40 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPER. 



parents at first ; and hence it is usual to exchange the young 

 birds themselves a few days after hatching. It will readily be 

 seen that with pigeons which require nurses it is highly desirable 

 to have at least two pairs of such for every pair of breeding 

 birds, in order that nurses may be ready at the required date. 

 For, as will again be readily understood, the valuable young 

 ones should be transferred to birds which have hatched a few 

 days after themselves, by which they get a larger supply of 

 softer food, and grow the better for it ; whereas, if given to 

 parents that hatched earlier, it would be too hard for them. 

 The common squeakers are usually destroyed, but are often, 

 being coarser and hardier in constitution, successfully reared by 

 the more valuable parents ; and it is better for the health of 

 these, and gives the hen more rest, if they can be. This is 

 easily ensured by helping them to feed. 



Though such, however, must be the general rule in 

 " shifting " pigeons, as it is called, a fancier who knows his 

 birds can now and then take liberties. We have occasionally 

 kept birds we desired as feeders as much as seven days on 

 eggs (in one case eleven days) beyond the proper time of 

 hatching, and then given them young ones only two days old. 

 And we have also given some birds eggs which hatched several 

 days before their own would have been due. In neither case 

 was the proper supply of soft food or pap ready for the first 

 day or two ; but by helping the young over this stage, in a 

 little time the strong parental instinct has made things right. 

 Such liberties can only be taken with birds proved to be quiet 

 and good nurses, in which point there is a great difference in 

 pigeons, some being wild and skittish, while others allow 

 almost anything to be done with them or to them. Such 

 quiet feeders are invaluable ; and in studying the birds, and 

 getting to know their dispositions, lies much of the success in 

 pigeon management. Some fanciers will value a proved pair 

 of quiet and good feeders at 5 per pair, and breed them as 



