PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 23 



FEED, ETC. 



BEFORE taking up the question of feed, on-e must arrange 

 for either a " salt-cat" or a mortar bed in the loft, for 

 there is an absolute necessity for something of this 

 kind. If one will wateh common pigeons that have never 

 been confined, he will note that they never miss the chance 

 to peck at an old wall where there is mortar. How much 

 more needful then to furnish something of the kind for birds 

 kept in constant confinement. 



A small salt-cat can be made as follows: a shovel full of 

 mortar, not new, but from some old building; the older the 

 better. Put in a box and pound it up, add about a quart of 

 Portland cement, a quart of ground shells and about the same 

 of grit. Then throw in a handful of caraway seeds, wet the 

 whole and stir it up till it is like putty, sprinkle in salt, work 

 it up well and it can then be turned out of the box and will 

 stay in sbape. Let it dry well and then leave it in the loft 

 where the birds can get at it at all times. 



My loft being large, I have a large square place near the 

 front windows so that I can get lots of sun. It was first filled 

 with mortar and after pounding it partially I put in oyster 

 shells, Foust's Health Grit, Mica Grit and in fact every kind 

 of grit, including samples of ground brick, etc. that was ever 

 sent me. 



This was all mixed. I also throw every egg shell on the 

 heap and about once a month go over it with a rake, mixing 

 the whole. A box of salt stands in the centre. I keep salt 

 the year around in every loft and every room. My birds are 

 never without it and I attribute their constant good health to 

 it. As for regular feed I will simply state what I have often 

 quoted before. 



I use Canada peas, with a little rape and millet, as two parts 

 of the feed, and good sound wheat as the other part. This 



