Jeff45
24 posts
Sep 06, 2004
7:51 PM
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I'm kind of limited on space right now. I just acquired a 4x8x7 shed from my father. I plan on turning it into a breeding loft. I will be breeding 4 pairs next spring. Can I get away with making each box 2' long by 18" wide by 18" tall? If this will work then I can put all of them about 5' off the floor and all four of them will fit along the one wall (between the 2' on center studs) in the shed. I was going to use the rest of the shed for food storage ect. Maybe construct some type of holding pen or two.
And then I was going to hang some kind of sun cage on the outside of the shed. I was going to make the cage 8' long, to run along the entire shed. I was going to make 4 separate compartments, one for each pair. Total size of each compartment would be 2' by 2'.
BTW, when you guys first started getting into rollers did you find yourselves making lofts out of anything you could? LOL.
I don't look at a regular yard shed in someone's back yard the same anymore. LOL. I think to myself how I could modify it into some kind of loft! Ha!
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
223 posts
Sep 06, 2004
8:27 PM
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LOL, when I was a kid I made pens and lofts out of anything I could find or get my hands on. All my lofts now I built to suit my needs, but it is hard to break old habits. A friend called me and said he was going to tear down his daughters old play house and asked if I wanted it. I have 13 lofts, that last thing I need is another one, but is was too good to pass up. Still felt like finding a treasure..lol. And it has worked out to be really nice loft for about six pair.
The nest box dimensions you mentioned sound fine. If the shed is only 4 feet wide, I would put them on one end, stacked two on top and two below those. Then you can put box perches on the back wall and have plenty of room to walk around inside. The fly pen is a good idea if you climate will permit it. You can put it on one half of the front side, say opposite of where the door is. With some creative ingenuity you can turn that old shed into a nice loft for sure. Good luck.
Brian.
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rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
165 posts
Sep 06, 2004
8:32 PM
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Jeff, what you describe sounds pretty good. I like the fact that during rainy or cold weather you will be inside while caring for the birds.
Just want to mention ventilation so it does not get too hot in there. Also, build to suit your convenience and easy cleaning. Consider wire floors for the breeding compartments and removable trays for faster and easier cleaning.
Yeah, I laugh too as when I see sheds or playhouses I think of how it would look if it was made into a loft!! FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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Jeff45
26 posts
Sep 06, 2004
8:44 PM
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Thanks, Brian. I want to make sure that we are on the same sheet of music.
The shed is 4x8. The door is on one end wall. You're saying put the boxes on the other end wall, so when I walk in the door, I will be looking at the boxes, right? Then you said hang box perches on the back wall, I'm not sure I follow you here. I think I know what box perches are but Im not sure where you mean to hang them. Also, the way you explain it, are you assuming that I will have an 'open' breeding loft? (I'm thinking that you are assuming I'm having an open loft because you mentioned box perches.)
I'm liking your idea, I didn't think about putting them on the end wall like that. I wasn't thinking of having a open loft, though. I wanted to keep each pair confined in the box with a little opening to go out into the sun cage outside.
If you were under he impression that I was going to have a open loft I guess the reason I was thinking of NOT having a open loft was for better control of who's breeding who.
Thoughts? Advice? Suggestions? All are welcome.
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fhtfire
46 posts
Sep 06, 2004
9:28 PM
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That is so funny..what you said Brian. When I was a kid I was the same way...scraps here and there. I remember using the old plastic milk crates from crystal as nesting boxes. They hang real nice and last forever. Hey, the play houses work great. Look at the photo of my breeder loft on Tonys vistor photos. I made my loft out of a play area!
Now to your question Jeff. My loft is about the same size as yours. Yours is a little taller. My loft is 4 ft wideX7.5ft long by 6' high. So if the door is on one end of the 4ft wide side and you are facing the door. I put the nesting boxes on the left side wall. I have 20 nesting boxes good for 10 pair. On the right side wall I opened it up. I have about 2 ft of chicken wire going the lenght of the wall, with wood above and below the chicken wire. on the back wall or the wall facing you. I put up some V perches. On the right wall I also have perches...at the bottom of the chicken wire the length of the wall I just put up a 1X6 so the birds can perch for sun. Underneath the nesting boxes I have a feed tray, 2.5 gallon water feeder and grit tray. During the winter I slide boards over the chicken wire to keep the rain out.
There are pros and cons to each of having an open loft and non open loft. The obvious con is that a horny cock can mate a hen you do not want him to mate...but to be honest..I am sure it happens...but I do not think it happens as much as you think. But it does happen. Feeding is easier in an open loft. But that could be a hole new topic. I have seen it both ways with many of the elite fanciers. I myself like to see the interaction with the other birds, and the ease of feeding. It also takes up less room. But just do what works for you. Look at some loft photos on tonys page and there are some more on slobberknockerlofts.com
Good luck.
Paul
Last Edited by fhtfire on Sep 06, 2004 9:31 PM
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Jeff45
27 posts
Sep 07, 2004
6:43 AM
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Wow. Those are some great ideas, Paul. I like the chicken wire idea along the length of the wall like that. It's funny because I ended up tearing out a 4' x 8' piece of plywood along one wall because of some rot on the bottom of it. Maybe I'll replace half of it with chicken wire (which I have) and the other 2' with plywood. Cheaper that way too. Then I wouldn't have to build a sun cage, cheaper as well! Sounds like a plan, sir.
I did see your swing set/loft pictures. Very creative. My children also have a swing set like that. I've sat for for a long time stairing at it, thinking of the possibilities. LOL!
Jeff
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fhtfire
47 posts
Sep 07, 2004
7:42 AM
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Jeff,
It would be a good idea to put a trap on your breeder loft. Just to be on the safe side. My trap is to the left of the entrance door. It has saved my but a number of times. If one of your breeders ever gets out..you can open the trap and they will come back in. Make sure that you trap train them first. If you want some photos of the inside of my loft let me know an I will e-mail them to you. My e-mail is paulfullerton@hotmail.com. Good luck!
Paul Fullerton
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