Coop size

Post Reply
User avatar
SpinoneIllinois
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 8:22 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Coop size

Post by SpinoneIllinois » Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:32 am

I know it's been asked before, but can anyone give a quick answer on how many homers could live in a 4x4x4 coop, with an attached wire mesh aviary? I happen to have a couple sheets of 4x8 plywood, so I'm thinking about throwing one together.

I've got a great arrangement with a nearby pigeon guy, but I'd like to have a few of my own birds for the sake of convenience.

Thanks.

aulrich
Rank: 2X Champion
Posts: 400
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 8:49 am
Location: Alberta

Re: Coop size

Post by aulrich » Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:39 am

2sqft per bird as a rule of thumb

RichK
Rank: 2X Champion
Posts: 483
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:36 pm
Location: Rochester, NY

Re: Coop size

Post by RichK » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:00 am

I urge you to build a larger loft from the start. 4'x4' will never be enough, take it from me.

User avatar
SpinoneIllinois
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 8:22 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Re: Coop size

Post by SpinoneIllinois » Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:09 am

Rich, if it were up to me alone, I'd go bigger. But I'm pushing my luck already at 4x4.
And for bigger training days, I've always got the pigeon guy. I'd just like to be able to quickly grab six or eight birds when I've got a free hour or two.

RichK
Rank: 2X Champion
Posts: 483
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:36 pm
Location: Rochester, NY

Re: Coop size

Post by RichK » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:44 pm

SpinoneIllinois wrote:Rich, if it were up to me alone, I'd go bigger. But I'm pushing my luck already at 4x4.
And for bigger training days, I've always got the pigeon guy. I'd just like to be able to quickly grab six or eight birds when I've got a free hour or two.
4'x4' will be plenty big for 6-8, if possible I'd suggest building it 6' tall or at least tall enough to walk in. Trying to reach 4' inside to grab birds is a pain.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Wed Dec 25, 2013 4:48 pm

I have a 4x4 coop that was ment to be a Johnny house. I can keep 12-15 Pigeons in there. Works pretty good. This is a picture right after it was made. The only I have done is change the front to allow the pigeons to trap in and added boxes for roosting.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388011541.900600.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
AZ Brittany Guy
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 1417
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:00 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: Coop size

Post by AZ Brittany Guy » Wed Dec 25, 2013 8:20 pm

How many dogs do you have to train?

User avatar
SpinoneIllinois
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 8:22 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Re: Coop size

Post by SpinoneIllinois » Wed Dec 25, 2013 8:57 pm

Toster, do your birds reproduce in that coop?
AZ, I've got two that I'm training.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:53 am

I train my dog, and a buddy uses the pigeons quite a little.

During the winter, it gets too cold for them to reproduce, but during the spring/summer they were sitting on eggs all the time. I have one female that had 4-5 hatches last year! I list squeekers on Craig's list every now and then.

In the winter I really should wrap the top part in plastic, but haven't the last two years.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:10 am

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388333341.508450.jpg
Here's a pic from the inside. Some happy birds even though it is about 10 degrees out this morning.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:10 am

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388333429.275466.jpg
A picture with the barbs set to trap in.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:16 am

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388333466.775095.jpg
Barbs up, so they can fly free!! There is a small 1/8" steel rod bent in a "U" shape with "wings" to hold up the barbs. The "wings" are into the side wood with a small drilled hole. The white plastic clip locks the U in the up position and will allow the barbs to drop down if a bird hits them from the inside.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
AZ Brittany Guy
Rank: 5X Champion
Posts: 1417
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:00 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: Coop size

Post by AZ Brittany Guy » Sun Dec 29, 2013 1:08 pm

SpinoneIllinois wrote:Toster, do your birds reproduce in that coop?
AZ, I've got two that I'm training.
I wouldn't think you need more than 16 homers (if that is what your going for) to train two dogs. 4X4 loft should be large enough to handle 16 birds.. That size works for me.

User avatar
SpinoneIllinois
Rank: Master Hunter
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 8:22 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Re: Coop size

Post by SpinoneIllinois » Sun Dec 29, 2013 1:31 pm

Excellent. Thanks for your help, guys.
I've just about got the coop finished. I'm gonna need to order the bobs online (I was hoping the farm store carried them). Then I'll throw in a few pairs of birds and start hoping for eggs.
Toster, what is the purpose of the PVC pipe in your coop?

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:43 pm

The PVC was setup with chicken nipples... and at a low height to water quail when we first built it. I left it in there, and the pigeons like to roost on it.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:55 pm

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388379297.932606.jpg
Here is a quail trap in we made... Another thing not getting used as a Pigion coop.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:57 pm

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388379358.915680.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388379371.015410.jpg
Some pictures of the build.. Note the notched 2x4's so every thing could be 4ft x4ft
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Toster
Rank: Just A Pup
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:09 pm

Coop size

Post by Toster » Sun Dec 29, 2013 11:03 pm

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388379482.481987.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388379493.765558.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1388379502.115908.jpg
This is what I built as an insert to take out the door to let the quail out, and "convert" it to pigeons with a trap in system. The front cage part was only used to train the birds to go in with the barbs down. After I had some birds trained, I never have put it back on. The door hinges up to close up everything to protect against cats, and other predators. The door also doubles as a landing deck for the pigeons. Often 2-3 will hang out in there.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
DonF
GDF Junkie
Posts: 4020
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 6:09 pm
Location: Antelope, Ore

Re: Coop size

Post by DonF » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:17 am

Even training two dogs, eight birds should be enough. You'll go over the eight bird limit before long, overage birds become kill birds. Be a good idea to spend time watching them and figure out which one's are paired up, don't kill them if you can help it.
I pity the man that has never been loved by a dog!

Post Reply