Giving the birds a bath
It was nice and sunny this morning. I decided it would be good to give the widowhood cocks a bath. I don’t usually like giving the birds a bath in the loft mainly because of the mess. But this time of year I don’t want the birds bathing outside because of the threat from sparrow hawks, and a cat that has been hiding under a hedge near the loft recently. I put a bowl of warm water up in the trap. While put this bath in I noticed the youngsters trying to bath in their drinker. So I put another bath in their section. The widowhood hens are still in with the youngsters and one was in the bath before I finished filling it. I left the baths down for a couple of hours. I removed the baths just after lunch. The floor in the young bird section was soaked. I gave it a quick scrape out to get rid of most of the water and left it to dry. By the time I finished work the loft was nice and dry again. I think most if not all the birds, cocks, hens and youngsters all had a good bath.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
A large base tray, that you have in XL dog cage may do the trick for you Andy.Andy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:46 pm It was nice and sunny this morning. I decided it would be good to give the widowhood cocks a bath. I don’t usually like giving the birds a bath in the loft mainly because of the mess. But this time of year I don’t want the birds bathing outside because of the threat from sparrow hawks, and a cat that has been hiding under a hedge near the loft recently. I put a bowl of warm water up in the trap. While put this bath in I noticed the youngsters trying to bath in their drinker. So I put another bath in their section. The widowhood hens are still in with the youngsters and one was in the bath before I finished filling it. I left the baths down for a couple of hours. I removed the baths just after lunch. The floor in the young bird section was soaked. I gave it a quick scrape out to get rid of most of the water and left it to dry. By the time I finished work the loft was nice and dry again. I think most if not all the birds, cocks, hens and youngsters all had a good bath.
Good idea Devo.Devo1956 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:59 pmA large base tray, that you have in XL dog cage may do the trick for you Andy.Andy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:46 pm It was nice and sunny this morning. I decided it would be good to give the widowhood cocks a bath. I don’t usually like giving the birds a bath in the loft mainly because of the mess. But this time of year I don’t want the birds bathing outside because of the threat from sparrow hawks, and a cat that has been hiding under a hedge near the loft recently. I put a bowl of warm water up in the trap. While put this bath in I noticed the youngsters trying to bath in their drinker. So I put another bath in their section. The widowhood hens are still in with the youngsters and one was in the bath before I finished filling it. I left the baths down for a couple of hours. I removed the baths just after lunch. The floor in the young bird section was soaked. I gave it a quick scrape out to get rid of most of the water and left it to dry. By the time I finished work the loft was nice and dry again. I think most if not all the birds, cocks, hens and youngsters all had a good bath.
When racing the cocks will get bathed every week after the race. I will take a bowl of warm water into the loft once all the cocks have returned and the hens removed. Each cock will be held in the bowl for 1 minute each. Then left to relax in their box.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.