breeding-loft

11/27/03 Our new Breeding Loft is going in the far South East corner of our property, which is also the "low point" of our property. So we had to haul in about 75 truck loads of fill, or about 1125 cubic yards. The fill is in and compacted. Tomorrow the ditches will be dug for water, electricity, and propane. Then Saturday our contractor Dallon miles will install the forms for the concrete floor.


Compacting the fill	The far corner	About 20' of fill at this corner


Breeding loft formed, hot water Radiant Heat tubing installed, ready for the concrete.	Club member Rod Whitten helping tie all the tubing.


The floor is done and the walls are going up.	Club member Fred Farrish helping me frame the walls.

The walls are finished, trusses due any minute	Look at all the fresh snow on the mountains

Club President Paul Rueter took the left side

Club member Rod Whitten had the center

Club member Fred Farrish took the right side

12/22/03, The outside is pretty much done, including new sidewalks front and rear. Now the work will switch to the inside.


The new sidewalk in front of the loft	The crew covering the fresh concrete for freeze protection	My neighbor Nate helping me insulate the roof

The two exterior doors are hung, the loft is now lockable. Inside shot from one end to the other.	The 8 by 14 foot storage room is finished, it's behind the door in the center. Vinyl is on the windows.	Starting on the lattice ceiling, and the breeding pens.

12/28/03, The white lattice ceiling is finished as is the lighting and all wiring. The permeate breeding pen walls are in, on 8 foot centers. Next I will install all the removable walls that will be on 2 foot centers. This will give me 48 breeding pens 2 foot wide or 12 holding pens 8 foot wide to house the birds when their separated.

Who says it never snows here? 12/30/03, the "High desert" sun rise over 12" of fresh "High Desert" snow.

The extra bird compartment at the south end of the loft is finished, complete with perches, and light timers. So in went the breeder and pumpers hens. The lights are set for 16 hours a day to get the girls primed for the cocks. Hopefully the cocks will move in within two weeks.


The "Extra Bird" compartment at the south end of the building.	Happy hens on their perches.	Unhappy hens just after being moved, looking for their perches.

1/6/04, All the door frames are in. next comes the removable walls.	Looking north down the hallway from the center utility room. 12 breeding pens on each side of the hall


1/6/04, All the door frames are in. next comes the removable walls.	Looking north down the hallway from the center utility room. 12 breeding pens on each side of the hall

Today was a big day for me. After two full days of cutting all the door parts, dadoing every frame part, drilling 672 holes, and building a door assembly jig, the first door is finished. Yahoo! The remaining 47 doors should go fast.

I don't have the removable dividers installed yet but here's the first door!


1/10/03, 36 of the 48 doors are finished now. here's one set of 12.	1/20/03, Another big day. The plumber was out to put the manifolds on my Radiant Floor Heat Tubing, so I finally got the water turned on and the floor heat going.