PIGEONS FOR PROFIT AND PLEASURE 119 



are the Homers. They are prolific, good nurses and of medium size. 

 If Homers are crossed on the Hen, Runt or Dragoon the progeny 

 will be larger and bring a better price. But the Belgian Carneaux is 

 at present holding the stage as the best squab pigeon. These birds 

 are larger than the Homer, quite as prolific and excellent mothers 

 and nurses. The prices on these birds are higher than the Homers, 

 because there are not enough of them to make them cheap, nor will 

 there be for some time, as prices in Eastern States are being held up 

 by a scarcity. 



The Loft. Now for the loft, for after all that is the first thing to 

 think of, even before the pigeons are bought. In California we do 

 not need any expensive buildings for pigeons any more than for 

 chickens. All that is required is that it must be a shelter from rain 

 and sun, be safe from cats, rats, hawks and mice. 



The cat proposition can be taken care of by putting the wire 

 netting of the fly under ground several inches. Rats must be exter- 

 minated, for there is no safety for the pigeons while they are on the 

 premises; mice, too, must be exterminated, for they often cause 

 trouble by making their nests in the nest where ,a pair of pigeons are 

 hatching and by disturbing them cause them to forsake their young. 



One of the largest pigeon plants in California had nothing but 

 just a roof over the nests of their breeders until the heavy rains of 

 the winter of 1913 washed a great portion of the plant away. I think 

 our stock ought to be better sheltered than that, but any ordinary 

 poultry house can be converted into a pigeon loft by adding nests 

 to the house and a good sized fly outside. Each pair of pigeons needs 

 two nests with one lighting board. 



Furnish the birds with tobacco stems and oat straw to make their 

 nests of and a bath in the fly and that will solve the question of lice. 

 At least it has done for us so far, as all our pigeons are clean and 

 free from lice, mites or any kind of vermin. 



Feeding. Like all other kind of birds or animals, the better 

 pigeons are fed, the better results can be expected. Good feed 

 includes good sound grain, a variety of it and green feed, grit, char- 

 coal, salt, oyster shell, etc. Red wheat is better than the white 

 varieties. Kaffir corn or cracked corn hemp and Canada field peas 

 make a variety that will keep pigeons healthy and in good breeding 

 condition. Not too many peas should be served when the birds are 

 breeding, as they are very fattening. But when there are many squabs 

 to be fed, extra feed should be allowed for them. For a pen of fifty 

 birds we give three quarts at a feeding, , and when there are many 

 squabs, at least a pint extra should be served. In addition to this 

 they have lettuce, rape or kale which ever is being fed to the chickens 

 at the time, once or twice a day. And these birds have done wonder- 

 fully well. Sometimes I think a little broken rice and millet seed 



