I Have A Question

[learning]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Okay, I have three large windows in my loft. The loft is stucco, and it is insulated. So should I crack a window for air circulation? How much air circulation do they need? And would you close them up at night, and open them during the day. We have many days in the twenties and lower, and some nights in the single digits.

As long as the birds are not in a direct draft where they are exposed to a constant cold breeze, I don't think there is a situation where they could have enough ventilation. It is a trade off like everything else. My ventilation is through several 1 foot by 4 foot grated panels in the floor. There are no drafts at all and there is plenty of fresh air circulating at all times (now, understand that my loft is about 6 feet off the ground.

Hope this helps

Dan

[Jay3]

Thanks for all the input. It's very helpful. I'd have had it all snugged up without enough ventilation. Now I know better and I just have to figure out how I am going to ventilate it without the birds being in a draft. At least now I have a much better idea of what I need to do. So much to learn. I am grateful for your input.

[Msfreebird]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Msfreebird, how did you ever think of that? That's cute. I'll bet they loved them. They don't get too hot?

I have to plow my driveway sitting on a cold, open to the elements, tractor! I use the pocket warmers for my hands and fingers and sometimes sit on them (lol) They don't get real hot, probably equivilent to a heating pad set on low.

[nancthiery]

My husband works on the wind towers and used to do carpentry he lives by the warmers and wool socks, in ND we are avg 0 - -20 below, I also was starting to worrie about winter,it's my first winter as well, I really find this very helpful! I also have fleece squares from blankets I have made for the kids. My loft is not insulated but I would like to put up a inside wall of plywood. But thanks again for the info it's great.

[nancthiery]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Okay, I have three large windows in my loft. The loft is stucco, and it is insulated. So should I crack a window for air circulation? How much air circulation do they need? And would you close them up at night, and open them during the day. We have many days in the twenties and lower, and some nights in the single digits.

I have looked at you pics and this is only what I would do, I would close everything up at night, and open up in the day, if it's really cold out the birds wont want to go out any way, so I would just crack open a window 1-2 inches, enough to get the air flowing.

[Jay3]

Thanks Nancy.

[mr squeaks]

Just a quick comment about using hay.

Be careful that it doesn't get or stay wet. From what I've read here on the site, hay can promote mold...not good for pijies!

Those is "the know" can make further comments...

From what I've been reading in this thread, there are gonna be some very comfy birds this winter!

I REMEMBER COLD...that's why I'm out here in Arizona!!

Love and Hugs
Shi

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Just a quick comment about using hay.

Be careful that it doesn't get or stay wet. From what I've read here on the site, hay can promote mold...not good for pijies!

Those is "the know" can make further comments...

From what I've been reading in this thread, there are gonna be some very comfy birds this winter!

I REMEMBER COLD...that's why I'm out here in Arizona!!

Love and Hugs
Shi

Thanks Shi, Charis has also warned me about the hay. And before that, my sister in Florida who had chickens when she lived in Maine. I'm switching over to straw. I just liked it because it seemed so much softer. I didn't realize that it could be dangerous.

[nancthiery]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Just a quick comment about using hay.

Be careful that it doesn't get or stay wet. From what I've read here on the site, hay can promote mold...not good for pijies!

Those is "the know" can make further comments...

From what I've been reading in this thread, there are gonna be some very comfy birds this winter!

I REMEMBER COLD...that's why I'm out here in Arizona!!

Love and Hugs
Shi

Yes a very good point,Thank you. The fresher the hay the better, I always use the freshest I can find and as soon as it gets wet I tosh it out. Mold is nothing to mesh with around birds or even with us. I use straw. Same goes for that as well. I would like to move south but I can't stand the heat. It's easier to put more cloths on than to take them off. Sorry that goesn't sound right at all. LOL

[Victor]

Hopefully this won't turn into a debate, but for the last 2 winters I have used a small space heater that is non- teflon . It was turned on every evening and turned off once the sun rose and there was direct sunshine on my coop/aviary set up. It kept my pigeons warm and kept the water drinkable.My pigeon structure faces the southeast, so it gets great am sunshine.I install plexiglass on the front exterior and plastic on the door. It is vented.I plan on replacing the old heater this winter. It has been a great unit but used well.My piegons were quite content and still loved their baths in the open aviary. I kept the north side of the aviary blocked with tarp to keep the north wind out as well.

[Jay3]

Victor, I appreciate your input. My aviary is accessible to the birds through a window, which opens into it. The aviary is on the southwest side of the loft, so the north side of the aviary is actually the loft outside wall. So I should cover the other sides of the aviary with plastic? I was planning to do that anyway. I am adding a cover to it to keep the snow out. It is 2 feet off the ground, with hardware cloth flooring. The roof will be on a slant, so it would be ventilated from the top, unless I close that. How much ventilation do they need in the actual aviary. Will the hardware cloth floor give it too much ventilation, or should some of that be closed off? I would like to keep it a little warmer out there so that they can enjoy it at least on some winter days. Suggestions?

[Jay3]

This is my loft and aviary. How can I make it more comfortable for my birds during the winter months?

[rainbows]

Just a couple of thoughts. Your house roof is slanted toward the aviary, is the aviary far enough away from that side of the house so the snow "avalanche" from the roof will miss the aviary.
The aviary is 2 feet off the ground, but will you have snow 2 feet deep in the yard all winter? If so that would block the air from the screen floor.

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by rainbows

Just a couple of thoughts. Your house roof is slanted toward the aviary, is the aviary far enough away from that side of the house so the snow "avalanche" from the roof will miss the aviary.
The aviary is 2 feet off the ground, but will you have snow 2 feet deep in the yard all winter? If so that would block the air from the screen floor.

Oh my God! I never thought of that. The roof snow coming down. But then, my roof is so slanted, and it is the sunny side of the house, that we normally don't get an avalanche effect. As a matter of fact, my husband and I are talking about it right now, and in 21 years that I've been here, we've never had a ton of snow come down all at once. Watch...............this year we'll get a blizzard, and it'll happen, God Forbid!It's only about 2 feet from the house. As far as the height of the snow, we can always shovel around it if need be. Thanks for the food for thought. Something else to worry about.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Victor, I appreciate your input. My aviary is accessible to the birds through a window, which opens into it. The aviary is on the southwest side of the loft, so the north side of the aviary is actually the loft outside wall. So I should cover the other sides of the aviary with plastic? I was planning to do that anyway. I am adding a cover to it to keep the snow out. It is 2 feet off the ground, with hardware cloth flooring. The roof will be on a slant, so it would be ventilated from the top, unless I close that. How much ventilation do they need in the actual aviary. Will the hardware cloth floor give it too much ventilation, or should some of that be closed off? I would like to keep it a little warmer out there so that they can enjoy it at least on some winter days. Suggestions?

Hi Jay 3, Your aviary, just as mine, and probably most others, is used for them to enjoy some exercise, flight time and most important, healthy rays of warm sun light which is very important to pigeons. If your aviary is attached to the north outside wall, they are getting good protection from the bitter cold winds that usually tend to come from that direction. I like using a tarp with bungee cords that can readily be adjusted according to the winds or general weather conditions. Of course, if we are experiencing a cold blizzard wind and blowing condition, they stay inside their coop. If need be, mine can fly and stretch inside their coop, but I limit this to help keep the coop area as clean as possible. Last winter, I estimate that they did not go outside in the aviary, maybe a whole 7 days. The bottom of your aviary had hardware cloth. This will keep predators from accessing them which is good. Bear in mind though that their droppings will go right down on the ground. Maybe you can be creative and make a tray to help catch/clean the debris effectively?
You have a nice set up there.