How Dark

[Guest pied 09]

A friend of mine is in the midle of building a loft, he'd like to know how dark his 1 section should be for darkness young birds. At the moment theres light coming in through top and bottom vents but it is quite dim in there. Is this dimness enough, or has it got to be darker? thanks

[blackdog]

The loft does not need to be in total darkness and it helps the birds see the drinker if a few shafts of light remain.

[Wiley]

biggest mistake to make is closing your vents in ur darkness loft your opening yourself up for disaese problems.The loft doesnt have to be in complete darkness it should be as dark as a night with a full moon.

[shotgun tim]

i use a curtain it still lets the air in my vents on the gable ends have corrugated sheeting over it so the air can get in but no light,as for letting birds drink how many birds drink during the night????????not many i think,imo so i do dark as poss

[greenlands]

i use a curtain it still lets the air in my vents on the gable ends have corrugated sheeting over it so the air can get in but no light,as for letting birds drink how many birds drink during the night????????not many i think,imo so i do dark as poss

So your birds don't drink from 5pm to 9 am.I think they'll be thirsty when you take the shutters down.Do you not think that not getting a drink stops the food from leaving the crop ????

JMO

[Tony C]

Being pitch black works as well as anything else.

[shotgun tim]

So your birds don't drink from 5pm to 9 am.I think they'll be thirsty when you take the shutters down.Do you not think that not getting a drink stops the food from leaving the crop ????

JMO

iv never had a problem,like i say its just what i do.i shut mine up when it gets dark and dont show them light til 12pm.when my wife was working normal day i did dark 4.30 light 8.30 same i never had a problem (i won the national to theses times)

[greenlands]

iv never had a problem,like i say its just what i do.i shut mine up when it gets dark and dont show them light til 12pm.when my wife was working normal day i did dark 4.30 light 8.30 same i never had a problem (i won the national to theses times)

All roads lead to Rome mate ,well done on your wins.

[Guest pied 09]

going on what i just read i think he's got it pretty much spot on. the top vent is where he's got box profile roofing sheets and in between every corregated section theres a hole ( every 4 inches or so) this goes right across top of back wall. hes also got low lovure vents on the bottom. (6x4 inches) with wanting the darkness system to work do you feel this is enough ventalation while the birds are locked in for the evening and night?

[Guest neil]

Depends who your mate is i suppose?

If you want he can have a look at my loft Gareth,i will show how dark it is and the birds are fine for racing untill end of the month

Neil

[Rooster J. Cogburn]

When I first darkened the youngsters was told you should still be able to read a newspaper in the loft

[Guest pied 09]

cheers neil. its for mark it is. hes almost finished his loft for next year. i'll let him know.