Darkness

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

Constructing yb loft for this year racing. Keen to try the darkness system.Any one know best stuff to use to let air in but keep light out.I have put a fales floor on so air comes up from floor.have left a space at bottom front ant top of the back.However could do with something to cover these areas with.Was thinking of the black material that is put on the ground before laying chips.Anyone know if this would work.

 

Any help on darkness would be much appreciated not got a clue but keen to try.

 

Cheers

 

Rab Smith

[adam owen]

i use that just stapled on to batten works a treat

[hotboy]

A JUST PUT A SHEET OF PLY WOOD UP AT THE TRAP TO STOP THE LIGHT COMEING IN  

[p charlton]

ive bought a load of air vents that can be opened and closed £2.50 each

[adam owen]

ive bought a load of air vents that can be opened and closed £2.50 each

 

where does the air come in then when uve closed them m8 :-/

[p charlton]

ive bougt loads abot 30 is going on mine you dont have to close them all dont 4get its not pitch black at night

[p charlton]

plus you dont have to have them shut all night if i race dark mine will be put on the dark at 2 in the afternoon then at when its dark open the vents up so they can wake to a natral morning

[adam owen]

didnt think of that

[mark croker]

hessian is perfect,  i dont like to  close vents coz i think that is were the problems start with darkness pigeons, i does not have to be pitch black,  

[p charlton]

you dont close all the vents the still gets in

[mark croker]

you dont close all the vents the still gets in

 

 

Wasn't a dig at ya mate,  i know loads of succesful flyers that do,  i just dont like it  :-/

 

[Guest frank dooman]

rab i think allot take the word dark to seriously it doesnt have to be pitch dark so some light comming in thruugh the vents is fine i use two blackout blinds £5.00 each just pull them half way down the vents never had a prob

 

sory if you have vents on the floor that would be ideal

[p charlton]

 

 

Wasn't a dig at ya mate,  i know loads of succesful flyers that do,  i just dont like it  :-/

 

did not think you was lol if i race dark i have to make sure the fresh air gets in i have pigeon lung so cant take no risks

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

Thanks for this guys.Looking for something to cut light but let air in.How many hours on dark and how many on light is it 16 dark and 8 hours light?

 

Cheers

 

Rab

[Guest frank dooman]

8hrs light rab thats the important one

[mark croker]

Perfect mate  

[p charlton]

when i raced my birds were put on the dark at 5 untel 9 in the morning but i was on the phone the other day to a bloke ive booked my young of he told me dark them 2 in the afternoon them when its dark open them up so they get a natral sunrise

[Guest frank dooman]

when i raced my birds were put on the dark at 5 untel 9 in the morning but i was on the phone the other day to a bloke ive booked my young of he told me dark them 2 in the afternoon them when its dark open them up so they get a natral sunrise

 

i think this is the best way and i tried it kept forgetting to lift the blinds after dark but thats just me

[mark croker]

I like it the other way, open them up 8 hours before sun goes down, and put the shutters on after dark, that way they get to perch without trying to in the dark,  also it gives me time when the old birds are done and i can take my time with them not needing to rush

[Guest frank dooman]

I like it the other way, open them up 8 hours before sun goes down, and put the shutters on after dark, that way they get to perch without trying to in the dark,  also it gives me time when the old birds are done and i can take my time with them not needing to rush

 

i can agree with that mark i think alot of fanciers try the system they get very serious about times and how dark etc but it doesnt matter if you forget a few times to lift/shut the blinds it wont be the end of the world

[holmsidelofts]

As frank said some people take the darkening process to literally, the purpose of the darkness system is to convince the birds that its still winter by lengthening night time, this causes the birds to moult there body feather but not the wing. Think of it this way, if you were to go into your loft tonight how dark would it really be, there would be moon light getting in or light from the street lighting coming in, its never completely dark.

I started the darkening system in 1990 after getting to know the dutch champion steven van breman. he always told me that you should just be able to read a newspaper in the loft , what a lot of people do is try to darken the loft completely resulting in the ventilation system being effected thats the worse thing you can do. get it dark but dont go over board and not at the mercy of your ventilation. I have tried it both ways completely dark or not completely dark and it makes no difference other that health issues if the ventilation is compromised.

 

Also there is no point darkening the youngsters before march the 20th either as until that date the nights are longer than the days come the 20th of march and the equinox comes there the days get longer and the nights get shorter thats the time to start darkening. doing it before that it has no effect on the birds moulting.

[Whats it called Cumbernauld]

Thanks this sums up my problem, need lots of air and dont want to lose this at the expence of darkness.However the fact that it does not need to be pitch dark helps.At how long or at what age would you start this and how long to yiou keep thenm on it.

 

Cheers

[Guest frank dooman]

mine will go on the dark in about 5 weeks time and stay on it untill the longest day around the 21st june

[holmsidelofts]

Thanks this sums up my problem, need lots of air and dont want to lose this at the expence of darkness.However the fact that it does not need to be pitch dark helps.At how long or at what age would you start this and how long to yiou keep thenm on it.

 

Cheers

 

As i said earlier middle of march put them on to darkness, i normally take them off it around the 20th june or what ever weekend falls around that date. Another thing to consider is if you plan o racing right to the end and have the birds in the best wing condition for races in sept / october you have to increase the light around sept as the nights are getting longer and this again triggers the birds to moult there feathers. I have done this in the past and have never had any issues with birds not moulting correctly at the end of the year. they always catch up.

 

[blackdog]

 

As i said earlier middle of march put them on to darkness, i normally take them off it around the 20th june or what ever weekend falls around that date. Another thing to consider is if you plan o racing right to the end and have the birds in the best wing condition for races in sept / october you have to increase the light around sept as the nights are getting longer and this again triggers the birds to moult there feathers. I have done this in the past and have never had any issues with birds not moulting correctly at the end of the year. they always catch up.

 

hi mate, what time do you increase the lights to in september