in the winter wot cover do u use?

[Guest]

do u cover ur loft front with summut to keep the winds out or do u leave the cot as it is through the summer?...i myself cover the front of the cots and flights with plastic sheets(corrugated).i put them away after the winter and keep them safe for next time.

[Guest j.bamling]

i winter the hens in an aviary with a polycarbernet roof this hardens them off and the feathering is great -- the cocks stay in there own loft  it is a pretty closed up loft anyway

[Guest j.bamling]

last year the water fountains never froze once !!

[thunderboult]

hens go into avairy for winter(they spend most of their time there anyway) open on 3 sides, cocks stay in sections ,their's only sputniks on the front so not to open

[DOVEScot]

Nothing,

the dove cotes on the poles produce the healthiest of birds and have done for years

the lofts and aviaries are protected the west which brings the rain and snow, change vents just for the problem in the lofts with dampness causing health and cleaning problems

[jimmy white]

just slightly off topic , but just yesterday on my usual ramble through the countryside ;D slower a bit now ;D came across the old open ended barn [or big shed with the wind howling through] lots of the country ferals , roost there, these birds are like greazed lightning , and must have superb hearing, as their out like a shot, even with me creeping up, but the point im making is these birds," treated with nothing "are in imaculate condition,, i picked up , loads of moulted flights ,[looking for a wing stamp one ] these flights were absolutely perfect, not even a fret mark ,suberb texture , quite amazing really considering theve carried them for a year , but these are the real ferals, not the townies , which i suspect could be crossed with any type through the years , which i would class as semi- domesticated,  but must admit ,i was quite amazed   

[THE FIFER]

i use the green garden mesh u get from the garden centres, keeps out the rain and wind, but lets in the light

[Guest]

Only really open bit I have that doesn't have its own natural cover is my double doors which apart from 2' solid bottom, are open mesh floor to ceiling.

 

I don't normally cover them but wet winter months at beginning of year with wind mostly from east was regularly driving rain into aviary and turned the 4' x 4' concrete floor into an inch deep paddling pool.

 

Cut a large poly bag that can pin on front of doors as a tempy measure, but can't think of a permanent solution that is see-thro, light, lets in air and light and keeps rain out?

 

 

[jimmy white]

it just goes to proove that ,,dampness is the worst enemy , certainly not the cold , these ferals i was on about,, on bone dry rafters , plenty fresh air , and droppings falling about 30 ft ,,,thats nature for you ;D ;D ;D

[stevebelbin]

best thing to use is the stuff they use when scaffolding, the green netting stuff, it still lets the air in but stops the floor getting damp. Or simply put the birds in an open aviary, like my hens are, they are in fine health and see every weather possible, whereas the cocks are in a pretty much closed loft with heating and controlled vent and dont look anywhere near as good as the hens. And i know what your gona say, put the cocks in an aviary, but ive packed in and they live where the live now lol lol

[DOVEScot]

Only really open bit I have that doesn't have its own natural cover is my double doors which apart from 2' solid bottom, are open mesh floor to ceiling.

 

I don't normally cover them but wet winter months at beginning of year with wind mostly from east was regularly driving rain into aviary and turned the 4' x 4' concrete floor into an inch deep paddling pool.

 

Cut a large poly bag that can pin on front of doors as a tempy measure, but can't think of a permanent solution that is see-thro, light, lets in air and light and keeps rain out?

 

 

What about pollycarbonate sheets :-/

[Wiley]

in winter i try to get as much oxygen into the lofts as possible,

[DOVEScot]

I like this aviary idea although have never done it , am tempted to buy a avairy with four mesh sides and only a  roof on and try it, i have heard of many fanciers doing it who race widowhood hens. anyone got any pics they can plonk on and what sort of aviary (metal or wooden)