PIGEONS FOR MARKET. 131 



usually take entire charge of the young besides doing 

 his share of incubations. The two eggs will usually 

 hatch one male and one female. 



The natural food of pigeons is grain and the 

 seeds of grasses. They are fond of millet, clover 

 seed and peas, and if allowed to fly when these 

 crops are sown will prove very destructive. Hemp 

 seed is to pigeons what candy is to children. A 

 little may be given them on entering the loft to 

 tame them. 



For a steady diet the following is commend ed : two 

 parts whole corn, two parts wheat and one part buck- 

 wheat, all to be old, sound grain. Screenings to be 

 economical should be purchased for one-fifth the price 

 of good wheat. New grain is not good for the squabs. 

 The corn should be a variety having small grains 

 and should in no case be cracked. 



In order to supply feed for the very young squabs 

 it is well to keep equal parts of bran and corn meal 

 in self-feeding hoopers always before the 

 breeders. Experience has proved that 

 the old ones feed with greater regularity 

 and fatten their young better when the 

 whole grain is supplied at regular hours, TUMBLER^ 

 three times a day, all they will eat up clean. They 

 will not eat grain that is fouled, if they can avoid it, 

 and should not be compelled to do so. 



For side dishes they should have ground oyster 

 shell in a box or barrel lid where they can help them- 

 selves, a lump of rock salt and a bit of salt codfish 

 tacked to the side of the loft by several nails, so they 

 can peck at it, but not tear it down. 



