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#Post#: 7198--------------------------------------------------
Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: markmidmo
Date: May 17, 2011, 3:48 pm
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Mid-Missouri suffered a couple of unseasonably cold, windy and
damp days Saturday through this morning while I was out of town.
I lost several squabs almost ready to wean so I'm trying to
figure out what I did wrong in the loft.
Will low 40 temperature in-and-of themselves kill young healthy
birds?
There is a low floor vent that was open and an overhead wind
turbine that keeps the loft air clear of airborne debris.
I'm tempted to blame the air exchange as this is something I
didn't have in the old days. My thinking is that over the
course of the 2 1/2 days it chilled them beyond recovery, but it
has been a long time since I raised pigeons.
Any thoughts?
Oh, the adults appear fine, are sitting on the next round of
eggs and show no signs of distress.
#Post#: 7200--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: joeb
Date: May 17, 2011, 5:25 pm
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Mark,
If they were feathered out I would be suspicious. Although it
has been cool the last three days, I don't think it is cold
enough to kill healthy feathered out youngsters. The draft is a
possibility but I would keep an eye on the rest. ???
Keep em spinning
Joe B
#Post#: 7220--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: wishiwon2
Date: May 18, 2011, 2:48 am
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Did the parents have sufficient feed and water for 2 1/2 days.
If feed runs out, parents will take care of their own
nutritional demands first and not feed babies. Often times they
will not sit well either if out of feed.
If the wings and chests were covered with feather, 40 degrees
shouldnt have been too cold. Like Joe said, I would be on watch
for something else. If they were just pinning out, thats the
stage they are most vulnerable to chill, they dont have enough
feathering to stay warm and the parents are reluctant to sit
tight because of the pokey quills.
#Post#: 7223--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: markmidmo
Date: May 18, 2011, 8:15 am
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Food and water weren't an issue. My entire setup is based on
the assumption that I'll be gone part of each week.
The young birds were late in the quill stage but not fully
feathered, so maybe it was just unfortunate timing between their
age and the cold damp weather.
I'll keep a critical eye on things and hope this next round goes
better.
#Post#: 7229--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: Cliff Ball
Date: May 18, 2011, 10:22 am
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mark,
The stage you are describing is when they are most vulnerable to
death from getting to cold. The quills don't protent them much,
and like Jon said, the parents don't sit them tight enough to
keep them warm.
Cliff
#Post#: 7251--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: windjammer loft
Date: May 19, 2011, 4:23 am
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Mark....you said "There is a low floor vent that was open and an
overhead wind turbine that keeps the loft air clear of airborne
debris".
If the winds were consistantly blowing, this would keep the
overhead turbine in action, thus causing a constent "cold" air
flow thru your loft, causing "DRAFT". Maintaining constent cold
temps in the loft also. Not a good idea. You need good "air
ventilation", NOT a "draft". I would also have to agree with
Cliff and the others.
#Post#: 7264--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: markmidmo
Date: May 19, 2011, 12:30 pm
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I think you guys are right. In my zeal to build a good healthy
loft I've committed a rookie mistake.
This morning was another cold, windy and damp day in Missouri.
I sat in the loft peeled off my shirt (what we won't do for our
birds!) and sat on the feed bucket. There is a decided updraft
from the lower vent to the turbine.
I closed the lower vent and it was much nicer, however I'm of a
mind that I'll have to install a slider door over the turbine
opening to cut the flow during very inclement weather.
Thanks for helping me figure this out. I was confident it was a
management issue, but too close to the problem to think it
through.
#Post#: 7265--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: joeb
Date: May 19, 2011, 12:37 pm
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Mark, It is kind of tough when you go from 90 one day to 45 the
next. Ventilation is good but drafts are bad, especially during
breeding season. Good luck.
Keep em spinning
Joe B
#Post#: 7271--------------------------------------------------
Re: Was it cold or draft that killed them?
DIR By: windjammer loft
Date: May 20, 2011, 7:40 am
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Mark....may I suggest that you somehow block the lower vent at
times, instead of blocking the turbine opening. With the turbine
always open and the lower vent closed, blocked or partially
closed, YOU will still get good air ventilation when the temps
are cold. But you won't be having a "draft" problem that way.
Hope this helps..
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