Caring For Pigeons

[Minutiae Manor]

Hello!

I have had pigeons for a few years now, but would like to make some changes to their loft/cleaning routine! How do you keep your loft/pigeons clean and healthy? ☺ Thanks for any help!

 

[LamarshFish]

I try to scrape out the loft at least every other day, but it usually ends up being a few times a week. I also dust the entire loft with diametaceous earth powder every 10 days or so.

I usually scrape all the poop into a bucket and use it as a fertilizer, but my loft has a wire bottom, so if I don't feel like doing that I can just scrape the poop off the perches and nest boxes right onto the wire floor and most of it falls through to the dirt below.

 

[Hokum Coco]

How do you keep your loft/pigeons clean and healthy?

I supply my pigeons with a bath every Wednesday this is done with 5 gallons of water with about 4 tablespoons of Borax 20 Mule Team in the bottom of a 45 gallon plastic barrel that I cut off about a foot from the bottom.

In my loft I cover the floor with a tarp that fits perfectly from wall to wall (I happen to have 4 tarps the same size.)

I line my nest boxes with the nylon mesh Purina Feed bags.


Cleaning the loft is quite easy I fold up the soiled tarp and feed bags and replace them with clean ones.

I then hang the soiled tarps and feed bags out in the yard to bake and dry by the sun. Next I use the back side of a metal rake to dislodged dried on poop.

When the temperature in Canada dips below freezing cleaning the tarps and feed bags is made even easier as it pops of by just flexing the fabric.

Here is a video that will give you a quick peek at my loft.

Easy Peasy Japaneasy

 

[LamarshFish]

Also, this is the tool I use to scrape out my nest boxes. I wanted something small enough to get into those smaller spaces. This thing is high quality Japanese steel. It was so sharp when I got it, I actually had to dull it a bit. It's been great for what I have been using it for.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSFOVGD/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[jak2002003]

I use deep layer of sand in the bottom of the coop. Keep it dry at all times... it dries out the poops and they can be raked or sieved out once a week... I attacked a rectangular plastic kitchen vegetable basket to the end of the broom stick.. I use it to sieve through the sand to clean out dry poops and feathers... which I use a fertilizer for the lawn.

My perches are long natural tree branches, about one to two inches thick. These stay clean as the birds poop over the side of them, not on them.

Nest boxes are closed off.. only used when breeding pairs... and then I have wire bottom to the so poops fall through onto the sand flood of the coop.

Lots of ventilation and NEVER allow damp in the coop... so it always stays smelling fresh and hardly any dust.

Feeders and Water containers are poultry ones.. so they can't stand on them and poop on them or in the food.