Extractor Fans

[geordie1234]

I'm toying with the idea off putting extractor fans or fan in my new loft

 

does anyone have them with any feedback

 

ie do you think they are worth installing

[bullcock]

I'm toying with the idea off putting extractor fans or fan in my new loft

 

does anyone have them with any feedback

 

ie do you think they are worth installing

Years ago when we did the darkness system due to blocking the section down for darkness we installed one and attached a tube about 4" diameter and about one meter long this had holes along it increasing in size the further from the fan it got to draw air from across the section rather than just drawing from the one spot.

(it was installed in the highest point in the section away from the perches to draw the air away from the birds)

We found it very effective at drawing out stale air forcing fresh air in from the vents maintaining a good exchange of air.

[philg50]

Thats just what I was looking ebay for yesterday cant make up my mind though as I was wondering about a chimney out the end of my loft made with plastic drainage pipes ,I have a corridor and amount of bloom gathering in it isnt real so something will need to be done.

[Delboy]

Years ago when we did the darkness system due to blocking the section down for darkness we installed one and attached a tube about 4" diameter and about one meter long this had holes along it increasing in size the further from the fan it got to draw air from across the section rather than just drawing from the one spot.

(it was installed in the highest point in the section away from the perches to draw the air away from the birds)

We found it very effective at drawing out stale air forcing fresh air in from the vents maintaining a good exchange of air.

 

I spoke of this system on another thread, it is very good if you have a lot of ybs in your section but basically, you don't need an extracter if their is plenty of space for the pigeons.

[Guest Owen]

You don't need extractor fans. Open up your loft at the bottom front in which you can incorporate opening flaps to load your pigeons into the training crates Then open up the top and back of your loft to make sure the foul air can flow out without interruption and you will have all the ventilation you need. I also like the 3' X 8' aviaries that I have all along the front of my loft which act as traps and opportunities for the birds to enjoy the sun.

[geordie1234]

Owen do you have any photos of your loft

[walterboswell59]

You don't need extractor fans. Open up your loft at the bottom front in which you can incorporate opening flaps to load your pigeons into the training crates Then open up the top and back of your loft to make sure the foul air can flow out without interruption and you will have all the ventilation you need. I also like the 3' X 8' aviaries that I have all along the front of my loft which act as traps and opportunities for the birds to enjoy the sun.

i agree with both owen and dell but another way is to fit a wire door that can be used when the air is poor such as in very warm weather and costs little to make

[Guest Owen]

Sorry Mate I do not have photos right now. I can honestly say that I am useless at photography and I need to get someone better than me to do it for me. The best way of me showing you what I mean is to ask you to look at Red Rose Lofts on the Internet and that will show you the basic design of my lofts. Theirs are 8' X 4' while mine are 20' X 6'. Then imagine an opening below the aviary measuring 24"X11" with a up lifting door outside held open by a length of light rope attached to the underside of the aviary. My loft has 4 of those lift up doors along the front which allows loads of air in. Inside the loft I have fitted up sliding mesh doors to shut off the front of the loft while still allowing air to circulate.

In my area there are several people who have now copied the way I have my lofts and in every case the pigeons have done better than before. One small point. I would never have a loft wider than 6' because it reduces the air flow and creates the wrong atmosphere for the pigeons. I think you need your pigeons to me used to you and quiet when you are around and providing you never grab at them they will become quietly confident with you when you have a loft that not wider than 6'. In addition to the benefits of a cosy loft a 6' wide loft will help to ensure that the air will change frequently and reduce the risks of pockets of foul air which is essential to the health of the birds. My original loft was built with a corridor along the front and a walk way so that you did not have to enter the sections unless you needed to. It was fine when I wanted to show people my pigeons but it was built for me not for the benefit of the pigeons. When I designed my current lofts I did it with the pigeons in mind rather than for people. Some people like to fit mesh doors to the front of their lofts to help the birds gain the benefits of both the fresh air and the sun. I am sure that it works fairly well but the big problem with it is that it does not provide enough of an air flow especially when the weather is hot and windless. If you fit the aviaries of 3' wide by the loft width the birds will look and act differently. Make sure that there is 1/2" mesh above and below the birds so that there is nothing to spoil the air flow or the sunshine.

[bullcock]

I spoke of this system on another thread, it is very good if you have a lot of ybs in your section but basically, you don't need an extracter if their is plenty of space for the pigeons.

Yes, we eventually did away with it, but the first time we tried the darkness system we were blocking everything off to get it as dark as possible, we all know now that the loft doesn't need to be that dark, but we have never been afraid to try new ideas to improve on what we have got, and will continue to change things if we think it could improve things.

[geordie1234]

Thanks for all the info guys

 

A bit like yourself bullcock I will be trying darkness for the first time next season

[just ask me]

there is no need to close the loft up that much that you need fans the loft dont need to be that dark

[Tony C]

What I found works well is cut a series of 2'x 2' squares out of the middle of the loft roof and overlay the whole loft roof with Ouduline corrugated sheets. Lets air out but no light gets in, also no more repairing of felt as these last years. http://www.wickes.co.uk/bitumen-corrugated-sheet-950mmx2m-black/invt/240039/

[just ask me]

geo is your loft far off the ground

[geordie1234]

About 1ft off the ground

[just ask me]

sent a pm it should help with the air without getting fans

[geordie1234]

Cheers Jam