CHAPTER VII 



DISEASE AND FEEDING 



WITH ordinary humane attention the 

 pigeon in captivity Is a remarkably 

 healthy bird. I gave my birds good, 

 pure running water and the best of feed and, 

 although I left the nests alone, merely cleaning 

 the floors, I never had that much dreaded dis- 

 ease, canker, after I once got my flock well 

 regulated as to breeding. This disease, I be- 

 lieve, comes from inbreeding and, likely, from 

 improper food and water, but never from ex- 

 terior contact with the manure, which is too 

 strong with ammonia to be uncleanly or un- 

 healthy. 



Some pigeon raisers think canker comes 

 from close confinement and lack of exercise, 

 but that cannot be as some of my fly-pens were 

 extremely small. Pigeons are natural athletes 

 and, in close confinement, regularly go through 

 a sort of physical culture exercise. It Is a beau- 

 tiful sight to see them, many times resembling 

 graceful ballet dancers in the butterfly dance. 



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