CHALO
20 posts
Jan 31, 2005
10:00 AM
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whats a good loft floor litter that is not slippery on cement.My father is handicap & slips easily.I have sand in the loft floor,but it is slippery for him when loose sand gets on the outside of the loft cement.Any ideas?
Gonzalo.
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J_Star
190 posts
Jan 31, 2005
10:32 AM
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Chalo,
I don't know if I can help you here or not, but I might help others who have similar setup because all complain about how to dressing up the loft floor can be difficult for easy maintenance and less moister.
I use the landscape mesh that you put down on top of soil on your flower-bed to stop weeds from growing (black in color). It comes in a roll of various sizes and it is 36" wide. I roll it along the floor and cut. It all depends on how wide is you loft some time you might use two pieces or three next to each other taped (when over lapped) with good masking tape. From the edges, I use a stapler or push pins to hold it down to the loft walls. What I am traying to say is when cut, cut it to overlap about 1" or 2" from the sides so that i can be tacked to edges of the loft walls. It works really good on wood bottom lofts. When ready to change it, just take the staples off and fold it from each corner and deposit it in a yard garbage bag. And do the process again, no scraping and no headaches and no backaches. It works well for me and I even use it on the tray pans for the kit boxes but I lay some cider shavings on top of it to give a fresh smell for a long time and keep bugs out. I hope it could help you and help others.
Jay
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Coach P
11 posts
Jan 31, 2005
12:48 PM
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Something I have been using for about a year now, that I like, is ground corn cob litter on a wooden loft floor, I get it in 50lb bags at the pet store it is clean and dust free it is very absorbent, every few days I take a rake and rake it around and about once a week I can take a piece of ½ by ½ inch. Hardware cloth and sift up the dried droppings making it last for several months….
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Mother lode lofts
474 posts
Jan 31, 2005
4:33 PM
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Coach I use the same also in the breeder loft. I havn't found anything better yet.
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highroller
86 posts
Jan 31, 2005
5:24 PM
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crushed corn cobs was by far the best litter I ever used. I can't find it any more so I'm back to scraping regularly.
Dan
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Mother lode lofts
478 posts
Jan 31, 2005
5:27 PM
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Dan in the Summer I like bare floors as the droppings dry before they hit the floor and it is easier for me to just scrape, This time of year I like the cob, but I'm paying 14 bucks per 50 lbs now
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nicksiders
212 posts
Sep 22, 2005
9:34 PM
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Sand can be used, but it is rock and it absorbs nothing. Ground Cob is good couse it absorbs and is an easier clean up. Sand full of poop is heavy too.
I use a product called Muck Breaker. It is small chunks of wood mostly ceder and it is made for horse stalls. It absorbes very well; the ceder smells good; pests hate it; it is not slick; and is much lighter than sand. I find it at tack and feed stores.
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Velo99
87 posts
Sep 23, 2005
5:00 PM
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Do you remember those old door mats that are like a chain mat. I would recommend that for your Dad`s footing security.
Sand will go thru and can be swept up easily . Just move the mat.
YITS
V99
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Fr.mike
14 posts
Sep 25, 2005
1:41 PM
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Hey all--back to loft liter--some guys use woodstove pellets and others use plain-(non treated) cat litter have any of you used these products?
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motherlodelofts
293 posts
Sep 25, 2005
4:17 PM
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Mike I started using the wood pellets last Spring due to the cost of the Cob , I liked it alot.
But the stuff grows LOL if you have 2 in on the floor it will grow to 5 in over time.
I will be useing it this year also , it absorbs much beeter than the cob
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Sep 25, 2005 4:17 PM
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Fr.mike
15 posts
Sep 25, 2005
5:15 PM
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Thanks Motherlode--I think thats what i am going to use-the guy that uses the kitty litter says he has noproblems but I am a little worried that they might eat it like grit-I did here one guys objection on a hommer sight--He said one of his birds ate a wood pellet and It swelled his bird up like a balloon!-Man what a sight that must have been--kind of like that antacid commercial Lol!
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motherlodelofts
294 posts
Sep 25, 2005
5:47 PM
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I was a little worried about that , but all they did was peck at it but they didn't eat it , no problems at all.
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J_Star
60 posts
Sep 27, 2005
12:03 PM
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Fr.Mike,
If someone does not like something does not mean you will not. The best answer is to try it for your self first. Pigeons are hardy birds and don’t get sick easily. Like dogs for example, they drink from sources that will make anybody sick, but they don’t. Haven’t you notice that your pigeons sometimes eat the droppings from the floor of the loft! That alone will make anybody sick. Sometimes they will get sick from salmonella if the bird was not immune at an early age. Kitty litter will not harm them at all. As a matter of fact, wood pellets or wood products always bring in and harbors bugs. Haven’t you notice the spiders, ants, crickets and other undesirable bugs around your house when you put wood chips or nuggets around the shrubs around your house! Wood holds moisture and bugs feed on it. If you substitute that wood chips or nuggets with lava rocks for example, bugs will not live there. The same is true with the loft floor. Kitty litter will absorb moisture better than wood and clumps around the droppings, which will make cleaning easier. However, it is a little more expensive that wood pellets. That is my 2 cents. Thanks.
Jay
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Fr.mike
19 posts
Sep 28, 2005
8:07 PM
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Hey thanks J now i am not sure what i am goning to do?Lol I am not sure I can find lava rock! Lol Maybe I should ask Aloha ! !!!
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Alohazona
65 posts
Sep 28, 2005
11:36 PM
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Guys,RUBBER MULCH,I'm tellin' ya.My newly remodeled loft is extremely well built,cabinet grade if you will.I have been a cabinetmaker and builder for 24 years,the only thing that equeals the construction is this rubber mulch.I layed gravel on the floor, to an outward grade and put Durarock panels[1/2 inch cementuous board] on top the gravel and put 3 inches rubber mulch on top.My parlor rollers are starting to grow their fedders back on top their heads[lol].Aloha,Todd
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motherlodelofts
298 posts
Sep 29, 2005
10:00 AM
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Todd lets hear more about rubber mulch ,what is it ?
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Double D
24 posts
Sep 29, 2005
1:17 PM
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Todd, I'd certainly like to see your loft. Any pics available online? You can certainly email them to me if you have some also at olson22170@msn.com.
Thanks!
Darin
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Ballrollers
85 posts
Sep 29, 2005
3:07 PM
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Scott, I have seen the "rubber mulch" used in the children's play area at the North Carolina zoo, and it makes a great surface for kids to jump and fall, a very cushioned surface like walking on foam rubber. It's just a shredded rubber product that provides a very soft and insulating base. Trouble is, how do you clean the stuff without loosing it in a pigeon loft? It seem like that would be a major hassle. And it has to be too expensive to replace each time. I think the jury is still out on the stuff for our needs. It'll be interesting to see what their experience will be with it. YITS Cliff
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Alohazona
67 posts
Sep 29, 2005
4:29 PM
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David, thanks for the link,its always good to find out more.Ihave found no problems with the off gases they made a mention of,and of course,I'm using it in the same capacity as the playgroung surfacing as opposed to a soil builder,which the organic stuff is free at our local dumpsite.I'm sure there could be validity to there larger scale concerns,but for a couple of 4x8 spaces in a pigeonloft that has a barrier to the natural soil,I'm fine with it.I have racing pigeons,that are grandsons and daughters to the GOLDEN MATTENS,DE HEKKENKLAK,SUPER CHAMPION,THE PRESIDENT,MR.ARISTONA,THE WHITEBANDIT,VOS SCHALIE 39,VAN LOON,HUGO MORRIS,IN OTHER WORDS the Best,if I had the slightest of concerns I word not recommend the product.There will always be some Tree-huggers out there writing articles though.Aloha,Todd
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