PIGEONS AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 87 



two of oil rubbed on the beak and not allowed to touch the 

 feathers, makes it fresh and bright. 



Now is the time that the long tier of training pens comes 

 in. Put each bird in a pen by itself, and run pasteboards be- 

 tween the coops, so that not one bird in the line can see any 

 other. Don't let any pens face other ones. The point is to 

 keep each and every bird from laying eyes on another pigeon 

 until it is in its proper pen in the show room. Give a little 

 hemp each day in addition to the other feed. Keep the bird 

 on fresh pine sawdust if possible. 



Now to train. Teach the bird not to fear either you or any 

 thing else. Rap the pen smartly with the training stick. 

 Shake cloths in front of the birds; in fact break them just as 

 you would a timid horse. The more noise you make, the 

 more ridiculous gyrations you go through, the better. When 

 you are done, that string of birds will know that nothing is 

 going to hurt them. Now gain their friendship and confi- 

 dence. Keep them hungry enough to be glad to see you, as 

 you go down the line. Have them pine after your company. 

 Open the slides often and put your hand in gently, and have 

 some excuse for touching them with the training stick, as 

 often as possible. Stroke them with it, and have them under-, 

 stand that it can't possibly hurt them. Use a white stick, 

 for that is the color the average judge uses, and the birds 

 will be used to it. 



All this may sound foolish, but there is method in it. I 

 know of no place where there is more noise and confusion 

 than in a show room, especially for the first few days of the 

 show. It has never yet been my good fortune to begin judg- 

 ing in a show room where everything was ready, and when 

 the hammering and sawing etc. was enough to have its effect 

 on an old timer like myself, think of what effect it must 

 have had on nervous birds. 



