Pigeon loft

[CFSpringer]

Needing to get my dog around more birds, seems to be a little startled by the flush of a bird at moment. She hasn't been on many, just a year old. Figured i would build a pigeon loft. Bought plans from gundog supply, seem easy. But the aviary, I can't seem to find one online. Anyone got suggestions on where to find one or two? Or building one myself?

 

[akp]

I didn't build mine but my aviary is just a 2X4 frame with wire on the front. Got mine from a friend when he didn't want it anymore. Zip tied a few dowels in the wire outside for perches in the corners. Inside is open with perches. Put some nest boxes inside if you want to let them raise. Simple design. I keep about a dozen birds. Works well. Pigeons are by far the best way with a launcher or two. Get squeakers and don't let them fly for at least 6 weeks. Don't get frustrated. You'll lose a bird here and there but mine are pretty well trained now. Fly them hungry.

He may have purchased the plans from Lion Country Supply.... Seems like I remember him telling me that.

 

[akp]

If I was starting from scratch I would definitely prefer to have one I could walk into and stand up in to catch my birds. I use a small dip net and that's' fine but kind of a pain. I have a small door on each side like the one you see.

 

[Quailnerd]

Needing to get my dog around more birds, seems to be a little startled by the flush of a bird at moment. She hasn't been on many, just a year old. Figured i would build a pigeon loft. Bought plans from gundog supply, seem easy. But the aviary, I can't seem to find one online. Anyone got suggestions on where to find one or two? Or building one myself?

If you’re in a time crunch or don’t want to build buy a prefab chicken coop. Good enough for a stinky pigeon

 

[gps4]

i used a 6x10x6 covered chain link dog kennel for my aviary. I wrapped the sides and top with chicken wire to keep other animals out and my quail in. i had it set up on a concrete patio slab and covered the end and half of each side with tarps to give the bird a way to get out of the wind and rain. very rudimentary, but i was able to keep quail in there for a year or so while i worked my lab puppy.

 

[CFSpringer]

The more that I look around, the more rudimentary my plans are getting.

 

[JayDee]

In the process of building one myself. I bought the plans from gun dog supply, the Avery, and one way door from Lion Country Supply. I modified it a bit, one big change was the nesting boxes. I cut five gallon buckets in half and used the halves rather than building the wood bins from the direction.

Just about to finish it up this week and pick up my squeakers soon.

 

[akp]

I have three nesting boxes that I can put in. I took them out last fall and have been throwing away eggs since. I don't have anyone around me with pigeons and I have as many as I need. They will breed and lay as long as it isn't too hot or cold. Non stop...

 

[JayDee]

A few weeks after I finished, and they're doing fine. All i have to do is whistle and they all panic and fly down to the floor for feeding. Few more weeks and they'll be ready to take out and fly around the coop/yard, and intro into the trap. @CFSpringer How's it going with yours? Built this one with left overs, I'm no carpenter and yes, I know the siding is not even. But it was all scrap of different sizes. Held up great in the recent snow, stayed dry inside.

I will be removing the buckets and putting in actually boxes. They seem to be okay with buckets, but a few are bullies and think they to hop back and forth to keep two to themselves. I hope with an actual box with walls will prevent that.

 

[akp]

That looks really good. When you start flying them it may help to raise a couple of bobs for return. Start with all or most up. Then lower them until they're all down over the course of a couple of weeks. This worked well for mine. Fly them hungry.