.,.-, PKiKnXS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



hird is growing all the time, and the shell is becoming 

 more brittle. I'sually the old birds bring out the empty 

 >lu -11s. and often with a great deal of pride. If they do not^ 

 take tin-in out gently as soon as possible for they are in the 

 way. Again; I have seen the bloody half of the first egg, 

 fJiji over I he second egg and stick, and retard the progress of 

 the second bird. All these little matters go to show how 

 careful, how watchful the conscientious fancier must be. 



Jiut for all this patience and perseverance, he gains his re- 

 ward when the young birds beautiful in their style, their 

 mark ing, their lovely contour of body, and all the little 

 points so necessary to the really fine pigeon, step out on the 

 floor to delight his eye. He knows that while they are direct- 

 ly descended from their parents, it is his skill and care, 

 aided by his instinctive love for the beautiful, that has made 

 them what they are. If among them there are a few thatcau 

 be decked with the coveted blue ribbons, in keen competi- 

 lion, then his cup of happiness is indeed full to overflowing. 



The young being now out of the eggs, all we have to do is, 

 as stated before, to watch and see that they are fed evenly, 

 that is, that both are fed about the same amount and neither 

 neglected. It is a good idea to feed rather early in the 

 morning, and then the hens will leave the nests with their 

 young in them, eat a little, and hurry back, leaving the cocks 

 to get good full crops of feed prior to relieving the hen, at 

 which time she will eat enough for the afternoon and night. 



I mention this from the fact, that if a morning feed is de- 

 layed till late in the day, the hens are apt to stay off too long. 

 More young die through being chilled in the morning, than 

 at any other time. It is well to watch, and if you notice a 

 young bird quivering its little wings, shaking with cold and 

 gaping at intervals, hurry and slip it under another hen for 

 the time being, till it gets thoroughly warm. 



