I am new to pigeons and I have a 12x10ft. little barn for a loft.It has a regular door with a screen door too for me to enter and 2 regular sixe windows with screens that I can convert into a pigeon door to a landing board.How big and how many nest boxs and perches do I need.And how many birds can I keep in a set up this size.I would like to have some racing pigeons maybe a couple tumblers.HOw big does the landing area need to be?Of course from what I see the landing area needs to be a small flight pen also.I will not have heat in the logt it is insultated and I can hook up electric eventually.

Hi Kelliepulido

Thanks for posting and asking this question. I have just built my first 'loft' for two pet pigeons and am still learning about loft requirements myself, but there are several other members who will be along shortly to give you the best advice on nest boxes and the number of birds you can comfortably house in a loft of your size. Welcome to pigeon keeping! I hope you enjoy your new hobby. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you wish as we are more than willing to help in any way we can.

kelliepulido wrote:I am new to pigeons and I have a 12x10ft. little barn for a loft.It has a regular door with a screen door too for me to enter and 2 regular sixe windows with screens that I can convert into a pigeon door to a landing board.How big and how many nest boxs and perches do I need.And how many birds can I keep in a set up this size.I would like to have some racing pigeons maybe a couple tumblers.HOw big does the landing area need to be?Of course from what I see the landing area needs to be a small flight pen also.I will not have heat in the logt it is insultated and I can hook up electric eventually.

HI Kellie.....welcome to our forum. Lots of question........LOL, but that's ok. That's why we're here. First of all, technically, you can put about 60 birds in a loft that size. 10 X 12 =120 / 2 = 60. That's the formula we use and then depending on what you're doing with the birds, adjust it down if need be.
It's really hard to have just one loft and do all the things you want to do. Best scenario is, 1 loft divided in 2 sections for breeders. 1 loft divided in 2 sections for old birds and a loft for young birds. The size of those lofts will depend on how many birds you plan to keep. IMO, you can keep a bigger number of birds in a loft of flying birds than you can a loft where the birds are prisoners and never allowed to fly.
I would suggest dividing the loft into at least two sections. Maybe a temporary wall that can be put up and taken down as needed. A lot depends to on what age the birds are when you get them. If you start out with young birds and break them to your loft, then you don't need to have a prisoner loft. Eventually those young birds will be old enough to breed for you and raise you more young birds. If you just want pets or release birds, you can get away with this. If you want to race birds, then, no matter how hard you try, you will wind up with prisoners. You'll either purchase a pedigreed old bird that would fly the coop if let loose, or you'll get that special bird that you decide is TOO special to put out there for a hawk to get. It just happens to everyone.
As far as the landing board size, it can be almost any size you want it to be. Actually, a picture of this building would help us give you some ideas.
As far as heat....you don't need any heat. You don't need insulation, but since it's there, it's ok. Pigeons are very hardy birds and can tolerate the weather, hot or cold, as long as they are healthy and fed properly.
Hope this helps you some. Please ask any other questions you have. There's a couple of us here that have lofts of birds and someone will answer you eventually. I'll be gone from this afternoon until late tonight..........so don't think I'm ignoring you if I don't answer. Ed (Stoned) can help you too. He's new at the pigeons, but has learned A LOT since he started and he just built his loft, so he'll have some good ideas too.

I forgot to answer about the perches. Rule of thumb is that you should have 1 1/2 perches for every bird. And while I'm at it, the type of perches might come up. There are some V perches that I absolutely despise. They look uncomfortable to me. IMHO, the best perches are 2 x 4's cut in 6" lengths and nailed/screwed to a 1 x 2. Pigeons don't "perch" in the way that we think of birds perching. Well, they DO if they don't have a choice, but pigeons mostly like flat surfaces to lounge around on. Now, my FIRST choice for perches would be box perches, but I don't have them in my loft and I doubt hubby will ever build me any, so I have to go with the 2 x 4 type.

Well....
Looks like Renne answered all of your questions
Glad to see you posting on the forum.
We are all here to help.
If you have more question feel free to ask away

Maybe I missed it so does the nest box size need to be 10x10 by 12 and how many boxes is it 1 for every pair?And the 2x4 perch would that be 6in long

kelliepulido wrote:Maybe I missed it so does the nest box size need to be 10x10 by 12 and how many boxes is it 1 for every pair?And the 2x4 perch would that be 6in long

Yea, 6" long. Here's what mine look like.
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/picture.php?albumid=656&pictureid=8093

You either have to have 2 small nest boxes for each pair, or a big enough nest box for two rounds of babies. Our boxes are about 30 inches long, 16 inches deep and 16 inches high. I'm on my way out the door.......talk to yall tomorrow.

The size Renee suggested is perfect.
You want to have enough room.
When pigeons are breeding they lay a set of eggs... those eggs hatch... by the time those babies are 2 to 3 weeks old the parents have already laid another set of eggs and are sitting on those.
You want to make sure you have room for 2 nest bowls in the nest box at the same time.
Hope this helps you out
I sent you a reply PM about the young birds.

kelliepulido wrote:I am new to pigeons and I have a 12x10ft. little barn for a loft.It has a regular door with a screen door too for me to enter and 2 regular sixe windows with screens that I can convert into a pigeon door to a landing board.How big and how many nest boxs and perches do I need.And how many birds can I keep in a set up this size.I would like to have some racing pigeons maybe a couple tumblers.HOw big does the landing area need to be?Of course from what I see the landing area needs to be a small flight pen also.I will not have heat in the logt it is insultated and I can hook up electric eventually.

Welcome to Pigeon & Pet, kelliepulido. I think you will find a lot of information between these four walls.

The others have covered what you wanted to know. Renee is right when she says the 2x4 makes a good perch. I am using them in my loft and most of my birds love them. I would be interested in seeing what your loft looks like. Who knows what we all might come up with.