106 AMERICAN SQUAB CULTURE 



any reason their leg bands should be removed from their legs 

 and saved to be put on another pair for that pen. 



NESTING MATERIAL 



Pigeons build their own nests out of small twigs, coarse hay, 

 straw, etc. Tobacco stems cut up into short lengths is the best 

 material. All that is necessary is to put the nesting material 

 within reach of the birds, and they will carry it to their nests 

 one straw at a time. You cannot help them any or hurry them 

 along by putting the material in the nest for them as they 

 prefer to build their own nests. 



The value of tobacco stems for nesting material cannot be 

 overestimated as the straws are about the right size, round and 

 pliable and are liked by the birds. Added to these qualities the 

 tobacco stems will tend to keep away lice and to keep the birds 

 healthy. 



Tobacco stems can be secured from cigar factories at a small 

 cost, generally 50 to 75 cents a hundred. 



The short, curly Havana stems are the best, but if these cannot 

 be secured the large, coarse kind will do if cut up into lengths 

 8 or 10 inches long. A good way to cut them up is with a corn 

 knife, hand axe or hatchet, using a block of wood to chop them 

 on. They can be cut up with a heavy pair of scissors, but this 

 is a rather slow process. 



Alfalfa hay makes a splendid material for nests as it is short, 

 round and pliable. Straw does not make very good nesting 

 if it is used alone as it is so straight and flat that the birds 

 cannot weave it into a nest of any shape, but birds like a little 

 straw along with other material to make a soft lining out of. 

 Pine needles are recommended by some as good nest material 

 and are also claimed to keep lice away. Having never person- 

 ally used pine needles, I cannot give any definite information 

 regarding them. 



Birds like an assortment of material for nest making, there- 

 fore, where it is convenient it is well to give them some of 

 several materials, such as prairie and alfalfa hay, wheat or oat 

 straw, and tobacco stems. 



This will not only please the birds, but will also save the to- 

 bacco stems and yet give them enough to act as lice preventative. 



