Pigeon Loft Flooring Question

[PioneerChicks]

Hi! I'm a newbie pigeon owner. I will be making a new pigeon loft soon and am wondering what kind of flooring I should use. My current loft (I got it from friends, didn't make it myself) has hardwire cloth on the bottom and some cardboard I can slide around.

The loft will be made of a wooden box that I will modify to fit the pigeons needs. My two flooring options are wood and hardwire cloth. I have heard that wood is hard to maintain but wire isn't as good for the pigeons feet. Would wood with pine shavings on top work? What do you all recommend?

And while we're at it, any other advice on making pigeon lofts? Thank you!

 

[floppysquirrel04]

Is this a walk in one or just for the birds? It would probably depend more on how big it is and how you build it. If they are likely going to spend less time on the floor then you can probably use hardware cloth. They will be on and off the floor regardless, so wood would help keep their feet comfortable. I wonder if you could coat the wood in something to help keep it clean, or if that would impact their respiratory system negatively

 

[backyard pigeons]

My two flooring options are wood and hardwire cloth. I have heard that wood is hard to maintain but wire isn't as good for the pigeons feet. Would wood with pine shavings on top work? What do you all recommend?

wood floors aren't hard to maintain. But put 4-6 inches of shavings in top. That's how 2\3 of my lofts are. Have you considered expandable wire? Expensive, and mostly good in hot dry climates, but its an interesting option. and you can put plywood on top of it during the winter.

And while we're at it, any other advice on making pigeon lofts? Thank you!

make them go with commercial lumber sizes, if you will be buying the lumber. so, instead of 5×8, make it 4×8 or 8×8, (or 12×48, the size of my dream loft!). make it twice as big as you think you need. And don't skimp out! Make two sections, it always comes in handy. make it walk in, it helps alot. Make a small door on the floor, if its wooden. This helps scrape out the droppings. so lots of ventilation up high, and a little down low. put the perches where they can be cleaned out under them easily, and are in a dry, well ventilated place.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Is this a walk in one or just for the birds? It would probably depend more on how big it is and how you build it. If they are likely going to spend less time on the floor then you can probably use hardware cloth. They will be on and off the floor regardless, so wood would help keep their feet comfortable. I wonder if you could coat the wood in something to help keep it clean, or if that would impact their respiratory system negatively

wood floors aren't hard to maintain. But put 4-6 inches of shavings in top. That's how 2\3 of my lofts are. Have you considered expandable wire? Expensive, and mostly good in hot dry climates, but its an interesting option. and you can put plywood on top of it during the winter.

So it seems like wood with shavings would be better? I can manage that. It will be just for the pigeons, though I want to make more lofts or just one big one eventually.

make them go with commercial lumber sizes, if you will be buying the lumber. so, instead of 5×8, make it 4×8 or 8×8, (or 12×48, the size of my dream loft!). make it twice as big as you think you need. And don't skimp out! Make two sections, it always comes in handy. make it walk in, it helps alot. Make a small door on the floor, if its wooden. This helps scrape out the droppings. so lots of ventilation up high, and a little down low. put the perches where they can be cleaned out under them easily, and are in a dry, well ventilated place.

Okay, I'll keep all this in mind.

Thank you both!

 

[LamarshFish]

There is a premade slatted plastic flooring made for chickens and hogs. Comes in 2x4 and/or 2x4' I think. This was the stuff I was zeroing in on when making plans to build a new loft, which is on hold because I'm too busy at the time.

 

[PioneerChicks]

There is a premade slatted plastic flooring made for chickens and hogs. Comes in 2x4 and/or 2x4' I think. This was the stuff I was zeroing in on when making plans to build a new loft, which is on hold because I'm too busy at the time.

That sounds interesting! I'll have to look into that! Thanks!

 

[Hokum Coco]

A video of my set up.

I will be making a new pigeon loft soon and am wondering what kind of flooring I should use.

I just spread a tarp over my wood floor. I have two and interchange them when ever needed. Fold up the soiled tarp replace it with a clean one. Let the soiled on bake and dry in the sun and shake it off into the compost bin.

You will find wood shavings will migrate to the perimeter of the loft and leave the middle bare (wing flapping). Wood pellets stay put better and absorb real well.

I currently do not use anything on my tarp. I do "NOT" clean the floor through the winter months just roost and nest boxes. In Canada every thing freezes harder than a

"BRICK!"


My nest boxes I line with a empty nylon mesh feed bag. I may staple it in place or hold it in with paper bull dog clips depending on the situation.
When a bag gets soiled pop out the soiled and pop in another. Poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off when left out in the sun to bake and dry. It is the best method I have stumbled upon in my 70 trips around the sun.

Oh! Remove the excess string from the open end of the bag it can get tangled in your birds legs and wings.
Easy Peasy Japaneasy.

 

[PioneerChicks]

A video of my set up.

I just spread a tarp over my wood floor. I have two and interchange them when ever needed. Fold up the soiled tarp replace it with a clean one. Let the soiled on bake and dry in the sun and shake it off into the compost bin.

You will find wood shavings will migrate to the perimeter of the loft and leave the middle bare (wing flapping). Wood pellets stay put better and absorb real well.

I currently do not use anything on my tarp. I do "NOT" clean the floor through the winter months just roost and nest boxes. In Canada every thing freezes harder than a

"BRICK!"


My nest boxes I line with a empty nylon mesh feed bag. I may staple it in place or hold it in with paper bull dog clips depending on the situation.
When a bag gets soiled pop out the soiled and pop in another. Poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off when left out in the sun to bake and dry. It is the best method I have stumbled upon in my 70 trips around the sun.

Oh! Remove the excess string from the open end of the bag it can get tangled in your birds legs and wings.
Easy Peasy Japaneasy.

View attachment 2214810

Woah, thanks!

 

[jak2002003]

I would never again use wood shavings. They get everywhere when the pigeons flap their wings, and you have to dispose of large amounts of the soiled bulky wood shavings each week. They are just too messy and an unnecessary expense.

Over many years of keeping pigeons here are my 2 recommendations for the coop floor.

1. Sand. MUST BE KEPT DRY...so no rain or damp in the coop!

Every few days use a plastic basket with fine holes to sieve the top of the sand to remove the dried droppings which you can compost or throw away.

Feathers will all be blown into the coop corners and are easy to pick up.

Keeps the coop odorless

Comfortable for the birds and keeps their toes soft!

Birds love to peck about in it.

Never need to replace all the sand or throw it away and buy more each week like shavings.

2. Wire mesh floor. (better in a small coop that you don't walk into).

A half inch or so space wire mesh is still comfortable for the birds to walk on.

Dropping will all fall though and the birds won't get poop stuck to their feet and take it up to the perches.

Under the mesh have a tray or wooden board that you can pull out and just scrape off the dried poop into the bin every few days.

Again no extra expense in buying bedding or need for large quantities of waste to dispose of.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I would never again use wood shavings. They get everywhere when the pigeons flap their wings, and you have to dispose of large amounts of the soiled bulky wood shavings each week. They are just too messy and an unnecessary expense.

Over many years of keeping pigeons here are my 2 recommendations for the coop floor.

1. Sand. MUST BE KEPT DRY...so no rain or damp in the coop!

Every few days use a plastic basket with fine holes to sieve the top of the sand to remove the dried droppings which you can compost or throw away.

Feathers will all be blown into the coop corners and are easy to pick up.

Keeps the coop odorless

Comfortable for the birds and keeps their toes soft!

Birds love to peck about in it.

Never need to replace all the sand or throw it away and buy more each week like shavings.

2. Wire mesh floor. (better in a small coop that you don't walk into).

A half inch or so space wire mesh is still comfortable for the birds to walk on.

Dropping will all fall though and the birds won't get poop stuck to their feet and take it up to the perches.

Under the mesh have a tray or wooden board that you can pull out and just scrape off the dried poop into the bin every few days.

Again no extra expense in buying bedding or need for large quantities of waste to dispose of.

Thanks for the tips! Turns out I might actually use wire. I am thinking instead of a tray underneath I could just have the waste fall into a compost pike right below the loft, what do you think of that? Workable?