Pigeonbasics.com

What do you all think about open loft?

I flew my birds on open loft, with a sputnik, for two years until a cat found the loft!  The cat has gone now, but I'll never risk it again.

good way to fly them if you can and have no preditors or neighbours

Thanks, my avairy is high up close to the roof, I would not think
anything could get up that high, closest neighbors or maybe 100 yards or so. Thanks for the info.

open loft is great I give open loft 9 mos out of the year

Thanks, my avairy is high up close to the roof, I would not think
anything could get up that high, closest neighbors or maybe 100 yards or so. Thanks for the info.

had a open loft for a while but the hawk put a stop to that   ive got cd,s hanging around my loft and garden and i also play the eagle owl cd on a regular basis which seems to have done the trick but as far as open lofts go i personally wouldnt risk it   i spose it depends on what part of the country you live in really but saying that i think sparrowhawks are pretty much everywhere now      whats the hawk situation in the u.s.    debbie

I live here in southwest Louisiana, no hawks here in the early spring or summer they have already migrated North.

Quoted from Ed Bourque

I live here in southwest Louisiana, no hawks here in the early spring or summer they have already migrated North.

Be open loft definately then

Thanks, Rose

Quoted from DJ

had a open loft for a while but the hawk put a stop to that   ive got cd,s hanging around my loft and garden and i also play the eagle owl cd on a regular basis which seems to have done the trick but as far as open lofts go i personally wouldnt risk it   i spose it depends on what part of the country you live in really but saying that i think sparrowhawks are pretty much everywhere now      whats the hawk situation in the u.s.    debbie

One way to still have an open loft etc & over come the problem of the hawks getting into your loft, shall we say. Is to train your birds to go out through bob wires at one level, but when they wish to come back in, they have to use another lot of bob wires at a different level. One way out only & One way in only. it really does work & the birds soon learn how to operate the system.
There is a small chance that a hawk could find its way through the bobs etc, but its only ever happened to me once in my time, so I believe its well worth the effort, to set up this system if one preferes an open loft.
Enjoy.

Thank you,  Lennut Tar I seen this system somewhere on the internet, sounds like a good idea.

Years ago I flew with an open loft with just a piece of wood with an offset hinge (hinge the only cost)  so if anything too heavy or too fast it would drop down sealing off the entrance then would drop back down allowing them in and out again the birds loved it and never had an intruder and as I was working shifts it was great.

Fair play, do you have any pictures are some kind or drewing of this.

Quoted from Ed Bourque

Fair play, do you have any pictures are some kind or drewing of this.

If you pm me your email I will send you a video of one I make working at Billy's loft, if you like it I will send you some drawings

Ed, it is very simple, a length of wood 5/8" X 5" x 10" long set the hinge off centre on the length so that the longer is outside the loft if any weight heavier than the pigeon hits it,it drops down closing the hole. I cut the wire and fitted plastic round the edges,hinge screwed onto frame trial and error to get the correct balance  so simple it's not true and the best bit only costs a hinge.

Managed to upload my first YOUTUBE video showing the flap I made and fitted to Billy's loft when he got taken into hospital, a couple of pieces of ply, a hinge and some counter wieghts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDcMCP9g3Uo

That is and awesom entry for the pigeons. Thanks

almost impossible to use it here between cats , sparrow hawks and peregrines, but the first two can be sorted.  

surely for ybs you have to fly open loft for a period of time at some stage. i've had hawk troubles...but i'm back to open hole all morning and closing the trap about 1pm. even then some don't come in til later. if you don't fly open hole til they roam aren't you laying up trouble come training? i'm inexperienced so if there other ways i'm keen to learn.