Livestock* Pigeons Proper Management of. 75fi 



they wilfkeep hovering about home, and be prevented taking their neceffary excr- 

 cife.&quot; If fed &quot; the year round, they will not breed near fo well as if forced to feek 

 their own food ; for they pick up in the fields what is pleafant and heahhy to 

 them, and from the beginning of the harveft to the end of feed-time they find 

 plenty. * They may be fed with tares, grains, or feeds of any kind. 



&quot; Be cautious of not letting the firft flight fly to increafe the flock, hut let every 

 one of them be taken ; as thefe will come in what is called benting-time, that is, 

 between feed-time and harveft. It is then that pigeons are the fcarceft ; and many 

 of the young ones would pine to death through weaknefs during that feafon. 



&quot; At the latter end of every flight care fhould be taken to deftroy all thofe eggs 

 tvhich were not layed in a proper time. The proper time for the fprmg flight is 

 in April and May. After the harveft flight, cold weather begins to come on, 

 which injures the old pigeon much if (he fits late ; and the young will be good 

 for nothing if hatched.&quot; 



&quot; It is very neceflary to pay attention to cleanlinefs in the management of ^ dore- 

 cote. Before breeding-time the holes ought to be carefully examined and cleaned ;. 

 for if any of the young die in the holes in fummer, maggots are foon bred in them : 

 they become putrid, and emit a difagreeable and unwholefome ftcnch, very injurious 

 to the inhabitants of the dove-cote. Pigeons are tenacious of their nefts, as appears 

 from the conduct of the wood-pigeon, which will breed for years in the fame tree, 

 and the mother forfakes her neft with regret; but, unable to endure the filth and 

 ilench of her dead offspring, fhe is obliged to quit the eggs flie has laid for a 

 fecond brood, and the prime of the feafon is loft. Every fummer, immediately 

 after the firft flight, the nefts mould be all cleaned out, and the dung totally taken 

 away, as it breeds filth. But remember to do this bufinefs early in the mornng.&quot; 

 The remaining eggs ought likewife to be deftroyed., and a perfectly clean habitation- 

 made for the harveft- flight. 



It is advifed &quot; never to go into a dove-cote later than mid-day, but as early in a 

 morning as convenient. Whatever repairs are neceflary, either to the building or 

 to the nefts, mould be done before noon : for if you difturb the pigeons in the 

 afternoon, they will not reft contentedly the whole night; and the greateft part,, 

 perhaps, will not enter the cote until the next day, but will fit moping on the 

 ground ; and, if in breeding-time, either a number of eggs may be {polled,, or fevc- 

 ral young ones ftarved to death.&quot; 



Pigeons are fuppofed to be more productive from the breeds being crofTcd, ia 



