PIGEONS AXD ALL ABOUT THEM. 73 



SHIPPING BIRDS. 



THE birds being ordered, the next point is to get them to 

 the buyer in good shape, and much depends on this. 

 A rough uncouth box, filthy inside, and containing 

 rumpled and half famished pigeons is not a good card of in- 

 troduction. 



Yet there are two extremes, a fancier may ship birds in too 

 large a box, thus entailing an expense for transporting a lot 

 of surplus wood, when the expressage on the pigeons them- 

 selves is plenty. 



A man's own judgment should guide him as to the size of 

 a shipping box. AVhat is needed is just enough room to keep 

 the birds from bring squeezed. For one pair I usually take 

 a box about 18 to 20 inches square, and for two pairs a box 

 half as much larger. Three pairs of Fantails can go nicely 

 in a box 24 inches long by 18 wide. It should be at least 

 12 inches and lo high if possible, as height is a great thing 

 to stop all danger from either draughts or suffocation. I 

 have seen many a fine bird come to a show dead in the box, 

 because its owner was too saving of space. 



I have never yet lost a bird from suffocation in shipping, 

 in all these years; and I attribute it to the fact that I never 

 use a low box. Formerly I used a combination box of wood 

 and canvas ; but of late years use only wood. It is useless to 

 go to the expense of having fine boxes made, when they can 

 be picked up for a song at any grocery store. Again, the 

 wood box is far safer than any combination wood and canvas 

 box, and the Express companies do not charge any fancy 

 rates on it. 



All through the West and South there is a cracker box in 

 general use, that makes the very best kind of a shipping 

 box. The wood is light yet strong, and a few extra nails will 



