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#1
6th January 2009, 05:52 PM
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Landing Board or ??New to the Forum Here and would like some suggestions on the following:
I am having problems with cats killing my racing homer pigeons. I have a loft which I built with an elevated fly pen about four feet from the ground. I built it this way thinking that the birds should have a chance to sun themselves and a place where the bath pan could be placed. The cats climb up the fly pen and snatch the pigeons when they return from flying. I was wondering if I should remove the fly pen completely and have only a landing board along the wall where I have two traps (one for each division). If anyone on this forum has a setup with landing board only, how do you arrange for the pigeons to take a bath and get sunshine instead of being in the loft all day or do you think this is important? I guess I could add a fly pen to the side of the Loft but is there any better solution? 
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#2
6th January 2009, 05:57 PM
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#3
6th January 2009, 06:25 PM
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There is nothing wrong with the flypen, but rather the cat. You either have to be there when they land or trap the cat and take it to animal control.
I put my bath basin outside and let them take a bath while I am watching them. It is very dangerous though because one time a hawk swooped down trying to get them. The other time a cat was stalking them. Basically I supervise them.
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#4
6th January 2009, 07:02 PM
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I need to see the loft before I give any suggestions, it's a lot better to see than to reading the situations...I'm not a good imaginary person...May I ask for any pics if possible for you to post it here...Thanks...
__________________
 Sтэєlεrs ∆rmy™ "NFL Season Is Here Again" "Steelers Pride is Worldwide"
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#5
6th January 2009, 07:49 PM
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I have to agree with rodsd why are you not out there when your birds are out of the loft ??? there are wayyyyy to many dangers out their to leave your bird unattended
 the fact that a cat has the time and ability to take any bird from your landing board is beyond my understanding ???
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 so many pigeons so little time
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#6
6th January 2009, 11:17 PM
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Theres a million cats around my property, especally at night.
When my birds are out, I keep an eye out for them. I give my pigeons a bath right on the cement (sidewalk) going to the garage, that way the water doesn't make a mess in the loft. I got tired of a walk in loft a long time ago, the one I have now is a lot more manageable for me, and my 6 Backyard Birds. 
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I haul water, every day!
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#8
7th January 2009, 07:05 AM
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Quote:
About the landing board question... Quote:
For them to take a bath? I suggest that you bring it outside the loft and stay with them...This is WAY better than to be inside...Water won't sip in the corners of the loft...
__________________
Sтэєlεrs ∆rmy™ "NFL Season Is Here Again" "Steelers Pride is Worldwide"
Last edited by Pegasus; 7th January 2009 at 08:56 PM.
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#9
7th January 2009, 06:08 PM
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Here in San Diego ordinance allows cat to freely roam around the neighborhood. Dogs require leash. The cats that are stalking mine are probably neighbor's cat because they have tags. They are beautiful fat cats. The skinny ones are probably ferals. They are the persistent one. I kept on chasing those cats to stay away from my loft. One morning I noticed a silhouette of a cat on top of my loft. When I flashed my flash light sure enough it was a black cat. No wonder why my birds are so sleepy at daytime. Have you tried getting a dog that can guard your loft? All my neighbor's have dogs so I know when a cat is around. Skunk is a different matter. I opted not to chase that one when it went near my loft.
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#10
7th January 2009, 08:00 PM
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I have a few feral and neighborhood cats that are always thru here too ,but my flypens are 4 feet off the ground so never had a problem with them so far ..the only thing I have a problem with are the winged type of things that prey on my birds
 I also am a cat person too so tend to talk to the ferals as they come thru , maybe they know I have a weak spot for them and they just like to pay me a visit from time to time lol
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so many pigeons so little time
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#13
8th January 2009, 08:04 AM
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__________________
 BEECH TREE KNOLL LOFT
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#15
8th January 2009, 07:29 PM
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Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I live in Colorado and guess I should note that I do watch my birds after they are let out and their return from there exercise flights. But sometimes there are late commers that return up to 45 minutes after the main flock returns and these are the birds that are in trouble. I have tried to leave the two traps open for the late arrivals but this was a bad idea as a cat went in through the trap and killed and ate a pigeon in the flypen. The cat went out the trap the same way it came in all I found was the pigeon remains. Does anyone out there have a setup where they onlyt have a landing board by their trap? Or are there persons who have a loft only without any type of flypen? It would seem that the birds would need sunshine and outside air other than only when they are let out for exercise.
I will try to post a photo of my loft when I can get my film used up and processed.
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