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.
