Chapter V. 



o< FEEDING, BREEDING, AND JVIANAGEIVIENT. >o 

 Foods. 



HE grain used for feeding fancy pigeons is 

 wheat, barley, beans, peas, tares, and maize, 

 besides some otlier kinds. All of these are 

 good in their way, and may be mixed together. 

 The fancier will find that some birds prefer 

 one kind, and some another. The grain should neither be too 

 new nor too old, for when used in the year it is grown it is 

 inclined to be too relaxing, and apt to scour the birds ; on the 

 other hand, old grain, that has been ill kept, and become 

 perforated by worms or weevils, will have lost most of its 

 goodness, and a great part of it will be refused by the birds. 

 Grain may be kept well for a considerable time if spread on 

 a wooden floor to the depth of 6in. or 9in., and turned over 

 once a week or so. The place should be free from damp, or 

 the grain will become musty. Well-conditioned grain keeps 

 the birds in good health, and makes a great difference in the 

 number of young ones reared, for any that has become too 

 hard from age cannot be easily digested by them, and musty 

 or worm-eaten stuff' being distasteful to them, the young ones 



