splitter
28 posts
Nov 05, 2007
3:29 PM
|
I built a salt block loft this year for my wiens birds.16X12. I have gable vents at both ends and a spinning chiken vent in the center of the peck. I have two windows in the fron with screens,they are open all the time. But the dust is building up. How can I keep this down and still keep it from being drafty on the birds I would like to breed this winter if possible. I live in michigan Tapp has seen the pigeon palace. Thanks --------
Tall Pine Lofts
|
J_Star
1242 posts
Nov 05, 2007
5:50 PM
|
Go to Home Depot and buy an attic fan. Install it at one of your gable vent but have a switch installed to turn it on and off when needed. you don't want it working on thermostatic temperature.
What kind of bedding are you using on the floor?
Jay Alnimer
|
splitter
29 posts
Nov 05, 2007
6:07 PM
|
I have been useing wood pellets for stoves. Have been using shop vac about once a week, but still dusty(a white powdery substance).
----------
Tall Pine Lofts
|
J_Star
1245 posts
Nov 05, 2007
6:50 PM
|
I reread your post again. I noticed you don't have vents installed at the bottom of the loft walls opposite to the gable vents. The cold air will enter from the bottom vents and travel to the opposite gable vents taking with it the dust particles. This will also help in the cold weather to dissipate the smell in the loft. Believe me, no matter how clean your loft is, in the snowy weather it will become stuffy and terrible. The fan will help move the dust in greater quantity.
Jay Alnimer
|
splitter
30 posts
Nov 05, 2007
8:29 PM
|
Thanks guys I will try the exhust fan. I didn't put in any vents at the bottom yet due to trying to breed in the winter and didn't want the cold drauf. Michigan is a very cold place, I wanted to breed this winter and then fly out the young in the spring. I raised 115 young this year and am still trying to fly out the young. Between hawks and deer hunting I will beat it all winter long. Thanks very much with all the info. My old loft has the south side screened and never had problems with dust. But you wouldn't breed from that.
----------
Tall Pine Lofts
|
tapp
453 posts
Nov 05, 2007
10:26 PM
|
Chris, we calling for 3in. of snow tonight and tomorrow.winds have been high 20-30mph supposed to hit 50mph tomorrow.The winds are out of the north you could put up a kit and send it down to me air mail!!!! good luck with the dust.I have a fan in the peak of my loft blowing out. and air come's in through the sun pen hole's year around. My main door is open except on bad days and nights when the winds out of the east.It has a wire door 1/4inx1/4in locks on top and bottom to keep the vermin out!----------
Tapp
|
splitter
31 posts
Nov 06, 2007
1:36 AM
|
Tapp it wouldn't take long to send with the wind. I am going to try a exhuast fan. Kip is working all afternoons now and said he is going to have all the time in the world to work on the birds. I have been a way from home for a while up to wendells area deer hunting. I was up there when he was at your house for the fly.
----------
Tall Pine Lofts
|
Double R
157 posts
Nov 06, 2007
4:00 AM
|
Venison Steaks great!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Robby
|
CSRA
397 posts
Nov 06, 2007
7:44 AM
|
attic fan plenty of ventalation lots of baths
|
sundance
268 posts
Nov 06, 2007
6:32 PM
|
I`m in northern Indiana, so weather isnt too much different than Michigan. I start my breeders right after Christmas. And I get the same problems with dust.
Last year I put a small slow fan in the loft, just blowing towards the door.Behind it I fastened a piece of furnace filter material I bought in bulk pieces at the hardware store. You wouldnt believe how much of that dust it will catch. but you will have to change or clean the filter a couple times a week.
----------
Butch @
Sundance Roller Lofts
|
splitter
32 posts
Nov 06, 2007
7:26 PM
|
Sundance thanks that sounds like it would help and I won't loose all of my warm air.
----------
Tall Pine Lofts
|
Gregg
237 posts
Nov 07, 2007
6:24 AM
|
Splitter,
Go to Farm and Fleet, Fleet Farm, whatever they call it up in your area. They have Agricultural Fans that come with regulators that adjust the speed of the fan. I have a twelve inch fan in the hall way of my loft and will have another, sixteen inch, in the gabled end nest spring.
The dust you are noticing is coming from the bloom off the birds feathers and the breakdown of the waxy shield that covers the new feather shafts as they emerge.
I had a very tight loft that I had to change due to the dust. It is a health risk to fanciers and I'm sure is not conducive to good pigeon health. Make sure the soffit area is wire covered, that will help more than anything. If you breed in the winter in our midwest climate, you are going to have to roll the dice and hope your birds set tight. That chance is preferable to the risk of yours or the birds health. Otherwise, go to bare wood, scrap and vacuum on a very frequent basis. The filter over the fan will not keep in your warm air.
Gregg.
|
bman
484 posts
Nov 07, 2007
7:04 AM
|
I breed out of a heated loft,pretty air tight.Like Greg said I scrap and shop-vac at least once a week.When I do I make sure I wear a mask and turn on the exhaust fan. That way I only lose the heat on cleaning day.
----------
Ron
Borderline lofts
|
sundance
273 posts
Nov 08, 2007
6:16 PM
|
Gregg , I also breed in a heated loft in the winter. I dont point the fan at an open door. I simply point it at the door so it`s not blowing directly towards a breeding area. All it does is circulate the air in the loft. The filter does trap a LOT of dust. It wont get it all and I also wear a mask when cleaning. But the fan will help more than anything in an inclosed loft. I would prefer to keep the loft open year round but I cant breed that way in the winter and I like having young to start flying out in late Feb. and early march. Just my way. Just a suggestion.
----------
Butch @
Sundance Roller Lofts
|
splitter
33 posts
Nov 08, 2007
6:41 PM
|
Sundance I am going to try it your way, But I am going to put bag filters inline with a prefilter in front, Just like the big air handerliers in the high rises. That will be all recyclied air and I won't lose much to the out side that way!
----------
Tall Pine Lofts
|
Gregg
252 posts
Nov 08, 2007
7:37 PM
|
Butch,
I see where you are coming from. When I think fan, I think vented to the outside.
My loft is set up with all of the interior walls set an inch and a half off the main exterior walls. It keeps the air circulating with the fan and most of the feathers and dust accumulate in the hall way. Oh, and all of the kits are on wire with spacing between the wire and the trays which are on castors on the floor. Keeps me sweeping the hallways. I do the breeding sections with deep litter, the old fashion way.
First couple of years with this loft I am surprised that the birds or I didn't succumb to the dust and the heat. I did build it tight. I can still tighten it up a bit but try not to get it too tight ever, even in the dead of winter. I will be breeding some during this winter and we'll see what happens. Hope the birds sit tight.
Gregg.
|
sundance
274 posts
Nov 09, 2007
9:37 AM
|
Granted, nothing is better than a wide open loft for ventilation. But those of us in cold climates probably have a tendency to built things tight. Mine has some open space at the eves ,but not a lot. I`m still debating whether I will heat it this year or not. It does take a lot just to keep the chill off. but it isn`t cheap.
Thats why I only use the fan for circulation, combined with a filter you would be surprised how much dust it will catch.
----------
Butch @
Sundance Roller Lofts
|