Pigeon houses are known as lofts. A loft can be a simple structure to make.

Pigeon House

A pigeon house contains specially constructed opening which allows the bird keeper to give his pigeons liberty to exercise while allowing them to reenter the house without special assistance. The structures help keep the pigeon safe from predators and bad weather. The structures also give the birds nesting places in which to raise their squabs.

In order to maintain healthy pigeons, it is good to always keep the loft dry and draft free. The loft should also be well ventilated to allow fresh air to come in. A source of light is required. One window or two will do. It is not necessary to make a big loft but if you have the space, make it big enough so that you can be able to separate the pigeons by age and gender. There can also be enough space for the breeder to pass through.

Pigeon houses need perches

A loft should have perches. There should be many inside the loft. The types of perches available are box perches, inverted perches and so on. The perches should be comfortable for the pigeons to rest on. Fly pens are also very important in a pigeon house. These are places where the pigeons will fly to if you do not allow them to go out. If the fly pens are small it is advisable to let the pigeons go outside.

All lofts should be well ventilated. Pigeons need plenty of fresh air. A loft should have some openings on the sidewalls and on the roof. This will help the hot air to escape and fresh air to come in. Some sunshine should also penetrate into the pigeon house. This will make the birds happy. It is important to build the loft in such a way that it will be able to have maximum exposure to the sunshine. This will also keep the pigeon house warm and dry.

Dryness is Paramount in Pigeon Houses

Pigeon House

Another key point in the maintenance of pigeon houses is dryness. The pigeon house should always be dry. This can be achieved by building a pigeon house that is raised slightly off the ground. Elevating the loft off the ground not only makes it dry but also adds in the circulation of air in the loft.

Another characteristic of a good pigeon house is that it should be easy to clean. The loft should not stress the owner when it is time to clean it. Wooden floors are easy to scrap and to clean because they absorb moisture. Use a floor that is easy to scrap.

Build secure pigeon houses

Safety and security of the pigeons is also important when setting up a loft. A poor structure will leave the pigeons at the mercy of predators. Safety also includes having a breeding section, so that the pigeons can build their nest in one part of the loft. This way the birds will not lay their eggs just anywhere. The breeder can put some boxes inside the pigeon houses to help the birds mark this as their breeding grounds.