

I dont have a bed or furniture yet, but I'll dang sure have a master loft out back!

[M Kurps]

That is going to make an awesome loft,Bella.
Kurps

[WOODRUFF LOFT]

Originally Posted by SmithFamilyLoft

My only suggestion would be to get it as high off the ground as possible. I am thinking ideally you would have 2 or 3 feet of clearence under the loft. The reason is air circulation. The key IMHO, is to convert this shed into a loft, and that is where air circulation and air flow comes into play. You want a loft which is dry and with the correct air flow. You want the good clean air flowing in, and bad stale air flowing out. Get this wrong, and you won't be sucessful. Or in other words, if you do everything else 100% right, but end up with a damp loft with poor air cirulation, the pigeons will never perform at their best.

Best of luck with your new project !

Good advise from Warren. Take your time in planning the inside floor layout. Remember that each section needs that ventilation Warren is talking about. I just finished my racing loft for my old birds, I purchased a fan from lowes that moves around 1320 sq ft of air per minute. I used ridge vent on top and two gable vents. I have vents on front and back just above floor level.
I have COPD so the ventilation is just as important to me as it is to my birds.

[mrharleyrider]

look into a solar powered one
save a little on electricity
steve