Settling cage?

[MadisonOde]

Hey all,

Looking into turning a coop into a loft, and I have a few questions. What is a settling box used for? Is it open to the loft all the time? Isn’t there like bars or something to stop them from coming out?

 

[backyard pigeons]

Hey all,

Looking into turning a coop into a loft, and I have a few questions. What is a settling box used for? Is it open to the loft all the time? Isn’t there like bars or something to stop them from coming out?

A settling cage is used to get the birds oriented to their surroundings. The thing that allows them in, but not back out is called the trap door. Here is my trap. I then have a settling cage to get them used to trapping.

here is another way to settle. This is just so they can see their surroundings. You can see the trap with another settling cage in the back.

Here is how the birds push through the trap. But they can't push back through.

 

[backyard pigeons]

lease feel free to hang out on https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pigeon-talk.1276029/ and ask any questions. It's where many pigeon fancier hang out on!

If you are serious about pigeons, there is another member in WI also, that may have an extra bird or two! @biophiliac ?

 

[MadisonOde]

So the settleimg cage goes over the trap, and birds in the cage can go through into the loft. When is the settling cage used? When they’re returning from a flight? Or do you place them in there?

 

[MadisonOde]

Or is it just so they can see where they are before they fly? Does it need to be attached to the coop?

 

[backyard pigeons]

The settling cage is used before your first time to let them fly. solely so they can see what their surroundings are like. I do it starting one week before I let them fly.

No, it doesn't need to be a attached to the coop. Mine comes off. If you have an aviary\run, you don't need to do a settling cage, but just trap train them.

 

[biophiliac]

A settling cage is used to get the birds oriented to their surroundings. The thing that allows them in, but not back out is called the trap door. Here is my trap. I then have a settling cage to get them used to trapping.View attachment 1855114 View attachment 1855115 here is another way to settle. This is just so they can see their surroundings. You can see the trap with another settling cage in the back.View attachment 1855116 Here is how the birds push through the trap. But they can't push back through.View attachment 1855117

Or is it just so they can see where they are before they fly? Does it need to be attached to the coop?

There are 2 reasons for the settling cage also known as a 'look around'.
BP explained the first very well. The second reason is to allow young birds to discover how to enter through the bob trap.

My settling cage is very simple and not permanently attached to the coop. When in use it hangs on some hooks over the trap.
Some photos below...

 

[MadisonOde]

There are 2 reasons for the settling cage also known as a 'look around'.
BP explained the first very well. The second reason is to allow young birds to discover how to enter through the bob trap.

My settling cage is very simple and not permanently attached to the coop. When in use it hangs on some hooks over the trap.
Some photos below...
View attachment 1855146 View attachment 1855147 View attachment 1855148

How did you make yours? Or was it some sort of kennel?

 

[biophiliac]

How did you make yours? Or was it some sort of kennel?

Lol, I picked up an old rabbit cage at the curb on trash day. I knew it would come in handy eventually! Haha. When I needed a settling cage I cut off the 2 sides that were corroded from rabbit pee, and voila! If I needed another I'd get a roll of cage wire at the hardware store and fashion it with zip ties. easy and light weight.

 

[MadisonOde]

Great! Thanks for the information @biophiliac and @backyard pigeons