Properly built dovecote is a prerequisite for breeding. It is not enough just to place the birds in a large cage. It is necessary to create a full-fledged dovecote, in which pets will be comfortable and convenient in any weather. Making a dovecote with your own hands is not so difficult, the main thing is to stock up on materials and patience.
Choosing a place to place the building
Pigeons are shy animals. They do not like noise; under constant stress in urban conditions, they begin to lose feathers, miss the breeding season.
As for pedigree pigeons, they are even weaker, easily susceptible to various infections, and in case of constant stress they lose any external attractiveness. Therefore, if a breeder wants his pets to be in order, and also wants to admire their beautiful plumage, you need to find a place that is as far away from the bustle of the city as possible.
It is very difficult to find a quiet corner in a city. You can consider such places:
- areas adjacent to public parks;
- closed courtyards of low-rise buildings;
- vacant lots next to private sectors.
Naturally, if the breeder lives in an apartment, he will have to place the dovecote not on his territory. The construction will need to be agreed with the municipal administration. Even in the capital, you can find several legal dovecotes, which are still successfully operating in common areas.
Tools and materials
A specific list of instruments cannot be determined in advance. It all depends on the types of dovecote, which are described in detail below. Here is a set of materials for the simplest, hinged type of structure:
- Rabitz;
- lining;
- wooden poles;
- 1-2 doors;
- nails and screws for fastening;
- metal corners for connecting the frame;
- hinges for hanging doors;
- special bracket for firmly fixing the curtain wall structure.
In budget dovecotes, there is always a chain-link mesh. More expensive options for buildings can do without it, but they require the purchase and fastening of full-fledged spiral staircases, the creation of many compartments with doors, etc.
It is possible to create a building for breeding pigeons not only from wooden components, but also from metal and brick. As a decoration and protection from traces of dirt, some owners tie a thick rope around the outer part of the dovecote.
The list of tools is also different. For the simplest construction you will need:
- a hammer;
- nippers;
- saw;
- drill and screwdriver;
- sandpaper or grinding wheel;
- screwdriver;
- construction line.
If the building is made of metal, a welder, cutter, or metal shears may be required.
Additional requirements
The dovecote should not be located near the following objects:
- pigsties;
- alien dovecotes;
- cesspools;
- large crowds of people;
- city dumps and garbage cans.
If the structure will be built on its own site, it is generally desirable to put it as close as possible to the center of land ownership. In this case, the influence of neighbors and their potentially dangerous factors on the pigeons will be minimal.
Chicken coops should be especially avoided in other places of breeding of birds: from them, diseases will be very easily transmitted to birds simply by air, and even more so through direct contact.
For birds, everything that they may encounter during the flight is dangerous. Especially should be avoided:
- power lines;
- multi-storey buildings;
- tall trees.
Trees are dangerous mainly only in bad weather. Their large branches, breaking off under the influence of strong winds or a heavy layer of snow, can destroy the structure and damage the birds themselves. If there is no other place other than under the tree to place the building, it is advisable at least to prop up the most dangerous branches.
Birds get used to power lines, but not immediately. If possible, the dovecote should be at least 10 meters away from them so that the birds do not touch the wires when they land.
Types of pigeon poultry houses
In urban and rural settings, 4 different types of dovecote can be built. You should choose a specific design based on your own budget and the capabilities of the land.
Even in a city, a well-functioning dovecote can be located, although if it does not occupy a separate area, there will be slight difficulties in caring for the birds.
Mounted Dovecote
The hinged structure is the most budget option. This type of construction is used mainly in the private sector or in rural areas. The essence of the structure is that it is attached either to the roof of the building (if it is flat or with a slight slope), or to the very top of the wall of its second (third) floor.
The dovecote itself is a box with a metal mesh and a wooden frame. There are shelves inside, there are also two doors: a hatch for birds and a door for cleaning the room by a person. The roof itself is missing. All walls and the upper part of the box are made of chain-link mesh. The floor is made of planks.
The advantages of this option:
- fast production;
- even a beginner will cope with the creation;
- you can place a dovecote even if there is little space for it on the site;
- suitable for beginner breeders;
- minimum manufacturing cost.
Nevertheless, there are more minuses and such a design than pluses:
- Despite the simplicity and speed of manufacture, the box turns out to be inconvenient for birds. Pigeons in it are not even protected from rain, what can we say about frost, snow, the scorching sun.
- If desired, if the top hatch remains open, a predator (for example, a weasel or a bird of prey) can enter the building. Pigeons and their chicks are not protected from all the hazards present in nature. Because of this, in hinged boxes there is a high mortality rate of chicks, as well as adult animals.
- Inconvenient location. Due to the fact that it is necessary to get to the dovecote either through a hatch in the roof, or using a ladder, it is very difficult to clean it and generally observe the animals. This affects the damage to the lives of pets: birds receive insufficient care and attention, their cage is cleaned too rarely.
- The breeder himself may get tired of the constant movements on the roof and completely refuse to breed pigeons. This option is especially inconvenient for the elderly, people with limited mobility and those who, due to health reasons, cannot constantly use a ladder.
Pedigree birds are not bred in hinged dovecotes. This is simply not practical: breeding will not give the necessary results due to the high mortality of the chicks, moreover, weaker thoroughbred birds can easily die in such uncomfortable conditions.
Tower dovecote
This is a much more popular option among professional breeders. The tower building is suitable for breeding thoroughbred pigeons, as it is characterized by a high degree of security.
Features of the structure:
- The birds inside such a building are protected from cold weather, precipitation, as well as attacks of various predators. It is easy for the owner to monitor the condition of both adults and recently hatched chicks.
- The design is, as the name implies, a tower. Typically, the structure has 2 to 4 storeys. At the first, the owner arranges a warehouse with supplies for feeding, as well as tools for cleaning birds.
- Starting from the second, pigeon nests are located. The section with nests should be at least 2 meters away from the ground so that various predators cannot get to them.
- There are windows along the perimeter of the towers. Each window is one compartment with one slot. Under the windows, you can attach perches or full-fledged platforms for the convenience of pigeons. All compartments are separated from each other, so it is known exactly which nest belongs to which individual. Entry openings (windows) should not be too large to prevent cats or large birds of prey from entering.
The type of construction may vary depending on the builder's budget. For example, the most primitive turrets are small in diameter, and the owner gets to the windows using a ladder.
Much more convenient is the more expensive option, which implies the location of a spiral staircase inside the tower. Thus, the core of the building is hollow, and, finding himself on the flights of stairs, the owner gains access to each nest from the inside.
This makes it easier to care for the chicks and cleaning, but building such a dovecote is difficult both in terms of funds and from the technical side. Will have to attract builders.
The undoubted advantages of this option:
- pigeons are protected from external influences;
- birds can be kept at any time of the year;
- ease of cleaning for birds;
- ease of selection.
Dovecote in the attic
If the breeder has a residential or non-residential, but insulated house with a free attic or attic, the best option would be to create a dovecote in the attic. Unlike the version with a hinged box, this one does not pose a danger to the birds themselves.
The design has the following features:
- the main part of the dovecote, including feeders, sections for the location of nests and a place for the person who will be cleaning, are located inside the attic;
- in addition, a walking area is attached, which is a balcony with a mesh that blocks access from all sides;
- access to the attic is not through an access ladder, but using your own stairs at home, which is convenient for the breeder.
This construction method is the least labor-intensive. It is enough to equip the area for walking, create holes for access to it, as well as arrange places for nests and feeders.
There is no need to build a building from scratch, unlike the two methods listed above. Construction costs are minimal: you only need a chain-link mesh and several boards for the balcony, perhaps the breeder will also install perches.
It is most convenient to clean this pigeon, as the owner has access to all surfaces. The only drawback is the large cleaning area. However, given the easy accessibility of surfaces, it can be dealt with in about the same time as in a tower structure.
Dovecote on the balcony
Not all people who would like to breed pigeons have the opportunity to place a full-fledged building. Someone does not have enough budget, and someone is limited by urban conditions or a small area of a suburban area. In this case, the only thing left for the breeder is to place the dovecote on the balcony.
This option is not suitable for breeding a large number of animals, given the small area of standard balconies, however, 5-6 pairs will definitely fit comfortably.
Features of the dovecote on the balcony:
- Before building, you need to take into account the attitude of others to the potential neighborhood of pigeons. They can file a complaint with the appropriate authorities, and then, if the owner of the pigeons lives in an apartment building, he can be forced to stop breeding. However, if the neighbors are calm about such an occupation, and the owner is ready to deal with pollution and smell every day, problems should not arise.
- On the balcony, either special perches and recesses for nests are placed, or boxes (or a rack with square sections) in which pigeons will live. A feeding trough, a drinking bowl is installed, it is advisable to put bathtubs for bathing.
- The balcony should be insulated, provided with electricity and light in order to extend the daylight hours in winter. If the balcony is on the south side, you need to shade it. If you wish, you can make small mesh structures for walking birds. You can make them yourself or purchase ready-made structures (made for walking cats).
On the balcony you can keep birds in excellent conditions. The only negative is the limited area of the room.
Instructions on how to make a dovecote with your own hands
After choosing the optimal design and preparing materials with tools, you can start building. The detailed algorithm presented below will help to carry it out quickly and without difficulty.
Parameters of the future dovecote
The dovecote must meet the following requirements:
- at least one square meter per individual (if there is a large walking area, 0.5 square meters per pair is allowed);
- each nest is located in a separate section;
- compartments should be made for young and adult birds;
- nests and feeders should not be too close to each other.
Further parameters already depend on the type of construction chosen.
Construction stages
It is desirable to erect a building separately from a residential building. Construction begins with the foundation. The following is a step-by-step algorithm of actions.
Laying the foundation
The foundation is required only for permanent structures (for example, full-size towers). In most cases, it is enough to clear the area, level the soil and secure it with tiles or bricks.
Floor
The floor is made of wood. It is convenient to change, although the disadvantage is the high absorption of odors. If possible, an additional one should be made on top of the wooden covering, for example, linoleum. Cold stone is not recommended. The floor is additionally covered with hay.
Installation of walls
Walls are often made of wood. First, the frame frame is erected, then boards are printed on it. You can add insulation between the outer and inner layer of the boards, so that the building was warm in the winter.
Window
Window openings should be located on the east and south sides. They should not be large, small windows are enough. Window openings are additionally reinforced with corners.
Roof construction
The frame is created from a bar. The type of roof is chosen by the owner himself, the simplest is gable. It is necessary to lay a heater, a waterproofing layer, then tile or metal as an external coating.
Ventilation
Optimal ventilation is a combination of a hood installed in the ceiling and one or two mesh doors. They should be covered with a fine mesh so that air can pass through, but not various insects. It is better if the windows with mesh are closer to the floor, so the air will circulate better.
Walking area
The walking area is equipped last. It is enough to make a small balcony with a wooden floor and mesh walls and a ceiling attached to the external wall of the building. If pigeons are kept in the private sector and are well accustomed to the house, walking is not necessary: just let them fly.
Interior arrangement of the dovecote
The internal device is no less important than the external. Pigeons should be comfortable in the building, they should have enough space for movement.
Construction of perches
Perches should be located at least 30 cm from the ceiling. Usually they look like a house roof (a triangle without a bottom). Perches are made from perches 5 cm wide. Usually they are located on one side of the wall. On the other, nests are made.
The optimal type of nests is a simple rack, bought or made independently. Rack sections should have parameters 40 by 35 by 75 centimeters. Additionally, plants or spread straw should be placed inside the dovecote. This will allow the birds to build nests.
Drinking bowls and feeders
The feeders are made wide and long so that several of them can be eaten at the same time. Drinking bowls are bought automatic, which are sold in any pet store.Water is changed daily, feed as it is consumed.
Operating rules
In order for the structure to last as long as possible, you need to take care of the following points:
- Humidity level... It should not be high, otherwise mold and mildew will quickly form on the walls. If the breeder’s area of residence is basically wet, it is necessary to impregnate the wood with special compounds from the fungus.
- Airing. It depends on the frequency of ventilation whether an unpleasant odor is absorbed into the wooden elements of the dovecote. If you ventilate the room in a timely manner, and also clean it, then the dovecote will not have an unpleasant specific smell, because of which part of the internal structure will have to be changed.
- Hygiene. It is very important to regularly clean up the waste products of pigeons. Not only their level of life depends on this, but also the service life of the structure. Litter of birds at high concentrations can even corrode the organic components (cardboard, wood) of the dovecote.
- Corrosion treatment. All metal elements must be treated or painted to withstand corrosion and rust.
Other operating conditions depend on the characteristics of the design chosen by the breeder. It is necessary to provide the birds with fresh water, feed, monitor the condition of their nests and check the chicks daily.
Additional recommendations
It is necessary to take into account several important factors that affect the lifespan of pigeons, the quality of their offspring, as well as the appearance:
- The temperature in the dovecote should not fall below -7 degrees Celsius. If pigeons are kept in the temperate or northern strip with cold winters, heating must be taken into account.
The minimum requirements are the upholstery of the building from the inside with a lining with insulation. It is best to provide minimal heating (the pigeons should not have access to the wires and should not be burned). - The maximum air heating is +20 degrees. If in summer the heat reaches 25-30, it is imperative to shade the dovecote. Even in winter, strong heating can occur if, for example, pigeons live on a balcony on the south side. It is possible to ensure the correct temperature with the help of proper ventilation, as well as insulation.
- Sunlight should easily penetrate the home of pigeons if they spend most of their time on the balcony or in the attic. The ends should not be too large, because a large amount of light is bad for chicks, but at the same time, adults should receive a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation.
- The building is made bright. Pigeons have a developed memory, and they return to their native dovecote. However, if it does not differ in any way from other buildings, it will be difficult for them to distinguish their native place after a free walk.
If the owner takes care of ensuring proper nutrition and regular hygiene of the birds, then breeding will be a pleasure. Properly constructed dovecote can serve up to 20 years without the need for major repairs.