Humidity

[geordie1234]

How do you guys control the humidity levels in your loft? Is it something you pay attention too?

[Guest stb-]

How do you guys control the humidity levels in your loft? Is it something you pay attention too?

no i cant control mine my loft is open covered in trees and has a burn right at the back of it so its often damp but dosent seem to do the birds no harm

[Kyleakin Lofts]

You would have to close it in George, then use fans, heaters, etc to control it. It would cost a fortune and be nigh impossible given the West of Scotland weather. As Rab says it doesn't seem to bother the pigeons.

 

I think by the time the big races come along, the weather has supposedly improved that it is no longer a problem and the pigeons have slowly came on to form.

[VMS]

Simply Naw

[peter pandy]

Simply YES.. ATX Heaters control not only heat but humidity with seperate controls for both. I have used them for years and find they are inexspensive to operate and marvellous in the winter. My preferred setting is 14 centigrade and 70% humidity during the racing season and zero in the winter. The heat from the panels is radiated and covers the entire section even standing 10 ft from the panel yet you canot be burned from the panel itself. They operate a stand at Blackpool and are most helpful with different types including double sided which can be screwed onto a dividing section.

[Guest stb-]

Simply YES.. ATX Heaters control not only heat but humidity with seperate controls for both. I have used them for years and find they are inexspensive to operate and marvellous in the winter. My preferred setting is 14 centigrade and 70% humidity during the racing season and zero in the winter. The heat from the panels is radiated and covers the entire section even standing 10 ft from the panel yet you canot be burned from the panel itself. They operate a stand at Blackpool and are most helpful with different types including double sided which can be screwed onto a dividing section.

what reason do you use them for Peter do they help performances in showing and racing etc and do you find they help you win more races using them .Do the improved performances out weigh the cost of buying and running .

 

I had a lad here 4 months back and he had one of those humidity meter think the colours blue then greeen then red .Mines was up in mid red and he said you will never win or get your birds in order in these conditions .

 

My birds are out 24/7 so no point in heaters etc there sitting out in moonsoons most days and wouldnt say it harms them much .

[geordie1234]

I think the top lofts have some control in the lofts and also the humidity and temp is very consistent with no sharp drops etc

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Simply YES.. ATX Heaters control not only heat but humidity with seperate controls for both. I have used them for years and find they are inexspensive to operate and marvellous in the winter. My preferred setting is 14 centigrade and 70% humidity during the racing season and zero in the winter. The heat from the panels is radiated and covers the entire section even standing 10 ft from the panel yet you canot be burned from the panel itself. They operate a stand at Blackpool and are most helpful with different types including double sided which can be screwed onto a dividing section.

 

Peter, how much do they cost to buy and run? Is your loft of the enclosed type, etc?

[Guest Owen]

The most important element in deciding the the basic health of a racing pigeon is the available oxygen. Their tolerance to foul air or high humidity is very much less than that of mammals. High humidity will obviously reduce the oxygen available in the loft or transporter. I am sure that heating panels would help to reduce the moisture in the air which is bound to help the birds attain better of health. I still think that the best way to provide oxygen is by having a loft sited away from trees or buildings and facing the sun. I have aviaries fitted to my lofts and the birds love to sit out in them most of the time enjoying the sun. During the Summer I often shut my celibate cocks out in the aviary all day because they become very jealous of their box and are very reluctant to leave it. Sunshine is a vital element in helping the pigeons to generate vitamin D which is essential to the birds. They need an adequate supply of this vitamin to enable them to grow strong bones and feathers. Although the heating panels definitely help to make oxygen available for the birds inside the loft they do not help with the supply of sunlight that is so essential to the birds. So rather than waste money on the purchase and running of heating panels I reckon that providing really good ventilation and access to the sun would be far more beneficial.

[geordie1234]

Thanks Owen

[peter pandy]

Much of what Owen posted I agree with however we are not always in a position where we can avoid situating our loft except next to or under trees, nor facing South to get the benefit from the sun which is the reason I purchased ATX heaters after talking and reading the brochure with the sales rep at Blackpool in 2005.

Now what was explained to me was that their function which radiates rather than direct heat works on the same principal as the sun where you can obtain a sun tan on a ski slope in the middle of winter, removing humidity works on the same principle which is why the controls are set for different functions and will switch off when the setting you require has been obtained.

Prices are different compared to size, requirment and start about £150. My 2 are 36 x 12ins and cover a 20 x 8ft loft. The costs to run are dependant on the setting you wish however I worked it out at £1 per day.

It would appear that all the top continental fliers have them fitted but lets face it you still need quality pigeons to win races.

I will conclude by giving an instance of thought so make your own mind up.. When I went to work for C.J.Williams his lofts were fitted with central heating which I was told not to use as it was electric and cost a fortune to run, their were also 12 portable humidifiers in one of the sheds for the same reason. It was only after a couple of weeks I noticed most mornings we had misty weather quite regular and on others thick fog which I found was low cloud with our situation 1,000 feet up in the Cotswolds. Their was a large diesel generator for the likelyhood of power cuts and whoever had installed it had fitted manual switches so electricity could be diverted to any individual building on the estate and that solved the problem of costs. When I switched it over to the lofts only we run the central heating at 65 F and the humidifiers took that much water out the air I had to empty them daily.

As for the birds they went from not having won a race for 20 years to hardly being out the frame. As for my own birds I dont have the quality I used to have but feel I am getting the best out of them possible.

P.S. I am not an agent for ATX.

[andy Burgess]

all very interesting

[Roland]

If too warm, cover the roof with hessian sacks or like and put water over it.

 

Chimneys are brill too.

 

Other than that get a car fan from the scrape yard and connect to a battery or transformers.

[Guest Owen]

In regard to the quality of the birds people keep. I reckon that in some lofts the birds do not get a chance to show what they can do because of inadequate management. Selection is based on performance so the birds need to have conditions that enable them to perform to the best of their ability otherwise selection will be a waste of time. So no matter how we decide to provide fresh air and sunshine the birds will not achieve much without it. Fortunately I am able to provide my birds with plenty of fresh air and sunshine naturally but I reckon that if I couldn't I would probably give the heating panels a try. I would hate to go back to viewing the results sheet from the bottom up.