Winter Baths

[sapper756]

Reading quite a lot of posts about birds being confined to the lofts over the winter because of the threat of BOP attacks. Taking into consideration the moult, and in my opinion, the importance if plenty of baths during this time.

 

How do you go about giving your birds a bath when confined to the lofts?

 

I am fortunate, I have an aviary, that I put a bath in, but have 1 section for the widowhood cocks that do not have access to the aviary (unless I physically handle them and put them into it) I do not like putting a bath into the loft and getting the floor soakedhttp://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

 

 

Thank Youhttp://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif

[ray]

i let mine out everyday bop problems are problems for everyone they'll still be here next year keep them in or not they'll just feed on other birds.if they come out they do if not there not forced out.they still moult no matter what people think or feed.

[steve d]

We have confined our birds to the lofts all winter and gave no baths, they still moult out and won as yearlings/old birds...in fact we entered them last season in the Midland show racer society show and won 3 of the 4 classes entered...............I am not going to say this is the correct way but this is what we do and it works so why change it ?

[OLDYELLOW]

Reading quite a lot of posts about birds being confined to the lofts over the winter because of the threat of BOP attacks. Taking into consideration the moult, and in my opinion, the importance if plenty of baths during this time.

 

How do you go about giving your birds a bath when confined to the lofts?

 

I am fortunate, I have an aviary, that I put a bath in, but have 1 section for the widowhood cocks that do not have access to the aviary (unless I physically handle them and put them into it) I do not like putting a bath into the loft and getting the floor soaked

 

 

Thank You

bath mine in sputnik

[Guest IB]

My loft is a garage with concrete floor, and all sections have access to the aviary (also concrete floor). The birds have always bathed in aviary behind a plastic screen that hides them from prying eyes (???tex mesh that Petron Lofts sells) because my garden is quite small and my family have always had first call on it. I was also afraid of cats coming into the garden.

[THE FIFER]

just had my hens out and in the bath so are in now and the cocks out, had my crow next to the landing board and birds didnt bother about it, saw a few having a good look,

[Guest mick bowler]

Always bath mine indoors. If i bath them outside i may as well coat them with a nice barbecue sauce to make them even more appertising to the BOP!

[sapper756]

Always bath mine indoors. If i bath them outside i may as well coat them with a nice barbecue sauce to make them even more appertising to the BOP! http://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gifhttp://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gifhttp://forum.pigeonbasics.org/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

 

 

is it a wooden floor you have m8?

[Guest JonesyBhoy]

ive had to bath the doos in the loft before..

 

get a bag of that easi bed stuff (realtivley inexpensive) good few handfuls down on floor... the put down two lenghts of 2x2 the width of the bath to keep the bath up of the floor.. fill it up, let the doos bath..

 

once there done.. empty the bath out.. spread more easi bed down on the wet patches.. leave till it soakes up.. clean the section out.. bit of loft powder on any wee damp bits.. and bobs your uncle..

 

a little bit time comsuming, but i think its worth it as i feel a weekly bath during the moult is essential..

[Guest IB]

Remember reading an interesting post on drying a wooden floor - member suggested spraying damp patch with disinfectant then flaming area dry.

 

Can't explain why but I always make a damp patch on concrete or wood wetter still by spraying it with virkon, then leaving it to dry out naturally.

[Guest mick bowler]

is it a wooden floor you have m8?

 

 

concrete

[Guest peter4pm]

can i ASK THE REASON WHY SO MANY PPL SEEM TO HOLD THEIR BIRDS IN THE LOFT 24/7? it cant be due to just bop attacks surly

 

I personaly have mines out every single day weather permitting of course

[Guest mick bowler]

can i ASK THE REASON WHY SO MANY PPL SEEM TO HOLD THEIR BIRDS IN THE LOFT 24/7? it cant be due to just bop attacks surly

 

I personaly have mines out every single day weather permitting of course

 

 

Peter i have done both with mine, out every day possible and also locked up all winter. As with regard performances it never made an ounce of difference, in fact i would say better seasons followed "locked down" but hard to prove it was that. The advantages of the lock down was pure and simply about time (or lack of it) and limiting the chances of losses/injuries. It was nothing to do with birds flying out in cold and/or damp weather.

 

I have lost good birds in the winter, some to hawks others just disappearing, maybe hawks or wires out of sight, who knows. So to me the advantages out weigh the disadvantages, and mine will be on lock down once more.

[micci]

If its a sunny day i put 12 in each crate, i only keep a few so takes little time, then i shower them for 15 minutes, they love it, and are safe from hawks while they dry off.

[Roland]

I offer a bath 365 day a year or there abouts. Seems they are most keen after being out in the rain.

Stock airvry has mesh floor... so swap around stockes and hens as the other doesn't. However A bath laid before them on Hession sacks suffices well. Yes damp wipes up with cloth easily. JMO.

P.s. No they don't take to a bath every day by a long chalk.