hey brother! you need to think also about your health, meaning you dont want the dust from your birds get into your lungs when you feed or everytime you go inside the loft... fyi- heat rised up cold goes down...a good ventilation help your birds especialy your own health... so think hard and decide, then build it...
Ventilation Help!
My loft is 6X16, and I have three vents near the bottom of the rear. The outside vent is 5X14, and then the interior piece is angled for poop control, which has 3 1" holes drilled, with nylon netting glued to the back. The front door has a slideup window, which is about 15X18" when open. Is this enough ventilation, or should I add more vents on the bottom. I have attached pics to see.
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BBCDON, You can NOT have too much Ventilation, and were you live, it is Critical. Add some Fan powered Vents, (up High)Experiment with the Air pull.
I have always believed if you walk into your Loft, and the Dust Ect. flies, you do not have NEAR enough Ventilation.. Dave
I have always believed if you walk into your Loft, and the Dust Ect. flies, you do not have NEAR enough Ventilation.. Dave
I just can't believe that what you currently have, is going to provide a fresh stream of clean air into your loft, while the bad air is flowing out.
Just like other poster said, good ventilation is crtical, but seems to be one of those issues that is pretty much over looked. People tend to focus on those pretty things which are pleasing to the human eye, but which the pigeons could care less about. I'm thinking that the inside of your loft is much like being locked in a closet.
If you can afford to invest in Secrets of Champions IV concerning loft design, that will show you things, we couldn't describe here is many thousands of words.
Just like other poster said, good ventilation is crtical, but seems to be one of those issues that is pretty much over looked. People tend to focus on those pretty things which are pleasing to the human eye, but which the pigeons could care less about. I'm thinking that the inside of your loft is much like being locked in a closet.
If you can afford to invest in Secrets of Champions IV concerning loft design, that will show you things, we couldn't describe here is many thousands of words.
Ok, using what you got. The three 5" X 14" holes are between studs correct? Is it possible to add more holes so you have a hole between all your studs, 16" centered studs would give you 12 holes instead of three along the 16 feet. Second, remove the vents and replace with 1/4" hardware cloth wire for max air flow. The wire would look the same as your netting but will protect your birds from trouble that could tear thur your netting. You can trim around the wire on the outside to keep out rain but leave the holes 5" X 14."
The round hole, is that the inside of the vent and only one per vent? I recommend you pull off the angled piece and put a solid piece, (no 1" hole), just above the vents. You still get poop control but more air can flow because you are not reducing the 5" X 14" hole to a 1" round hole.
If you want take one or two of the wired 5" X 14" holes and hinged the trimed wire covering so you can pull them up and sweep poop thur the now opened hole.
This opens up the bottom of your loft for air flow but what do you have above? I need more info, is your loft the led zepplen loft? I'll go check it out again.
The round hole, is that the inside of the vent and only one per vent? I recommend you pull off the angled piece and put a solid piece, (no 1" hole), just above the vents. You still get poop control but more air can flow because you are not reducing the 5" X 14" hole to a 1" round hole.
If you want take one or two of the wired 5" X 14" holes and hinged the trimed wire covering so you can pull them up and sweep poop thur the now opened hole.
This opens up the bottom of your loft for air flow but what do you have above? I need more info, is your loft the led zepplen loft? I'll go check it out again.
OK, I looked at the pictures and see your front door opens into the nest box room and I assume the young bird cage is behind the picture taker. Is the door to the YB cage wired so air can flow? If so put a vent fan somewhere high and away from perches or nests. The fan will pull air from the vent holes you made in the bottom and push the air out the fan. I thought to use the roof but the way the loof is roofed it would be too much work.
Can you put the vent fan above your waterer beside the door? That should pull air from back to front and bottom to top. Also it looks to be away from where the birds may perch.
That's all the help I can see, a little skillsaw work and your loft is still a work of art.
That's all the help I can see, a little skillsaw work and your loft is still a work of art.
If you take out the vent inside your house you will notice that the hole is almost the same shape/size as the vent itself. That should give you a clue. There must be a bigger hole in there and not those 1" hole.
To test your ventilation according to what I've read is to spray some thing inside the loft that you can smell. If the smell has not disappeared in 10 minutes, then you don't have enough ventilation.
I wish I can remember the engineering articles about vent where it mentioned about 20-30% of some total area of some wall. That vent entrance and exit size should be a total of 20-30% total square area. I'll try to find that article.
To test your ventilation according to what I've read is to spray some thing inside the loft that you can smell. If the smell has not disappeared in 10 minutes, then you don't have enough ventilation.
I wish I can remember the engineering articles about vent where it mentioned about 20-30% of some total area of some wall. That vent entrance and exit size should be a total of 20-30% total square area. I'll try to find that article.
Thanks to all of you for your valuable in put. Big T, yes the partition and door to the yb section is all hardware cloth. The studs are 24" OC, and I will add more openings, cut more holes on the inside piece, remove the outside vent, and replace with hardware cloth. I will also install some power vents up high. The walls and roof are insulated, and they do provide good protection from the high temps here in the summer.
Thanks again Big T. Yes I can install a power vent above the waterer. That would be a great location. I am sure glad to have all of you here to help me get this rite before the birds arrive.
By the way, I happen to like those "pretty things".
The only thing I will reiterate is the dust getting in your lungs thing that sandiego mentioned in an early post. Make sure you don't take in too much dust very bad for your health. I have been to countless times by the flyers in my area to keep the dust out of my system. Some of them have gotten really sick from inhaling too much from poor loft ventilation over the years. Use that vacuum cleaner of yours frequently!
bbcdon do not cut yourself short. You biult a beautiful loft and like the rest of us, after it's built you find things you would do different. I cannot tell you how many things I have changed or wish I could changed and I have only had my loft for a year. The important thing is you care enough to learn and correct before you or your birds got sick. Experience is the great teacher. I love your loft and my birds still want to move to your loft. Led Zepplen Rocks!!!
Mine too! LOLbbcdon do not cut yourself short. You biult a beautiful loft and like the rest of us, after it's built you find things you would do different. I cannot tell you how many things I have changed or wish I could changed and I have only had my loft for a year. The important thing is you care enough to learn and correct before you or your birds got sick. Experience is the great teacher. I love your loft and my birds still want to move to your loft. Led Zepplen Rocks!!!
I talked to Mike Brown today. Put a deposit on my birds, and let him know that I need to modify my ventilation before I take possession of the birds. He told me no problem. Man, it is getting close!!! He even let me choose which youngsters to pick out of the different breeding pairs, including nest mates!!! He is a heck of a nice guy!!!
bbcdon, Just remember to find out the Ventilation System in his Loft,and Match it, THEN give your Birds MAX Ventilation, gradually! Dave
bbcdon give you ventilation system the smell test. Break wind in the loft, then have your wife come in ten minutes later. If she hits you you need more air. LOL
Oh...you are so bad!!!bbcdon give you ventilation system the smell test. Break wind in the loft, then have your wife come in ten minutes later. If she hits you you need more air. LOL
Dan
I added floor vents between each stud at the bottom rear of the loft, I also added ceiling vents, and a roof vent. Here are pics. Do you think this will be enough? Thanks, Don. As far as the smell test, I hope I did a better job on the loft, than in the house!!!!!!!
The nest box fronts are cute, but how does the little door open? I like the name plates.
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