LOFT BASICS

Before building your loft there are many things to consider...

- How big should it be?
- How many sections should it have?
- What is the climate in my area?
- Which direction does the weather come from?
- Are there trees, woods or other impediments where I would like to build?

If you consider all of these things before construction, a LOT of problems can be avoided. I will try and address most if not all of these in the following pages.

~ LOFT PLACEMENT ~

Your loft should be in an open area. Devoid of trees, wires and other flying obstructions. Building close to any of these, your birds will invariably end up landing in the trees, ( a hard habit to break them of) or hitting the wires or branches while in flight. They can also impede their landing on the board, which in training and close races can be a HUGE problem.

Ideally a loft situated atop a hill or knoll gives your birds an additional advantage. The birds, being able to see further and more of their surroundings even while IN the loft, have a better opportunity to learn where "Home" is. This will only aide you when it comes training time.

~ BUILDING YOUR LOFT ~

As I explained in a previous page, when I built my loft I didn't know or really understand all that would be needed ... I'm still finding things I'd like to do to it. :0)

LOFT SIZE

The biggest concern when building is having plenty of room for the birds you have now, and the teams you would like to build up to later. I have heard plenty of formulas for figuring loft size, but I go by the "more is better" theory. Overcrowding is the WORST thing you can do to your birds. Sickness and disease spread faster, birds trying to gain perches or "territory" can harm the others and even go so far as to kill your new hatchlings. If your birds are allowed to fly regularly and get "out and about" then one and one half square foot per bird will be sufficient. If you have breeder or prisonare birds whom do not fly, then allow at least two feet per bird. This allows more room for inside flying and exersize.

THE LOFT ITSELF

If you do not build your loft on a solid concrete or block foundation it should be raised at least 2 to 3 feet off of the ground. This not only allows for ventilation underneath the loft (which helps keep out dampness) but it keeps the "critters" from making homes under your loft. Mice find the place ideal, which in turn brings snakes and other animals which would find your birds a nice addition to their diet as well.

The ceiling should be no more than 6' to 6'6" high, depending on how tall you are. This was a huge mistake for me that I had to correct real quick. The reason is that when needing to catch your birds, to look over or crate they need to be within easy reach. They don't like to be caught, and will do anything to avoid it. A high ceiling allows them to fly right over your head, which not only aggrivates you, but riles up the rest of the birds in that section and your in for a heck of a time.

When deciding how many sections you need there a few things to consider... (I personally have 3 sections, one for my prisoner breeders, and one apiece for my old and young bird teams.)
- Will you fly widowhood
- Will you fly the "dark" system
- Will you have prisoner birds
- Will you want a storage or feed area
** The last one I would LOVE to have ;0) **
If you fly widowhood, you will need two sections. One for the hens and one for the cocks. Youngbirds will of course need their own section, especially if you plan to fly "dark". A breeder section is nice, but not really needed unless they are prisoners. If a prisoner section is needed as I stated earlier it should allow more room for the birds than your regualr sections to make up for the loss of flying rights. If you have whites or other "special" birds, I would recommend their own section to keep down any breeding concerns.

Your loft can be constructed out of just about anything, brick, block, wood...whatever. But any way you build it, you need to watch your ventilation and drafts. Since your homers are still basically "wild" birds they don't need the heating and cooling per se that we do. Maintaining the loft temperature the same as the outside temperature is your basic aim. Granted if you have extremes in temperature in your area, you will want to make it warmer or cooler as needed.

Ventilating along the roofline and floor of your loft is ideal. This will allow good air flow and cross ventilation without the drafts that can cause problems for your birds. Windows are wonderful, screened openings with doors or covers that can be closed in winter or against harsh weather. Simply adding a screen door can be most helpful during the HOT summers. When considering vents, windows, etc. you need to remember your climate and which direction your weather comes from. You don't want rain, snow, or harsh winds blowing into your loft and onto your birds.

FLOORING

Now there is something open to debate. There are many options you can consider, but also many reasons to go with one or the other. I personally am a wooden floor fan, but I will give you several options and reasons for each and let you decide.

Concrete floor - PRO; Easy to hose down when cleaning, low maintenance, and low to no chance if kept clean, of virus or bacteria living in it. CON; unless finished smooth, almost impossible to scrape, needs to be hosed, can retain the cool and damp of the weather, and can be hard on birds feet and feathers.

Screened floor - PRO; cleaner than a solid floor as dropping go thru the screen, no buildup for bacteria, virus or bugs to thrive in. CON; Hard on the birds feet, almost impossible, unless a strong mesh is used, for you to walk on, a subflooring is needed underneath with special cleaning concerns, and drafts or "critters" may find their way up through the mesh and to your birds.

Wood floor - PRO; Easy to keep scraped and clean, Solid and smooth for feet and feathers, and does not hold heat or cold for extended periods. CON; Needs more maintenance than a concrete floor, and can hold damp from spilled water or baths.

** Both concrete and wooden floors can be covered with a litter to help make cleaning easier. Sand, wood chips, etc. to catch droppings and help maintain a cleaner loft.

So there are the basics for your loft construction. The next page covers the outfitting of your loft, from landing boards to flypens. Shall we proceed?? ;0)