FANCY PIGEONS 257 



The care of fancy pigeons is about the same as the care of 

 squab producing pigeons, except of course that peculiar varie- 

 ties require peculiar and special attention. Birds that are de- 

 veloped principally for their smallness of size require a different 

 diet than a bird that is developed chiefly for its large size. Birds 

 bred for their flying qualities require special attention to develop 

 them along those lines, etc. The loft, fly pen, and nest arrange- 

 ments should be about the same as for squab producing birds, 

 where a large number are bred, but where there are but a few 

 pairs it is not materially necessary to use the double nest sys- 

 tem, although this is really much easier when two or three birds 

 are kept in the same room. 



MATING FANCY PIGEONS 



Mating fancy pigeons is conducted in the same way as squab 

 producing birds, except more care and attention should be 

 taken in order to bring out certain qualities in the youngsters. 

 In fact, the selection of mates in the fancy game is one of the 

 chief and most particular parts of the undertaking. 



It is claimed by some that all fancy, as well as other varieties 

 of pigeons, originally came from the old rock wild pigeon. 

 Whether they did or not, there is one thing evident and that 

 is that all fancy pigeons of different varieties have been devel- 

 oped more or less by the aid of man, and if fancy pigeons of 

 different varieties are crossed, their offspring will soon resemble 

 common pigeons, and show more or less blue with black bars 

 on their wings, and in a few generations \\ill lose the special 

 characteristics of the fancy forefathers. 



DEVELOPING FANCY PIGEONS 



Those who raise pigeons for fancy, as a rule, strive to create 

 by special mating and selection, birds of special design, type 

 and feather color. This is not done, however, by crossing one 

 breed with another, but by developing birds in a certain direc- 

 tion according to what is possible to accomplish with certain 

 breeds. 



A Fantail pigeon can be developed until, when they carry 

 their tail and head in a natural way, their tail feathers will be 



