In the modern economy, breeding pigeons is not only an interesting hobby, but also a pretty good business that brings a good income. However, before you start breeding birds at home, they will need to build a suitable place of residence. How to build a dovecote with your own hands, photos of which are presented below, read our article.
What should a dovecote look like?
Before building a dovecote, it is important to choose a suitable place for construction. It must be isolated from sources of loud sounds (highways, etc.) and unpleasant odors (poultry houses, barnyards, garbage cans). It is also recommended to avoid places where stray cats and dogs, crows, rats could breed - all of them will constantly try to attack pigeons, and rodents are also carriers of dangerous infections.
It is advisable to avoid crossing with power lines and other wires. The building must bedesigned in such a way that the birds are protected from dampness and drafts. It is also worth considering additional thermal insulation, since sudden temperature changes with a large amplitude are very harmful to pigeons. Do not forget about these nuances before you build a dovecote with your own hands. Project drawings should be prepared in advance in order to avoid mistakes at any stage of construction.
A dovecote in the attic
Before building a structure of any complexity, it is first recommended to make a suitable project. For example, if there are small holes in the roof of your house, then you can build a house for pigeons right in it using a wooden box. However, before building a dovecote in the attic, do not forget to make sure that the room is well protected from predators and temperature changes, otherwise the pigeons will not be able to breed. However, structures of this type are best suited for breeding non-pedigreed pigeons, since they do not require special material costs.
Building of wood or bricks
The most reliable way would be to build a structure of wood or brick. The height of such a dovecote can reach four or even more meters. The construction usually implies the presence of several floors: the first is equipped for storing food, and nests are placed on the second and subsequent floors.
This option is the most reliable way to protect pets from predators and harsh weather conditions. A person will also have constant access to chicks, which will allow breeding rare and expensive breeds. From the outside, the design most resembles a smalla house whose decorative appearance is limited only by the builder's imagination.
Design and layout
Before you build a dovecote, the drawings of which should always be at hand, you must first determine its size. In order for the birds to feel comfortable indoors and the males not to fight each other, each pair of pigeons should have at least 1 m3 free space. It is from these calculations that the layout of the future building and its drawing on paper should come. Of course, such calculations are suitable for breeding not too large breeds.
Otherwise, the breeder will have to provide twice as much space for the pair. Professional breeders do not recommend keeping more than 16 families in one dovecote. Also, a good dovecote should include a room for chicks, and rooms for separate keeping of females and males in the winter season. Finally, it is recommended to provide a quarantine zone for sick or injured birds.
Bird breeding at home
It is not necessary to build a separate dovecote to grow one or two individuals. Breeding of poultry is also allowed at home in special cages, which can be made with your own hands or bought at the bird market. Large breeds of pigeons should be kept in cages with a size of at least 80x60x50 cm, and medium and small breeds - 60x40x30 cm. It is also recommended to choose rectangular cages rather than round ones. However, from time to time you will have to let the birds out for a walk duringyard.
Materials and tools
In order to properly build a dovecote, it is recommended to follow the instructions that will be described below. In this case, the design will not only be as reliable as possible, but also comfortable for keeping birds.
The list of materials may vary, depending on the individual needs of the breeder, but in general should look something like this:
- rail and wooden block;
- OSB boards and plywood sheets;
- roofing material;
- slate;
- screws and nails;
- insulation (mineral wool is suitable);
- cement, crushed stone, sand (for preparing concrete mix);
- brick.
The most commonly used tools will be a hammer, a screwdriver and a saw. It is recommended to use a concrete mixer to prepare the mortar.
Laying the foundation
The depth of the support layer should be at the level of 0.5 m. Modern prefabricated structures are perfect for its construction, however, if it is not possible to purchase such, you can use the classic concrete pouring scheme. For complete shrinkage, at least a year should pass.
Installation of walls
Wood is the most commonly used building material. First, a frame is assembled from the bars, after which it is upholstered with boards or slats from the inside and outside. Brickwork is also a good choice, but it will need to be properly plastered before being sheathed.plywood. Mineral wool, foam plastic or any other similar material is suitable for warming the room.
Building a roof
The roof can be both single-pitched and double-pitched (this is not so important for pigeons). The main thing is to build a dovecote in such a way that the birds can sit not only inside, but also outside. That is why it is recommended to use slate or tile as a roofing material. The frame itself should be made of massive bars. It is also desirable to pay attention to protection from moisture and cold. To do this, you can use roofing material and an additional layer of insulation.
Ventilation and windows
The south and east sides of the building are prioritized for window placement. Thus, the dovecote will be provided with a sufficient amount of sunlight and heat. When breeding meat breeds, windows should be located at a level of 20 cm from the floor, and for all others - at a distance of 1 meter. From above, it is recommended to install an extractor hood for a constant supply of fresh air, and below - a pair of barred windows (with the possibility of closing for the winter). It is also possible to make an additional door from a mesh, so that in the hot season the room can always be kept open.
Heating
When building a room, you should pay a lot of attention to the insulation of the roof, walls and floor. So that in winter the heat does not leave through the cracks, and the birds do not fall under the drafts, it is necessary to caulk all the places through which cold air can penetrate inside. In the winter season, bedding on the floor is necessarychange regularly to keep it moist. Regarding additional equipment for heating the premises, the opinions of breeders differ. It is worth focusing on the climate and characteristics of the breed of birds.
Interior design
Now you know how to build a dovecote. The photos presented in large numbers in our article will help the reader decide on the type of building. It remains only to find out everything about the internal arrangement of the premises, so that the birds feel most comfortable. For example, for perches it is recommended to use wooden blocks with a width of no more than 3-4 cm. They should be placed at a distance of 30-40 cm from the ceiling. Near the walls it is necessary to install cells for nests. The recommended size of such a cell is 30 cm high, 40 cm wide and 80 cm long. For their manufacture, boards attached to the wall can be used, however, individual boxes that can be easily pulled out of the dovecote for disinfection will be considered the most convenient designs.
Nests can be either ceramic or wooden (made with your own hands), or plastic (purchased). The pigeons themselves will take care of their arrangement, so there is no need to fill the containers with straw in advance. You can only give birds access to "building materials" - place a bale of straw or a bunch of branches next to the dovecote. Birds will also need separate feeders for mineral feed and grain, as well as drinkers, the number of which depends on the number of birds. In professional dovecotes, their number can reachseveral dozen, and for breeding several individuals, one or two is enough.
Since pigeons need green fodder throughout the year, it is recommended to install boxes for sprouting oats and barley on the ground floor of the premises. It is also necessary to acquire several baths for bathing. If all of the above conditions are met, your pets will lead a he althy and active lifestyle.
Mini dovecote on the balcony
Many breeders are concerned about how to build a mini-dovecote on the balcony (especially those who do not have a private house). Theoretically, this idea can be realized, but if there is not enough free space on the balcony, then it is better to immediately abandon this idea. There's also a good chance your neighbors won't like this type of hobby because of the constant noise from the birds, not to mention the bad smell that comes from their waste products.
However, if the above problems do not affect your neighbors in any way, you can safely start breeding several individuals of these wonderful pets practically at home. This content of pigeons has its pros and cons. The negative side of the issue is that the birds can interfere with your neighbors or bystanders. However, feeding and caring for pets with this method of keeping will be much easier, since the breeder does not have to go up to the attic or go into the yard to the dovecote. This will seem most relevant in the winter season.
Forplacing pigeons on the balcony, you will need to plan the design of the future dovecote and prepare the site for construction. It is recommended that all unnecessary items be immediately removed from the room so that they do not suffer during construction. Walls are usually reinforced with boards or plywood, and special attention should be paid to the gaps between building materials, since cold can seep through them in winter. You can build a bird house on the balcony quite quickly without resorting to high costs. It will be enough to build perches, nests and boxes, as well as put a few feeders and drinkers.
Windows should be located on the south side of the building and at the same time be small. So that in winter there are no strong drafts and dampness in the room, the balcony is insulated in advance with foam or mineral wool (it is highly recommended not to use construction foam). To extend the daylight hours, you can connect to the electrical wire and install several energy-saving lamps. In the cold season, the air temperature is best maintained with the help of electric heaters (not lower than 7 °C).
It is important to remember that the dovecote must be constantly ventilated even in winter. It is also recommended to come up with a convenient exit and entrance for birds, and so that they can easily find it even in cloudy weather: the entire frame would be best painted in a bright color.
Rules for keeping pigeons
When placing pigeons on a balcony, it is important to consider some rules:
- shelves and perches must be securely nailed to the support;
- nests and boxes for birds shouldbe quite roomy so that several individuals can fit in them at once;
- to protect windows from damage, it is necessary to stretch a special mesh from the inside around the entire perimeter;
- plywood can be used for additional insulation of the ceiling and floor;
- when placing a dovecote on the sunny side of the building, it is necessary to create shading using agrofiber or mesh;
Also, to create additional comfort, it would be useful to install several pots with plants on the balcony. All elements of the dovecote should be arranged as harmoniously as possible, so that the owner can easily maintain cleanliness and order in the room. When settling pets, it is worth considering that there should be at least 1 m2 per pigeon2 free space.
If all of the above recommendations are taken into account, then breeding pigeons at home will become an easy and interesting activity.
