16 



peck at it voraciously, and it will be 

 a great benefit to them, assisting the 

 hens in producing a very strong shell 

 to their eggs ; plenty of sand should 

 be kept in the cote. 



All these trifles are very important 

 in the rearing of strong birds. The 

 old birds should be fed three times 

 a day while they are breeding, and 

 the best food is peas and barley, and 

 a small quantity of hemp seed occa- 

 sionally The old birds require a 

 nest box to form their nest in, 

 This box should be about eight 

 inches square and two inches deep ; 

 this is the proper size. Some fanciers 

 use clay pans, similar to a flower- 

 pot saucer ; but, from experience, 

 the pots give the younger ones the 

 cramp the wood box is far superior. 

 Straw, with a small quantity of deal 

 sawdust, is the best for nests. 

 Pigeons only lay two eggs, and they 

 sit seventeen days ; often the hen is 

 very weak when about to lay, and 



