Pigeon Lofts & Hardware

[andinla]

Check Out This Website Awesome Sheds, Playhouses, & Little Sheds, Green Houses. Design Plans start at 7.99 up to 49.00 cheap and they are so cute. Some of the would make great lofts. After clicking on the link scroll down to Plans List then go to sheds, cabins & Cottages, Playhouses, etc pictures. http://www.plansforfree.com/index.htm

Andi

[WhiteWingsCa]

Interesting domain name - "plansforfree" - but then they charge for them? LOL

Anyone looking for truly 'free' plans for starter lofts can find them at several websites.

This is one of the best sources I've found yet:

http://www.redroselofts.com/starter_loft.htm

[andinla]

it gets you to their site thats for sure. I just thought they were cute and pretty cheap.

thanks for the link (free)
Andi

[Trees Gray]

The Loft Design:

http://www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/pi...oft.html#clean

[feralpigeon]

Hey Andi, here's one that gives you the plan for free, but just no pretty pictures which, of course, we all love to see.

http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/librar...07&subject=178

Might be a little slow loading as it's in PDF format. But it's worth it.



fp

[feralpigeon]

Hi all,

Another good link for this section provided by Lin Hansen for Hardware Cloth:

http://www.twpinc.com/twp/jsp/product.jsp?type=4

And a couple of other links to aviary designs:

http://www.pixalbums.net/post.php?si...x=nloftpen.jpg

http://www.internationaldovesociety....owningCage.htm

fp

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Hello All,

I highly suggest if one is interested in building a loft, that you forget shed designs. I certainly would never pay for shed designs !

You can go onto the AU website at : http://www.pigeon.org/sclofts1_05.htm
and see some showcase lofts, or even enter pigeon loft design into your search engine and find all kinds of links for lofts.

[Trees Gray]

Thanks Warren,

If you have anymore sources please share.

We need a good resource thread for loft designs for our members.

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Originally Posted by Trees Gray

Thanks Warren,

If you have anymore sources please share.

We need a good resource thread for loft designs for our members.

OK,

Here's a problem, the best "Racing Pigeon Loft Designs", could have a commercial market value of many thousands of dollars. How does one over come this dilemma ?

These designs also affect the "show bird" fancy. Since advances in pigeongly often come from the racing community.

[WhiteWingsCa]

Originally Posted by SmithFamilyLoft

OK,

Here's a problem, the best "Racing Pigeon Loft Designs", could have a commercial market value of many thousands of dollars. How does one over come this dilemma ?

Yes, the "Best" lofts could and do cost thousands of dollars. However, starter lofts for beginners do not need to.

I notice that the first one on the AU site cost about $1200 to build. A little steep for many beginners. The first one on the link I provided cost around $500.

Yes, that could still be a little expensive - but by purchasing supplies from less expensive sources, you can cut costs.

We have "Habitat for Humanity" in Canada - I'm not sure if it is in the US. Leftover supplies from HfH go to the "Restore" - a store where it is sold for much less than the usual price. I wonder if construction sites (like major subdivisions) would have someplace that you could contact, to purchase left- over odd size pieces of lumber?

Our local hardware stores all have a "free" bin outside - we've gotten bits and pieces of wood for our loft from there, by checking it frequently as we drive by.

[feralpigeon]

The US does have a Habitat for Humanity and the resell stores w/less expensive materials. Many urban areas also have salvage yards for construction materials.
And, the lumber stores, at least in this area, have what's called a "drop-off" box
that is filled by lumber which has been cross-cut to length or ripped down in width. This is free to customers which want to paw their way through it and would work just fine for perches and the like.

fp

[TerriB]

Originally Posted by feralpigeon

...a "drop-off" box that is filled by lumber which has been cross-cut to length or ripped down in width. This is free to customers which want to paw their way through it and would work just fine for perches and the like.
fp

Yep, we got some nice cedar 2"x4" pieces for flight pen perches that way.

[Trees Gray]

We usually pass alot of new construction, as this area is growing by leaps and bounds, and find trash cans or dump areas where we have gotten some nice small pieces of plywood and 2 X 4's. We always make sure to ask first so that everything is done above board. (no punn intended)

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Originally Posted by WhiteWingsCa

Yes, the "Best" lofts could and do cost thousands of dollars. However, starter lofts for beginners do not need to.

I notice that the first one on the AU site cost about $1200 to build. A little steep for many beginners. The first one on the link I provided cost around $500.

Actually, I was referring to racing lofts, and then only the "designs". I am sure there are differences around the country, but a lot of "beginners" are not poor.

Locally, I have seen a lot of 50 something males, getting back into pigeons. They have been sucessful in their careers, and now want to compete in a big way. $10-15,000 for a "starter" racing loft, may not be any big deal, for these older boys and their new toys ! I have even seen some of these "new guys" drop $30,000 on some fancy fad breeding stock.

My point is, if you have a budget of $100 or so for a loft, then some modifications to a rabbit hutch, could do the trick for a few pair. If you are selling your Harley, Vette, and boat, in order to go into racing in a big way, where can you even buy, top of the line designs for a super racing loft ? In my neck of the woods, we have Jr. members with $14,000 lofts ! Fifty something boys, with $70,000 street rods, think nothing of $20-$40,000 lofts.

Where can they go for designs ? Really good designs, employing the latest technology, are not floating around out there for free, unless they are old and outdated.

[re lee]

Aloft desighn needs to meet the typew of birds you plan to raise and breed. Also numbers of birds you plan to have. A racing loft. Is not a over desighn. But it has to have the right room for young birds. old birds. Breeder loft. seperating area. Air exchange. Ect. So its often a little larger if you keep several birds. Lofts do not have to expencsive. But should look nice not to take away from the neigborhood. New people want to start out less sometimes. So asmaller loft is built. Then as time goes by changes are made. I would suggest checking local lofts as to what a person might need. And local codes. after all its about what you can afford first then how much you will spend. A smiple loft can still house the best pigeons.