132 BIGGLE POULTRY BOOK. 



The floor of the loft should be kept reasonably 

 clean and be strewn occasionally with fresh sand and 

 gravel. Red gravel is the best, as it contains iron, 

 the oxide of iron giving it its peculiar color. Pigeons 

 will peck at clay and coal ashes, and also at weeds 

 and grasses. They use these substances, probably, for 

 medicinal purposes, as dogs eat grass and cats cat 

 catnip. 



Pigeons drink a great deal of water, and it is 

 important that it should be kept clean. Open vessels 

 should never be used in a loft, unless a stream of pure 

 water can be kept running through 

 them. A wire cage like the cut, open 

 at the bottom and closed on top, set 

 over a basin, makes a handy arrange- 

 ment. Stone or earthen self-feeding fountains, such 

 as are used for fowls, are good. 



A daily bath in summer, and twice a week in 

 winter, is essential to the comfort and health of the 

 flock. Wide, shallow milk pans answer very well for 

 bath tubs. These may be set out in the fly filled with 

 water, and allowed to remain an hour or two and then 

 emptied. 



An open feed-trough is quite as objectionable as 

 open water vessels. The feed in them becomes 

 foul and much of it is wasted. The 

 self-feeding hopper shown in the 

 accompanying illustration is one of ^^^^S|1[|L 

 the best that can be found. These ^^^^^JJIE 

 hoppers can be made of starch or soap boxes, by any 

 one handy with tools. The lid should be broad enough 

 to cover completely the feed trough at the sides, 



