loft set up advice

[snowy]

hi,

i was wondering what your thoughts were on our loft set up to be?

as in there will be 2 lofts sized 10x6 both divided into 2 sections,

we have 10 prisioner stock birds also.

any advice please as in what should go where?

we will be breeding no more than 20 young birds in 2007

i.e:

1 section for breeding

etc

thanks

[Guest WINGS 04]

SNOWY HOW MANY BIRDS DO YOU HAVE FOR BREEDING??? AS IF YOU HAVE 10 STOCK BIRDS IF IT IS 5 HENS 5 COCKS YOUR FIRST ROUND WILL BE 10 YOUNG BIRDS THAT DOSE NOT LEVE YOU MUCH TO BREED

[Guest ben]

Hi Snowy,

               It`s a very hard thing for you to work out,seeing you got 1 eye on a future distance  family,but hoping to compete ,club wise ,up through the programme.

    If you were just club fed sprint middle type racing, for this intermediate season ,which it is for you,simply make sure you get your babies in 1 batch,then close down all breeding for the racing season,and have (if i remember correctly)your oldbird team ,all yearlings,going into the first couple of races,nice and quiet on eggs,thenyou can start any form of roundabout,dual widow system after the 3rd week,for the rest of the season,and if you find any birds really well for your last race,which usually will be over 500 miles,just send odd 1 or 2 to test your distance breeding a year early,BUT this is only for YOU to decide ,think to the future.

   As for you 2 lofts,the hens will be used to being in the youngbird loft,and can stay there all season,with the youngbirds,darkened if you wish,and the cocks will stay in the other lofts with the nestboxes,or something on those lines to suit yourserlfbut sort it NOW,get your alterations,loft wise done as soon as poss,and most important,put a aviary on the back,where your stock will live 365 days of the year ,which will give you easier loft managment for race teams.

                     Best wishes for 2007

[snowy]

thanks very much,

also might breed a couple of pairs of yearlings that did well as young birds to make up the one team of about 20 ,

regards & thanks

[jimmy white]

thinking about your loft set up snowy and westy,but i think a lot would depend on the system you intend to use ,, in the first 10 by 6 loft , would it not be possible to make the section in the loft, making one 4ft section and one 6ft section,with the 10 stockbirds in the 4ft sectionand as they are prisoners ,make an aviary out the side of the loft ,for them to get the sun and fresh air, and able to give them a bath in,you would be able to lock them in their section for a short while if needed, that would leave a 6ft section for your ybs. this way you could breed your stock birds as early as you need to , and quite easy take two rounds for yb racing the 6ft section would hold 20 ybs ok. the other 10 by 6 loft you could use solely for your ob racing and breeding, i dont know which system you intend using, if it was natural , you could build nest boxes at the back of the whole loft,the cocks and hens could be separated, by a middle partition with a sliding door , which , when paired up could be left open, off course that would be if your racing natural, if you intended racing roundabout i could pm you with another sugestion, but during the next month you can iron it out in your own mind what you think what would be best for you, whichever way you decide i wish you the best of luck and pm me anytime, on any thoughts you had in mind,,,,jw   :) :) kind regards to family   :)