Pigeonbasics.com

Here is another picci of the sputnik - I don't know where the first one went but, theres computers for you!!  Sorry, those who asked for plans and details -  the scanner is on the blink! I've tried to draw the plans with measurements. If they're not clear enough I could e-mail you the photo.





Ok, he used  eight  pieces of 1 1/2"x1 1/2" planed wood from B&Q (sorry not metric!)  They were about 7' long and came in packs of 4.
Perspex
Plastic coated bird mesh
Metal grid (for floor).
Exterior ply (for catching dropping under grid floor)
1 1/2" nails
Small u nails
4 wood screws (to attach diagonal pieces)
Hinges x4
L shaped bracket x4  
catches for exit door.

 
He made the two sides first.
Attached the long pieces  to one side and then the other side to the long pieces.
Put the dowel in to make the trap part and fastened that in.
Put mesh and grid floor in..
Made exit door and attached with hinges.
Attached landing board.
Screwed L shaped brackets under floor to hold dropping catcher!

It is still evolving, I am going to look at a manufactured one tomorrow to see how it should look!  If you need any more help please let me know and also, if anyone does make one sucessfully I'd be glad to hear.

Payback time for all the advice and support I've received on these boards.

thats great, a big help. much appreciated

First class job, Peckedhen.  

Credit to both of you and an inspiration to others to 'do it yourself'.  

Well done Peckedhen. Must get down to B&Q and see what I can do for myself. Keep up the good work.

peckedhen" found this great site, while your chap has his hammer out (lol) get him to have a look at these" follow the link for sputnik & go to the bottom of page & click on back! these loads of stuff to make. hope it helps all diy ers.
http://www.racingbirds.com/acces5.html

Thanks Snowy - keep him busy for a while!

Oh, I was so pleased with my new sputnik but, there is something wrong with the design guys.

The birds can jump out!  At first I thought that one had used a bath, I put in there, as a step but, I've watched today and they just jump up and out!

I'm not sure what the problem is. I moved the traps to the recommended gap yet they still escape.  Perhaps a lower floor?  My other half is going to go ballistic - those u nails will take some getting out now!

Hi
I'm new to the list, just signed up today. That sputnik trap looks awsome, which leads to me to my question. How exactly does a sputnic trap work? Do the birds stay in the trap till you get them out? I have only seen pics of them but never seen one in action.

Ron

Welcome Ron. I'm fairly new here myself but, you can be sure of a warm welcome. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of the guys here - plenty of advice whatever stage you are at with your birds.

The sputnik is just a homemade effort. The birds just drop/jump from outside through the dowel part and then they can't get out until you open the door at the front. They can't get out through the dowel part as they would have to open their wings to get up to it.  I like it because it extended the size of the loft and the birds can be out in the sun/freshair without escaping. It also allows young birds to see around outside in safety.  The plans for this loft need adjusting if you are thinking of making one. If you attach the wirefloor underneath the framework then it should work ok.

(Guys, I just lay a piece of 1"x 1/4" along the bottom of the dowel to increase the height and that sorted the escapes!! )

You will find that some birds can jump back out of a sputnick trap you must close the landing board as soon as the pigeon has entered (on race days ) so they have no way back. If you are just waiting for them to trap from exercise you will have to catch the offender as soon as it has trapped and pop it in a box until they are all in.  Once one has learnt it can get out it will always do it if the landing board is not closed, and others will learn to do it. I had a little blue hen that used to do it used to call it houdini until it did it on coming back from a race and sat out for 45mins just as well my second pigeon ignored it sitting out. It never went racing again. Have tried sputnicks and stall traps (birds can turn round or push their way through the bobs on these, have now gone back to open door with my old birds and an open window for the Y/Bs. Had noticed that when using any kind of trapping arrangements the pigeons were not racing right up to the loft but slowing down so that they could hit the smaller landing areas.

fly hard fly fair

Thanks Peckhen
I think I'm going to try and build a sputnik like yours. I'm building another loft right now and will incorperate into the new loft.

Ron