A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



As soon as the pigeons become accustomed 

 to their new quarters, the hen will lay two 

 eggs, with a day between. Incubation takes 

 eighteen days. Young squabs are market- 

 able when thirty days old. Before then, 

 the second nest has two eggs hatching by the 

 mother bird. This is why it is necessary 

 for each pair to have two nests. 



Pigeons have one great advantage over other 

 poultry for the amateur, they are among the 

 few domestic fowls that feed their own young. 

 Both male and female have the power to 

 secrete a digestive substance, sometimes called 

 " pigeon's milk," on which they feed the nest- 

 lings exclusively, at first, adding gradually 

 hard grain, until the young are strong enough 

 to find for themselves. 



Feeding the old ones is quite a simple 

 matter. Cracked corn, Canada peas, or 

 Kafir-corn are all good for them; in fact, 

 the three grains mixed and fed daily make 

 a good staple diet. For other feeds, use 

 wheat, hemp-seed, and, one day in the week, 

 B 49 



