264 



OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



so much higher than for those not known to be mated, that most 

 beginners buy on the other plan. 



Where the flock is small and the birds are to be allowed to 

 select their own mates, all that is necessary is to watch them closely 

 until all are mated or it is evident that there is a surplus of one 

 sex. Surplus males will quarrel persistently with the other males 

 and endeavor to coax their mates away from them. The unmated 

 males must be provided with mates or removed from the loft. 

 Unmated females are not so readily noticed except when there 

 are only a few birds in the loft, but by close watching they 



will soon be found. 

 When a start is to 

 be made with quite 

 a large number of 

 unmated birds, the 

 best plan is to put 

 the flock first in a 

 different apartment 



from that in which 

 FIG. 215. Neat pigeon house and fly 



they are to be kept 



permanently, and, as each pair mate and begin to build their 

 nest, remove them to their permanent quarters. 



When it is desired to mate a particular male and female, the 

 best way is to place them one in each side of a small coop with 

 a wire partition across the middle. This coop should be put 

 where they cannot see other pigeons. Sometimes one of the 

 birds shows a decided antipathy to the other. In such a case it 

 is, as a rule, useless to continue efforts to induce them to pair. 

 In most cases, however, the birds will soon show mutual affection. 

 When this stage is reached, they may be taken to the loft and 

 released. Short coarse straw or fine twigs should be placed 

 where pigeons that are building nests can take what they want. 

 No nest box or pan is really needed, but many pigeon keepers 

 use a nest bowl, called a nappy, of earthenware or wood fiber. 



