8x7 Chicken Coop -> 8x7 Pigeon Loft= Need help transforming :)

[Zahboo]

I am turning an 8x7 Chicken coop into a pigeon loft. I am going to close in the sides, as right now it is open sided. I need ideas on the nest boxes and feed/water station. Also how many birds can I fit in the coop? It's 7' in the front and 6' tall in the back.

 

[cedar post]

I've raised pigeons for alot of years. What kind are you looking to get? If you want to breed them start out with only a few pair.The nest boxes I have are 1 foot X 1 foot and paired up together so birds have a choice to which box they like better. And I only used long pine needles as nesting material it cuts down on dirtiness. Must keep coop very clean to have good success. Feed/water station can be what ever works as long as it is clean and dry. Any questions pm me. And I can e-mail you pics of nest boxes I used. Mike Good luck

 

[Mader631]

Built my 8'x4' loft this spring.......... I pretty much took the Pigeon AU's (Starter Loft) blue prints & modified it to my own style of loft................ it turned out great! My Birds love it........... I put in 2 types of perches The V-perch & the 4" spuare perches, that way the birds can chose what they like. I used plastic milk crates turned bottoms to the wall & build a slide out bottom for easy cleanig, They have no problem raising babies in it................. Learned this from an old Pigeon racer from Chicago. I use Apple cider vinegar in the water 1-tine a week, & clean water with bleach. For this winter I'm using a large Ice free Dog bowl, used a Plastic milk crate & flat board screwed to the milk crate, cut a hole in the side of the milk crate just for the Birds can get there head in the bowl & drink, they can't get in to bath or mess up the water............ $20.00 at fleet farm for the Iceless Bowl, The bowl is the large blue plastic one. The water stays pretty warm & only uses 50 watts.

This year i might try racing my Homers................ I got great stock this year from Old racers in my area, Mostly Staff Van Reet Birds, & a few other family mixes......... I'll race them & see if there as good as there family lines are, only way to find if they are good. Got Some great YB/young birds this year & Old (Prisoner) Breeders this year, both are doing good in my open loft set-up. They Love there whole corn this time of year.................

Brian in Schofield, WI.