The ideal loft

[Guest joshdonlan]

To cut a long story short, im considering giving up the rollers (maybe keep a few) and taking up racing (ive really caught the bug). Ive currently got a 16 foot x 6 foot 2 section loft, each section 8 x 6, 1 with 12 boxes in, the other currently with a kit box and storage in. How many sections would i need as a bare minimum to be able to race? I would be targetting sprint to middle distance racing. Would like to race young birds on darkness and old birds probably using the widowhood system. I would only be having a small team. Maybe 6 pairs of stock, 10 widowhood cocks and 30 young birds.

 

Has anyone got any thoughts on how many sections etc i would need? I was thinking maybe 3 sections. I would also like to use aviaries to possibly house birds in over the winter.

[Guest]

To cut a long story short, im considering giving up the rollers (maybe keep a few) and taking up racing (ive really caught the bug). Ive currently got a 16 foot x 6 foot 2 section loft, each section 8 x 6, 1 with 12 boxes in, the other currently with a kit box and storage in. How many sections would i need as a bare minimum to be able to race? I would be targetting sprint to middle distance racing. Would like to race young birds on darkness and old birds probably using the widowhood system.

 

Has anyone got any thoughts on how many sections etc i would need? I was thinking maybe 3 sections. I would also like to use aviaries to possibly house birds in over the winter.

 

if your getting in y/bs rather than prisoner stock

 

i would go with 3 sections

1 for y/bs 6 x 6       1 for widdow cocks 6 x 6   12 boxes                  

and 1 at 4 x 6   for widdow hens   with either v perches or hen boxes

 

but you could use all 3 sections for y/bs the 1st year  till you get them down to the numbers your looking for

the more room the better

 

jmo

dave

[marmite]

3 sections m8 u could put an aviary at rear of loft maybe to keep ur widowhood hens in at side wouldnt b much use as u dont want your cocks seeing the hens when out excercising m8

[Guest joshdonlan]

Thanks. I would use 6-8 pairs of stock birds and then buy in extra young birds to make up the numbers. What size section would you have for prisoner stock 8 x 6 with aviary on the side?

 

[Guest cloudview]

would you like me to come and have a look josh  , if so pm  me

[mark croker]

I would forget stock for now, 1 section for young 1 section for cocks in the loft you have, 12 boxes full size fit in 8 foot, fill the loft with young this year and if it was me i would build a 14 foot loft next year 6ft for stock cocks, 4 ft for stock hens and 4ft for widowhood hens, you will need more that 3 sections if you want stock, if you dont and only want to keep birds that have performed well for you i would wait, and keep my hens boxed on the side of the loft,it all depends on how much room you have

[Guest Owen]

Josh

give Jason a call and he can tell you how best to organise the loft. I think you already know him. I would not bother with stock birds right now unless you have a separate loft/shed to keep them in. If you do this right you can win an awful lot with 10 cocks. A close friend won all the Club averages with a huge team of cocks. All six of them. they were all brothers and half brothers. The lesson I have learned the hard way, is that it is the quality of the cocks that wins races. It becomes much easier to develop a relationship with them if the numbers are small. Give me a call later, after you have sorted things out with Jason, and I can help you with a system to get the best from your cocks.

[Guest frank dooman]

I would forget stock for now, 1 section for young 1 section for cocks in the loft you have, 12 boxes full size fit in 8 foot, fill the loft with young this year and if it was me i would build a 14 foot loft next year 6ft for stock cocks, 4 ft for stock hens and 4ft for widowhood hens, you will need more that 3 sections if you want stock, if you dont and only want to keep birds that have performed well for you i would wait, and keep my hens boxed on the side of the loft,it all depends on how much room you have

 

this is the way to go at the start ;)

[Guest TAMMY_1]

Josh

give Jason a call and he can tell you how best to organise the loft. I think you already know him. I would not bother with stock birds right now unless you have a separate loft/shed to keep them in. If you do this right you can win an awful lot with 10 cocks. A close friend won all the Club averages with a huge team of cocks. All six of them. they were all brothers and half brothers. The lesson I have learned the hard way, is that it is the quality of the cocks that wins races. It becomes much easier to develop a relationship with them if the numbers are small. Give me a call later, after you have sorted things out with Jason, and I can help you with a system to get the best from your cocks.

 

Take him up on that offer and you will get some good advice.

[Guest joshdonlan]

Thanks for the advice guys. I would really like a small stock team, as i enjoy the breeding side of things the most at present. I would house these in a small loft with aviary. I think i may start off with just Young Birds and then the following year use the best cocks on the widowhood as yearlings.

 

Plenty of food for thought here and i will be PMing a few guys.  

[robbiedoo.]

To cut a long story short, im considering giving up the rollers (maybe keep a few) and taking up racing (ive really caught the bug). Ive currently got a 16 foot x 6 foot 2 section loft, each section 8 x 6, 1 with 12 boxes in, the other currently with a kit box and storage in. How many sections would i need as a bare minimum to be able to race? I would be targetting sprint to middle distance racing. Would like to race young birds on darkness and old birds probably using the widowhood system. I would only be having a small team. Maybe 6 pairs of stock, 10 widowhood cocks and 30 young birds.

 

Has anyone got any thoughts on how many sections etc i would need? I was thinking maybe 3 sections. I would also like to use aviaries to possibly house birds in over the winter.

 

my oho is if you are consentrating on just the sprint racing why have stock birds they just take up room. i think its different if you are into distance racing but with the sprint doo you will notice its always the yearlings that do the damage so instead of having a section for stock give your yearlings a bit more space .  you could have a 6 foot section for widoehood cocks a 4 foot section for your hens and a 6 foot section for your youngsters there is no need for 6 pair of stock birds they just take up space that your race team could use you maybe have some good stock doos but this is just my opinion if i were into sprint racing . hope you have a cracking season robbie .

 

[Roland]

Well it is bigger than our Feds top flyer. He has  two section loft of 7 x 6 foot. Keeps 12 pairs. Flys naturual and 24 - 30 perhaps youngsters. Has done now for 47 years, and still they have to perform to ge a perch / nest box.

Is so sucessful he gves the fellow, that bred these bussearts, youngsters back each season.

[robbiedoo.]

Well it is bigger than our Feds top flyer. He has  two section loft of 7 x 6 foot. Keeps 12 pairs. Flys naturual and 24 - 30 perhaps youngsters. Has done now for 47 years, and still they have to perform to ge a perch / nest box.

Is so sucessful he gves the fellow, that bred these bussearts, youngsters back each season.

 

roland i,ve been forntunate to be my feds top flier for the last 2 year runner up for the 2 year before that and i race my roundabout doos from 2 6foot by 6foot sections in one of that 6 foot sections i have 20 nest boxes for breeding every fancier knows quality beats quantity . the secret is dont over crowd and keep your doos happy if they are happy so are you JMO.