Pigeon lofts

[Trev]

Apart from the odd one or two that was every pigeon mans loft back in the day

[Trev]

this corridor now has the mower in it

I do have to say that is something that would love to add to my loft one day !!!
That's a lovely looking Mealey in there George

[Trev]

Thank you. I worry about rats/mice because I live in the countryside and we probably get more than living in the city so I thought with it being off the floor it will keep them away from the birds?

Welcome to the forum and good luck with sorting out a loft and birds
I too live in the countryside and back on to fields, they have just combined the field of wheat behind me so I know that over the next few weeks I will get an increase in Rat activity !! My loft is on railway sleepers so there is no where for Rats to nest under the loft but they will still become a nuisance, so I just keep several bait boxes around which are always filled so I can keep control of the situation.
As others have said, personally I would go with a second hand garden shed if you can get one and adapt it for your requirements, but if not I think you could make the other option work !! It's right what Andy said though, catching the birds could be a problem.
All the best and I look forward to hearing how you get on.

[George and Morgan]

don't think there is any under mine as he sleeps outside at night

[Devo1956]

don't think there is any under mine as he sleeps outside at night

A great way to keep on top of them George, for any action through the night.

[George and Morgan]

i see one is under the loft

[Trev]

i see one is under the loft

Bless, I do like to see the hedgehogs around.

[Murray]

My first racing pigeon loft was 8' x 4' with two 4 ' square sections. I made it out of 8x4 plywood and a few short ends of corrugated Iron roofing. The base was made from pallets and I used a lot of peg board which I had got for free somewhere in the front doors, the nest boxes and things.
I scavenged a lot and I think the biggest cost was hardware. Nails, screws, hinges, door bolts and paint.
Now I have a box of hinges, screws, etc, which I pick up here and there.
You can make a very useful small loft for not a lot of money if you are canny, and a nice bit of paint can make it look good in your garden.

[Murray]

I saw a post from NeilA on another thread saying he keeps his race birds in on a Monday and Tuesday too if it's cold.
It got me thinking.
It appears that winter for you blokes alternates between incessant rain and freezing with snow.
I wonder about how you have your lofts set up to keep the wet and cold out, and whether you use heaters to dry out the humidity etc.
Be interested to hear what you do.

[NeilA]

I saw a post from NeilA on another thread saying he keeps his race birds in on a Monday and Tuesday too if it's cold.
It got me thinking.
It appears that winter for you blokes alternates between incessant rain and freezing with snow.
I wonder about how you have your lofts set up to keep the wet and cold out, and whether you use heaters to dry out the humidity etc.
Be interested to hear what you do.

I have nothing in mine Murray just windows that I can open or close down
I prefer the real cold days for the birds in the winter rather than the damp days for the reasons you mention
I do have grids on the floor with garden line and VL granules under to help with the environment in the loft
When I close the windows the loft breaths through chimneys and a small gap along the back top wall
Interesting subject I look forward to others ideas