DOMESTIC PIGEONS 241 



period is certain to result in various troubles, and the few 

 young reared seldom compensate for the injury to the over- 

 worked breeders. 



Cocks and hens should be placed in separate quarters and 

 allowed to renew their plumage without thought of the 

 cares and burdens of matrimony. The strain of the repro- 

 ductive season is very severe, especially on the hens, and 

 this period of recuperation is a necessity for well-bred birds. 

 They should be kept in this restful condition until mating 

 time again appears. 



With all short-beaked breeds, such as Owls, Oriental 

 Frills and Short-faced Tumblers, as well as some others, it 

 is customary to make use of feeders. These are birds of 

 known diligence and steadiness, which may be depended 

 upon to rear the young, if care will do it. Common pigeons. 

 Homers and Long-faced Tumblers are well suited for the 

 purpose. 



In large studs two or three pairs of feeders are kept to 

 each pair of stock birds, thus insuring the proximity of lay- 

 ing time. The feeders must lay within a day or two, at 

 the most, of the pair whose eggs they are to hatch. The 

 eggs are transferred as soon as laid, and the stock birds are 

 usually allowed to hatch and feed the feeder's young for a 

 few days, at least until the " milk " no longer is formed. 



Although some birds are very particular as to the young 

 they feed, and will not accept strangers large enough to be 

 recognized, others will take any that will acquiesce. Such 

 birds are invaluable in a loft of feeders, and should be 

 retained as long as they are able to perform their 

 duties. 



It often happens that, from one cause or another, a young 

 bird will be without an adequate food supply before it is 

 old enough to care for itself. In such cases one must re- 

 sort to hand feeding. If the squab has reached the grain 



