Dovecotes and pigeon aviaries adaptations. Dovecote design options. Photo gallery: different types of dovecotes
Breeding pigeons is not only quite an interesting activity, but also very profitable. To appreciate all the advantages of such a solution, it is certainly worth not only deciding on the type of birds. Take care in advance to create comfortable conditions for their development and reproduction. Review the design options for the dovecote and the basic requirements for the place of residence of the pigeons in order to choose the appropriate type of dovecote design.
- Where to locate the dovecote?
-
- Mounted dovecote
- Tower poultry house
- Dovecote in the attic
- Typical nursery
- Individual project
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- Video
- Conclusion
How to make a dovecote project correctly?
As with any construction, create a preliminary design initially. Be sure to consider the following requirements in the process of creating a circuit:
- for one pair of medium or small pigeons, the size of the space will be 0.5 m3;
- large individuals will be comfortable in a 1 m3 compartment.
Important! Plan the breeding of birds, taking into account no more than 10-15 pairs living together in the same territory, moreover, preferably one breed.
Important! This approach will make the process of caring for a dovecote as simple and quick as possible. 
How to calculate house size?
The parameters of a pigeon house vary depending on many criteria. 
But there are also standard solutions for the device of the dovecote, which are given below:
- for decorative species - 1 meter from the base;
- for meat breeds - 20-30 cm from the floor.
Important! Please note that the best dovecote houses are those with all parameters corresponding to the appropriate sizes for specific birds. 
Where to locate the dovecote?
There are a number of specific recommendations regarding the location of a bird house of this type. Read them carefully and be sure to follow these requirements:
Important! Do not install the dovecote next to other poultry houses or places where pets are kept. These birds easily adopt various diseases and quite often carry them in a more severe form. For the same reason, make sure that there is no cesspool near the future dovecote. 
What type of construction should you choose?
There are several standard options for a dovecote device. To choose the right one, pay attention to the recommendations for use and arrangement. 
Mounted dovecote
This type of construction is the simplest, but only suitable for a private plot. The principle of the device is extremely simple - a wooden rectangular box is attached to the outer wall with a small indent from the edge of the roof. It is worth noting that the hinged dovecote, which was so popular until recently, is rarely used today due to a number of disadvantages:
Tower poultry house
Such installations are more practical due to the improved design type. Their shape has 4,6,8 faces or is made in the form of a sphere. This method of setting up a poultry house is great for those who are only constantly breeding pigeons. Among the advantages of this type of dovecote, we note:
Dovecote in the attic
In private houses, this type of construction is often preferred. Its internal arrangement basically corresponds to typical poultry houses, but its height does not exceed 2.5 m. The principle of formation is to delimit the allocated area with wire mesh, plywood sheets or boards. The outer side of the attic near the dormer window is being built for walking birds.
Typical nursery
Give preference to this type of poultry house design for arranging a dovecote in an urban area. The current producers of these nurseries are developing models designed for keeping different numbers of individuals. The most popular are typical dovecotes for 12 pairs. Before installation, in the event that a decision has been made to use this type of poultry house, check all parameters with the local administration. 
In large cities, as a rule, standard dovecotes are built, the sizes and shapes of which are agreed with the local administration.
Individual project
There are practically no restrictions in this respect. Correctly correlate your financial capabilities, types of birds, required parameters, available materials, and build an original dovecote, focusing solely on your imagination, supported by the necessary knowledge.
What material is suitable for arranging a dovecote?
When choosing a building material, give preference to the most affordable option:
Depending on the chosen main building material, the amount of finishing work will also vary:
Pay attention to the purchase of an insulating sheet in order to ensure the stability of the temperature regime at any time of the year.
Video
Watch a video that shows the interior of a dovecote made of brick and wood.
The sequence of building a dovecote
Before you start building a pigeon nursery, carefully calculate the required amount of all consumables according to your project. 
Here is an example of a sequence of work for performing a dovecote in the form of a free-standing building:
Important! This method will provide a normal microclimate suitable for birds.
Important! This approach will provide good air ventilation in summer, when only the inner lattice part of the structure is closed.
Important! In this case, give preference to soft wood species such as poplar, aspen or elder.
Important! Check their immobility.
Important! For the latter, use automatic systems to facilitate their feeding.
How to properly care for a dovecote?
Their health and timely reproduction largely depends on how correctly you take care of not only the birds themselves, but also their housing. 
Therefore, after settling all the selected species, be sure to adhere to the following recommendations regarding maintaining cleanliness and a comfortable microclimate for them:
Important! To perform preventive or disinfecting disinfection, use any suitable agent or a solution of turpentine and fresh bleach in a ratio of 0.1 ml / 1g / 1m3 of the room. 
Regardless of what type of bird you prefer, and what type of dovecote you decide to install, be sure to do all the work carefully and carefully at all stages. Only in this case, an organized nursery will bring real benefits, caring for it will not take too much time, and all the birds will be healthy and will please you with their offspring more than once.
A dovecote is a building in which pigeons live and breed. The reasons for breeding pigeons are different for everyone: someone loves to watch birds, enjoys caring for them, another keeps pigeons for their own business. In any case, a properly built dovecote is a guarantee of bird health, successful reproduction and rearing of chicks. In the article I will talk about how to build a dovecote correctly with your own hands.
Requirements for the location of the dovecote
There are several types of dovecote construction, located on the ground or high above ground level, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. But regardless of the height of the dovecote, when choosing the location of the house, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of these birds. Pigeons are shy, they are afraid of a person, sudden movements and sounds, so the location of a dovecote next to a human house or a transport highway will not be a very correct decision. Place a house in a remote corner of a summer cottage adjacent to a forest or field so that the birds are not disturbed by strangers. Since pigeons often fly out of the house for a walk, positioning the dovecote under the crowns of tall trees, power lines and TV towers can be dangerous for birds. There should be no landfills, garbage or cesspool near the house. Bacteria that multiply in food debris become a source of unsanitary conditions, and animals that come to feast on waste can be dangerous to pigeons. Also, according to the norms of sanitary hygiene, it is forbidden to locate the dovecote near the breeding grounds of cattle.
Types of dovecote designs
By the type of construction, there are 3 types of dovecote.
- Mounted dovecote... A simple and quick way to equip a dovecote in the country. It is a wooden box attached to the wall or roof of a country house. The disadvantage of the hinged structure is in the absence of weather protection and in a small number of pigeons that the house can hold.
- Tower dovecote... The fundamental structure, which has an oval shape and reaches a height of 4 m. The tower has several floors, on the lower one is stored food and equipment, pigeons live on the rest. The design is interesting for experienced pigeon breeders who raise a large number of birds. Due to its vertical arrangement, the dovecote takes up little space on the ground.
- Attic dovecote. The name speaks for itself - the bird house is located in the attic of a country house. The advantages of the design in reducing the costs and time for construction, it is only necessary to complete the construction of the walking area. In addition, this is the convenience of access to the dovecote for a person living in the house and caring for pigeons.
In addition to the main structures of the dovecote, a ground-based bird house is widespread, which is a wooden barn-type room, bounded by a net over a small area.
Dovecote construction
Let us consider in more detail the stages of building a dovecote in the country.
- Start by drawing up a drawing with a detailed calculation of the size and amount of materials required for the dovecote. Draw a drawing of the dovecote yourself or find it on the Internet.
- The next step is to fill the foundation of the dovecote. For a solid foundation that will last for more than a dozen years, a pit depth of 1.5 m will be sufficient.Do not forget about a layer of waterproofing or roofing material on top of the foundation. Leave the foundation for one year for full shrinkage.
- After a year, start building the walls of the dovecote. Wooden walls are most optimal for birds, but you can use bricks and sheathe the inside with plywood. Do not forget about insulation, use mineral wool or foam. If the walls are made entirely of wood, first install the load-bearing wooden beams, then nail on the plywood on both sides, and insert the insulation inside.
- Any material, tiles, slate or roofing material is suitable as a roof of a dovecote. Lay the roofing on top of the timber structure on top of the batten. Do not make the slope of the roof slope abrupt so that the birds can sit comfortably.
- Build a dovecote entrance and arrange a mesh enclosure around the entrance.
- The final stage of construction is the installation of doors, windows, ventilation and electrical wiring. The arrangement of the dovecote consists in the construction of perches and nests.
To build a dovecote with your own hands, be patient and follow the drawing. A self-built house will become an outlet for the pigeon breeder.
For successful breeding of pigeons, it is not enough just to provide the birds with any kind of living space with four walls and a roof over their heads. They will have good health and reproductiveness only if the dovecote is built in compliance with a number of rules. The reader is invited to familiarize himself with them and study examples of building the right home for domestic pigeons.
- 1 General requirements for the design and its main options
- 2 Project development
- 3 Construction of a frame dovecote: step by step instructions
- 4 Elimination of the dovecote
- 5 Arrangement of a dovecote on the balcony
- 6 Disinfection of the dovecote
- 7 Video: how to modernize a dovecote
General requirements for the design and its main options
Ideally, a good dovecote should consist of two structural elements: a room and an aviary.
A good dovecote consists of a room and an aviary
The following requirements are imposed on the premises:
- sufficient volume (determined by the number of pigeons and their size);
- good thermal insulation;
- dryness;
- the presence of ventilation (but no drafts);
- the supply of natural light in sufficient quantities (but there should not be an excess).
Aviary is an outdoor area surrounded on all sides by a mesh fence. If present, pigeons can be outdoors without being in danger of being eaten by a cat or other predator. Such walks help to strengthen the health of birds, significantly increase their vitality.
If it is impossible to build an external aviary, it is advisable to provide a walking area at least indoors. Place it in a place where the most natural light falls.
There are hundreds of variants of pigeon houses, invented by breeders, but they can all be divided into three groups:
- hinged;
- attic;
- freestanding.
Mounted dovecotes
The simplest design, which looks like a large box, usually suspended from the ridge of the gable roof of a private house.
The pigeon house can be "hung" from the roof gable
The manufacturing process requires minimal effort and time, but such a construction cannot be called a full-fledged dovecote - it is, rather, an option that allows you to interrupt for a while. It can also be recommended to novice breeders who only intend to try their hand at breeding pigeons.
Here are the disadvantages the owner will have to face:
- limited capacity (up to four pairs);
- the walls do not keep heat well, therefore, there is no opportunity to provide comfortable conditions inside (it is better not to settle expensive thoroughbred pigeons in such dovecotes);
- no aviary;
- access to the inner space is difficult, so there is no opportunity to engage in selection and monitor the development of chicks;
- predatory animals can reach birds relatively easily.
It is most correct to place a hinged dovecote about 0.5 m below the highest point of the roof. The entrance should measure 15x15 cm (width / height).
Attic dovecote
If there is free space in the attic, it is most convenient to equip the dovecote here. The scope of work will be small, since the existing premises are being used. In this case, the dovecote will turn out to be both warm and easily accessible for the breeder.
A dovecote can be built in the attic of a summer kitchen or country house
Freestanding dovecote (tower)
If the attic space is insufficient or occupied, then for the device of the dovecote, according to all the rules, you have to erect a special building. In the drawings, it usually takes the form of a polygon or circle. The top of the building is taken out to a height of about four meters, there will be a room for keeping pigeons. The lower part remains free so that you can store equipment, food, etc.
The upper tier of the tower is used for settling with pigeons, the lower one serves as a utility room
The walls can be stone (it is better to use aerated concrete blocks), but it is easier and faster to build such a structure using frame technology. The poultry compartments are located around the perimeter of the upper floor, so that each of them has free access from the inside.
Such a solution, in comparison with others, is quite costly. To save money, you can adapt an already built shed for a tower dovecote. Another option is to make only the upper part of the tower dovecote and install it as a superstructure on the flat roof of some utility structure, for example, a garage.
Photo gallery: different types of dovecotes
Mounted dovecotes are suitable for beginner poultry breeders 
An old tree can be used as an elevation 
The balcony should be spacious for the birds to feel comfortable. 
Often, a separate room for pigeons with a spacious aviary is equipped 
A dovecote can be built on the roof of a utility room 
Dovecotes can look stylish and modern 
The attic is one of the most convenient places for arranging a dovecote
Project development
When designing a dovecote, you need to think about a number of issues, such as location, size, internal structure of the structure and other aspects.
Location selection
The dovecote should be located higher than the neighboring buildings, respectively, it is better to take a place for it on a dais. If a high-voltage electric highway passes nearby, you need to move away from it as far as possible.
It is inappropriate to breed pigeons near such objects as:
- poultry farms;
- stockyards and farms;
- garbage pits.
As a trash bird, pigeons are extremely susceptible to all kinds of infections in such places.
It should also be remembered that a large dovecote designed for a large number of birds will be inappropriate in an urban neighborhood: residents of high-rise buildings will have to constantly clean their balconies from pigeon droppings, which will lead to massive dissatisfaction with your activities.
As already mentioned, the interior space should be sufficiently illuminated, so it is best to orient the entrance to the south or southeast.
Materials and tools
Any material is suitable for the construction of a dovecote; here you need to choose between cost and durability. A capital building made of bricks or foam blocks will be expensive, but it will stand for a long time and will not require repair. It is not necessary to buy expensive mineral wool for its insulation - cheap polystyrene is also suitable. To reduce thermal conductivity, brick walls can be lined with adobe from the inside.
The cost of a frame dovecote made of wood will be much more modest, because:
- it is possible to use the cheapest bulk heat insulators, which fill the space between the inner and outer skin: expanded clay, sawdust, slag, ecowool (shredded paper);
- sheathing can be made with practically waste wood: a humpback or the lowest-grade unedged board;
- due to its low weight, such a building does not require a full-fledged foundation.
Outside, wood sheathing can be protected from moisture by plastic panels (imitation lining or vinyl siding), the cost of which is also very affordable. However, it should be understood that a wooden dovecote, even with the most careful protection, will be inferior in durability to a capital structure and will require the owner to periodically replace rotten wooden elements.
In addition, all construction wood has to be treated with chemicals, minimally with an antiseptic, and even better with a fire retardant (it slightly reduces flammability). It is clear that the vapors emitted by these substances do not contribute to the improvement of bird health.
In winter, the temperature in the dovecote should not drop below +5 ° C, so it is imperative to insulate the walls and roof.
Thermal insulation will protect pets from the summer heat, which is also destructive for them (the optimal internal temperature in the warm season is +20 ° C).
When choosing a building material, especially for a roof, remember: in general, the structure should be such that pigeons returning from flight can easily recognize it among other buildings.
Prepare your tools:
- saw and hacksaw;
- axe;
- a hammer;
- chisels;
- screwdriver;
- sander for sandpaper;
- paint brushes.
Dimensions and internal structure
The height of the ceiling both in the enclosure and in the room should be 2 m. The area of the enclosure is selected so that for each pair of birds there is at least 0.5 square meters. m. Similarly, the area of the room is calculated if medium-sized pigeons live in it. If you are going to breed large birds, for each pair in the room you need to provide 1 sq. m area.
In the room, perches are fixed in several tiers along the walls - shelves 30–40 cm wide, the uppermost of which should be at least 30 cm from the ceiling.
Shelves-awnings for pigeons are placed along the walls
For the period of mating and rearing, the offspring of pigeons are moved in pairs to separate cells, where they build nests. Cages can be installed in two ways:
In a mating cage, a pair makes a nest
It is important to know that the aviary, even with a minimum number of pets, cannot be less than a certain size, which depends on the breed of pigeons. Also, the minimum sizes are determined for the cells:
- diamond turtledove (size - 20-30 cm): the minimum size of the enclosure is 1.5x0.8 m, cages - 60x40x30 (B) cm;
- ringed dove (28–34 cm): aviary - 2x0.8 m, cage - 80x60x50 (H) cm;
- clintuh, sisari (up to 40 cm): aviary - 2.5x1 m, cage - 80x60x50 (H) cm;
- pheasant, imperial and other large breeds (from 35 cm): aviary - 4x1 m, cages are not used (these breeds are flightless).
To make it easier to clean the dovecote, it is advisable to make the shelves with cages and perches removable.
The size of the entrance is selected according to the size of the pigeons. The width is taken to be 10–20 cm, the height is 20–25 cm. If sports pigeons are to be grown in the dovecote, the entrance should be placed at a height of 1–1.5 m above the floor. For decorative and meat breeds - much lower, about 20-30 cm from the floor.
Outside, the dovecote should be equipped with a landing area for arriving pigeons.
You can equip the dovecote with two entrances, one of which allows the bird only inside. Unidirectionality is achieved by hanging several vertical sections of thick wire, which can only deviate inward the room (the installed limiter prevents it from deviating outward).
Adjustable entrance prevents birds from leaving the house
With this design, there will be no need to wait until the birds released to fly return: we close the usual entrance and go about our business; pigeons will return through the unidirectional entrance, and will not be able to leave the dwelling again.
In order for the dovecote to be sufficiently well illuminated in a natural way, it will be necessary to make window openings with a size of about 20x20 cm in its outer wall. Their total area should be 0.1 of the area of the room. If flightless meat breeds are grown, the windows should be positioned quite low - about 20 cm from the floor. In a dovecote for flying breeds, they are arranged at half height, that is, about 1 m from the floor.
It is advisable to make the door to the dovecote double: one canvas is solid, insulated; the other is a mesh-covered frame. In the warm season, the continuous canvas is kept open, which ensures good ventilation of the room. The optimal size of the doorway: width - 60–70 cm, height - 1.5–1.8 m.
It is necessary to provide for the possibility of dividing the dovecote into several sections. First, you need to separate young animals up to one year old and adults. Secondly, males should be kept separate from females during winter. It is also necessary to provide a fenced-off area for the "infirmary", where sick or weakened pets will be resettled.
The internal space can be organized in the following way: 1 - compartment for breeding; 2 - utility (utility) department; 3 - section for keeping young animals
It is useful to equip a dovecote intended for keeping sports pigeons with a receiver for arriving birds. It is a removable cage, from where the pigeon participating in the competition can be easily reached to replace the control ring.
Life support systems
Electricity will need to be supplied to the dovecote for artificial lighting and to power an electric heater.
It is also necessary to arrange natural ventilation: an inlet opening is cut in the outer wall closer to the corner at a height of 15–20 cm from the floor (protected by a grill), and a air vent is installed in the ceiling in the opposite corner.
For reliability, a fan with a programmable module can be installed in the hood, with the help of which an economical mode of operation is set: at night, when the pigeons are not active, the fan does not work; during the day it turns on for a short time every 15 minutes. In extreme cold, the ventilation holes will need to be clogged with rags.
Video: the internal structure of a small dovecote
Construction of a frame dovecote: step by step instructions
If you decide to seriously engage in breeding pigeons, it is advisable to build a free-standing frame dovecote for the birds.
Do-it-yourself dovecote with a wooden frame
Consider as an example the process of building a freestanding dovecote with a timber frame:
The strip foundation for the dovecote is made shallow
The frame for the dovecote is mounted from wooden elements
The crate can be assembled from a slab or timber
It remains to complete internal work:
- conduct electricity;
- install lamps, a heater and a fan in the hood (if such equipment is provided);
- fix the shelves, perches and nests;
- install feeders and drinkers.
Feeders can be placed on the wall in several rows
Socket device
Nests are arranged in cages, the minimum dimensions of which have been given above. The easiest option is to entrust the construction of the nest to the birds themselves, providing them with material in the form of twigs, leaves, fluff and grass. Experienced breeders prefer to equip cages with round blanks, on the basis of which pigeons can build much more convenient nests.
1, 2, 3 - wooden nests; 4 - plaster blank
Clay (with subsequent firing), wood or gypsum can serve as the material for the blank, but the easiest way is to make it from foam.
To shape the foam into the desired shape, you need a matrix in the form of a steel or copper basin. In it, the foam sheet must be heated to the melting temperature, having previously covered it with parchment. When the polymer "floats", you should press it into the basin, the shape of which it will repeat at the same time. It remains to glue the workpiece with PVA glue with a construction bandage, which performs the function of reinforcement and protection from the claws and beak of the pigeon.
Choice of flooring
You should also decide how to cover the plank floor of the dovecote. The easiest option is to lay linoleum. Of course, there is no need to fasten the lining, since it will have to be removed from time to time for washing. Linoleum has an important disadvantage: it is waterproof, so that all the droppings remain on the surface. As a result, dirt is smeared all over the house, and the tail feathers of pigeons, as many breeders testify, become dirty.
A better solution is to cover the floor with a five-centimeter layer of coarse sand (small pebbles are allowed). The top layer of this litter will absorb the liquid fraction of the droppings, so the birds and the dovecote itself will remain relatively clean. As dirt accumulates, the top layer is swept away and sieved through a sieve. The sand separated in this way is blown in the wind or in front of a fan, freeing it from dust, and again goes into business with the addition of fresh sand. The sifted droppings can be used in the garden as fertilizer.
Filling the floor with sawdust instead of sand, as is sometimes done, is possible only if you are able to ensure the constant availability of feed in the feeders. Otherwise, the birds, getting hungry, can swallow sawdust, which will lead to intestinal obstruction - such troubles have repeatedly occurred in the practice of experienced breeders.
Video: the device of a free-standing dovecote
Elimination of the dovecote
It happens that for one reason or another, the dovecote has to be dismantled. There are no special requirements in this regard, the building is simply disassembled, like any other. Dismantling work should begin in dry weather: the roof is dismantled first, and in damp conditions it will be slippery.
Around the place where building materials will be dropped from above, you need to install a fence with warning signs.
Dovecote device on the balcony
A resident of a high-rise building, who has a fairly spacious balcony and is not afraid to incur the wrath of his neighbors, can also start breeding pigeons.
Pigeons feel great on the balcony of a high-rise building
For this, the balcony must be properly prepared:
Otherwise, everything is done in the same way as in a regular dovecote: shelves-perches are installed along the walls, and for the mating period - cages with blanks for nests.
Remember that the mini-dovecote on the balcony does not need to be overcrowded, otherwise the birds will suffer from crowdedness and often get sick. The permissible number is determined by the area of the balcony according to the above principle: for every 0.5-1 sq. m (depending on the size of the birds) - one pair of pigeons.
Video: dovecote on the balcony
Dovecote disinfection
Even the most thorough cleaning will not be able to completely eliminate all kinds of infectious agents carried by pigeons. Therefore, the dwelling of birds must not only be cleaned, but also disinfected. Under normal conditions, that is, in the absence of any diseases, such a procedure should be carried out monthly. If you happen to encounter a disease, the intervals between disinfecting treatments are reduced to 5-7 days.
Before disinfection, preparation is carried out:
Upon completion of disinfection, the dovecote must be well ventilated, and the feeders and drinkers must be thoroughly washed to prevent the disinfectant solution from entering the feed and water.
For disinfection, solutions of the following substances are used:
- chlorocresol (concentration in solution - 2%): especially effective against smallpox and coccidiosis;
- chloramine (3-4%): psittacosis, trichomoniasis;
- paraform (2%): aspirgillosis;
- formalin (1%): salmonella, psittacosis, aspirgillosis, toxoplasmosis;
- caustic soda (1-2%): salmonella, smallpox, psittacosis, coccidiosis;
- bleach (3-4%): salmonella, smallpox, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis.
There are gaseous disinfectants that can and should be treated in the presence of pigeons (the feather cover is disinfected), feed and water. Before the procedure, the room must be hermetically closed, while the temperature in it must not be lower than +15 ° C. The two most popular options are:
Gas disinfection should be used if the birds have diseases, the frequency - once every 4-7 days.
Video: how to modernize a dovecote
As you can see, nothing special is needed for breeding pigeons. Anyone can build a comfortable dovecote on their own. Pay due attention to the recommendations outlined here and you will be guaranteed success.
A dovecote is a special building designed for keeping and breeding pigeons. Lovers of these birds can build a dovecote with their own hands, providing the birds with comfort and protection.
Dovecote - a special building designed for keeping and breeding pigeons
This structure must comply with certain standards, since their development, health, reproduction and further growth of offspring depend on the habitat of birds. You can equip a pigeon house with your own hands, but you should approach the matter responsibly and be ready for some costs. It doesn't matter if it is a business or a hobby for the soul, the dovecote should be spacious, warm and meet the basic requirements.
First of all, you need to think about choosing a place for a structure device. Pigeons are rather shy birds, so the presence of harsh loud noises, for example, from highways or nightclubs, is a negative factor. It is better to place the dovecote at a considerable distance from the road and residential areas.
Safety comes first. The construction of the dovecote should take place in an ecologically clean area. The presence of landfills, accumulation of garbage nearby is unacceptable, since rotting food, rats and other harmful factors will cause dangerous infectious diseases.
We must not forget about the comfort for the birds. There should be free space around the dovecote for flight. Obstacles such as tall trees and power lines are an unwanted neighborhood. It is not recommended to build pigeon enclosures near other dovecotes and barnyards.
Gallery: dovecote (25 photos)
Construction of a new dovecote (video)
Varieties of designs
There are 3 main types of bird housing. Before making a dovecote project and starting construction, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the main characteristics of possible types of structures. You should choose the type of building based on your financial capabilities, existing territorial features.
Main types:
- Hinged.
- Tower.
- Attic.
This structure must comply with certain standards, since their development, health, reproduction and further growth of offspring depend on the habitat of birds. Hinged dovecotes are the choice of beginners. This is the most economical and practical type of construction. It is located in villages and in personal plots. This type of dovecote is intended for a small number of individuals, therefore, most often, non-purebred birds are kept in suspended types. The structure is a wooden box suspended from the roof of the building with a tap hole located in front. This is a hole in the cage for the entry and exit of birds, which is regulated by a special valve.
Do-it-yourself hanging dovecote is a fairly simple job that does not require a lot of effort, time and money spent. The disadvantages of such a bird house are obvious. The inconvenience of its location limits the ability to observe birds, their condition, health, chicks and population growth in general. In the winter season, birds may experience discomfort due to the cold. Also in a suspended structure, pigeons are poorly protected from predators.
The tower dovecote is a favorite project of experienced craftsmen. The material for the manufacture is brick or wood. The shape of the dovecote is round, hence the name - tower. In height, the structure can reach 4 m. The structure itself is quite practical, as it often consists of several floors. The first storey store pigeon feed and equipment, the next storeys are for nests.
The tower dovecote is a favorite project of experienced craftsmen The dignity of the tower type of dovecote lies in the open human access to observation of chicks and selection. The nests are separated from each other by walls, while you can freely get to each individual nest. Building a tower house for pigeons with your own hands is not only costly, but also difficult. It is especially troublesome to purchase building material and plan a construction, but it is very convenient to use an equipped dwelling for pigeons for breeding purposes.
Dovecote in the attic is more common in villages and hamlets. The location does not imply any additional construction. It is necessary to purchase cages for pigeons, where they will definitely equip a place for walking.
Construction requirements
The construction of the dovecote itself may vary depending on the location of the birdhouse and the layout. However, there are a number of requirements, the observance of which will help to ensure the safety of birds and a comfortable place to live. A big problem for many beginners is the ill-conceived temperature regime of the dovecotes. It is usually not difficult to provide air temperature up to + 20 ° С in summer. It is worth remembering that in the cold season in the dovecote it should not be colder than +5 ° C. Compliance with these rules will reduce the risk of developing diseases among birds and will have a beneficial effect on their lifestyle and breeding.
The aviary can be constructed from various materials. When choosing a tree for building a dovecote, you should think about the insulation and strength of the walls. To do this, you can veneer the house with plywood and plaster, tightly filling the joints. Brick walls require complete plastering from the inside. Metal sheets are also suitable as building materials for a bird's enclosure. Inside, it is sheathed with boards, and plywood is laid on top. The roof is an important element of the dovecote. It must be supplemented with heat-insulating materials to regulate the temperature regime.
The aviary can be constructed from various materials The arrangement of the dovecote also involves the correct calculation of the size based on the planned number of birds. On average, it is customary to settle 1 couple on an area of 1 m². The aviary should consist of several sections, no more than 15 pairs in one compartment. Together you can settle 1 breed or similar species. Young individuals under the age of 1 year are housed individually, females are taken care of separately in winter.
When planning a dovecote, the following dimensional grid is taken into account: doors 60x180 cm, windows 20x20 cm.The last hole most often takes no less than 1/10 of the floor, their location is determined by the breed of birds. Decorative pigeons prefer the arrangement of windows at a height of 1 m from the floor, and larger fleshy breeds about 25 cm from the floor.
Construction of a unique dovecote (video)
Aviary construction
Before starting construction, you need to choose the type of dovecote, plan the sections and sketch a drawing, indicating the dimensions and proportions. The foundation for the future aviary may be small - about 0.5 m deep. It is better to fill it with cement mortar - for strength and stability. The frame of the dovecote can be made of bars. First, it needs to be upholstered with boards on the outside, and then on the inside. Do not neglect the insulation material for the roof and walls.
After installing the cages, housing structures and a taphole, you can start finishing work inside the dovecote. It is important to get electricity, build individual barn perches and equip them with box nests. It is better for chicks to install automatic feeders, and ordinary ones are suitable for adult pigeons.
It is better to separate the place for food from grain and feed with minerals. Do not forget about the constant availability of clean water in the dovecote. It is important to consider ventilation, as fresh air is important for birds. To do this, you can make a second door from the mesh, and equip the ceiling with a hood.
Another vital aspect of setting up a birdhouse is prophylactic disinfection of the enclosure. It should be carried out at least once a month. In addition to the correctness of the construction itself, the safety and correctness of its operation are the main factors for a healthy and comfortable living and breeding of birds. Fighting microbes through disinfection will prolong the life of the pigeons and will have a beneficial effect on the growth of the offspring.
A person who has decided to breed pigeons involuntarily wonders where it is best to do it. You can buy pigeon cages and keep them there, but the cage is too small for these free birds. Therefore, the best solution would be to build a dovecote on your own. How to make a dovecote and equip it from the inside, you will learn from this article.
Before building a poultry house, you need to decide on its location and type of building. The choice of the type will depend on the number of birds, the experience of the owner, and his financial capabilities.
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Any material can be used for construction, but each of them will have its own requirements.
Dovecote construction
After deciding on the type of building and material, make sure that there are no high-voltage transmission lines, cesspools and tall branching trees near the chosen place. To the birds felt good and do not get sick, make sure that the windows or doors of the poultry house do not overlook the barnyard (yours or a neighbor's).
Building requirements
Before planning a dovecote project, you need to know how it should be arranged, what nuances should be taken into account in this case. Build a bird house, observing the following requirements.
- For one pair of medium-sized pigeons, 1 cubic meter of area is required. It is not recommended to house more than 16 pairs of birds of the same species in one compartment.
- The dovecote should have at least two compartments, preferably more. This is necessary in order to separate the females from the males for the winter, and in the summer to settle the chicks separately for up to a year.
- Decide on the location of the windows. If you intend to keep meat pigeons, make the windows about 20 cm from the floor. If decorative - at a height of 1 m.
If you have already calculated the required area for the bird's dwelling, it's time to decide on the rest of the dimensions. The device of the dovecote must be completed according to the following standards.
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Then decide on the number of rooms. Keep in mind that the presence of partitions will "steal" a little space. After all the calculations done, make a drawing of the dovecote. So you can accurately calculate the amount of materials required and, accordingly, their cost. The drawing can be anything, design at your discretion.
DIY dovecote construction
It is not difficult to carry out a hinged or pillar pigeon house according to the finished drawing. And building a ground enclosure will require good building skills. The following describes how to build a dovecote with your own hands about the same as in the photo.
Necessary part of the building. At this stage, no mistakes can be made. It takes about a year for the foundation to shrink, so errors can initially be overlooked. And it will be a shame, having built the entire room, soon to find a drawdown.
First, dig a pit half a meter deep. You can build a foundation from a prefabricated wooden structure, or you can pour concrete in the old fashioned way. It is important to observe the compliance of the foundation parameters with the location of the outer walls. The stability of the entire building depends on this. It will be useful to cover the floor with waterproofing material.
Construct the walls according to the drawing from the material of your choice. Brick or cinder block should be insulated foam or other material, plaster from the inside and sheathe with plywood. But as a rule, the walls are still made of wood. The walls can be painted outside to protect against wind and moisture.
Then cover the roof with roofing felt (or other similar material), slate or metal tiles on top. The roof can be insulated. Then a frame is built on which the mesh is stretched. In such an aviary, birds feel great.
Internal arrangement
When the dovecote is built, it's time to take care of its internal structure. Conduct electricity for installation light sources and heaters... Lay the floor with smooth boards, you can put a piece of linoleum on top of the boards. This floor will be easy to clean.
Then build the perches. Number of perches should be equal to the number of birds, because each of them should have its own place. Such perches are made from two hammered rods fixed on a thin beam. Secure the topmost row of perches no higher than 30 cm from the ceiling.
Pigeons love to swim, and for this purpose, there must be a bathtub in the room. Drinking bowls and feeders must also be present. You can buy them in a store, you can make them yourself, as long as they are. Automatic feeders are installed for chicks.
An obligatory part of the internal structure of the dovecote is nests... They should be a wooden structure with cells, nailed to the wall, and their number should correspond to the number of females. In each cell, you need to place wooden boxes measuring 20-25 cm, 5-7 cm high. You can make round nests of gypsum 20-25 cm in diameter, 6-7 cm high. The cells are covered with straw or hay.
Dovecote operating rules
So, the room has been built, the arrangement of the dovecote has been done according to all the rules. Now the main thing is to monitor the cleanliness of the place and take proper care of it.
Conduct cleaning the bird house you need it every day, with the utmost care once a week. General cleaning is done 2 times a year in spring and autumn. Before you start cleaning, you need to release the pigeons, take out the feeders, the bath. Sweep the walls and wash the floor. After the floor is dry, the birds can be launched.
Every pigeon owner needs to have special equipment: scrapers, scoop, broom, broom, bucket and rake. And also you need to take care of the first aid kit, and that it contains all the necessary tools. These include: syringe, scissors, bandages, plaster, threads, potassium permanganate, cotton wool, enteroseptol, alcohol. With due enthusiasm, desire and time, it will not be difficult to make a dovecote with your own efforts.
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