Free lofting questions

[Qualien]

We are currently making our first loft. We hope to be getting our first racing pigeons soon after. We plan on free lofting our second generation of birds. I've got a few questions on how to accomplish this. First, how do we keep the birds we want to keep in, and allow the rest to go out in the morning? I've thought about putting doors on each of our nesting boxes, and after everyone is out releasing the other birds inside the coop with a one way return door, but wondering if there is more efficient way? Also I've read about keeping a few fan tails as call back birds in a loft. Wondering if anyone has done this before, and what benefit/cost there is.

 

[cavemanrich]

Plan out your loft, so there are 2 compartments. Breeders, and flyers. That would be easiest. Make your loft large enough and walk-in, so you can manage your flock better. You can make that divide removable.
Your method is also doable, but more work intensive, since after you have a good number of birds, some may slip past you unnoticed.
I never had fantails, also referred to as droppers. I see them as predator vulnerable, and unnecessary. That is just my opinion on those. If you want your pigeons to loft fly, and then return into loft,,,,,,, release them hungry. Train them to enter loft when they hear a unique sound, like whistling, or shaking a can with pebbles, or nails inside.
Would be good if you included your location in your profile. Makes giving advice, especially weather/climate related much easier.
The subscribers to these pigeon forums are from most Continents. North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa and Australia. Have not ran across any from South America yet.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Qualien]

Thank you @cavemanrich that's a great idea, and one we'll probably be using. Less work intensive is always a good thing. I do plan on whistle training our birds. I've been reading up on that, as well as getting your pigeon used to being handled. We are in SE Oklahoma.