I learned something new about lofts and aviaries

[Yong]

Hi all, I have not posted much because I got very serious into pigeon rescue and keeping. I had mostly an indoor loft with a medium flight area and was always led to believe that pigeons need the indoors more than anything, nest boxes, special perches, OMG you name it....

Since then a hurricane came through and wiped everything out. This time I made small living quarters, and a big flight area. I broke all the rules. the floor is natural. There is grass and mulch, and there isn't a roof over the general area. Just wire. Every bird from my Jacobin to my homers enjoy flapping, flying, sun bathing, and eating the grass too. They are overall healthier, the UVB is a large contributer to that. They take baths almost daily, and have nice full chests from all the exercise.

I took the upper perimeter of the pen and put boards up for walking. these are all reachable with ladders, for the birds who cannot fly. When given the opportunity, even the cripples like to be up high and feel the sun on them.

So not everyone lives in sunny florida, and a nice warm loft certainly does have it's place, and understandably so. When you see birds in cages, and so on, you don't give it much thought, until you have really seen them blossom in an avairy. Cleaning is a breeze too. I used to spend hours cleaning each week. I made myself nuts over it. Not having an overcrowded loft or avairy, and having natural flooring, has eliminated 95% of my cleaning duties, Whew!!

Also I have found that when I have get an injured bird, that I believed could not fly or walk, etc...I found that being outdoors was like physical therapy. The supporting muscles grew stronger, and birds that weren't able to fly 6months ago are flying today. Thats a great thing!

Anyway, just sharing my thoughts. I personnaly will not be going back to a loft with flights. I now have an aviary with a bedroom for the birds=)

Oh...I forgot to mention...Building an aviary cost me $450 aprox. Building a loft...costs a whole lot more. An open roof avairy does require quarterly worming and so on. I also am doing away with special feeders and waterers, afterall, they are made to keep food and water from being soiled. We should change the water twice daily regardless.


yong