The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



trough the best, and frequent feedings better than a con- 

 stant supply. The feeding-trough, whether of the self- 

 feeding or open pattern, should be protected by bars 

 either of wood or wire, about 2 inches apart ; this allows 

 the pigeon to reach the food with his bill, but pre- 

 vents his walking over it, also prevents a selfish cock 

 from monopolizing the whole trough, as they sometimes 

 will, and tends to prevent the wasting we have men- 

 tioned by throwing the food out with the bill. 



A hopper for each kind of food placed in various 

 parts of the loft insures a supply for all and of the kinc, 

 most to their taste. 



In the matter of drinking-vessels one can not be too 

 particular, as clean, fresh water is really a necessity to 

 insure perfect health, as there is unquestionably more 

 disease and deaths caused by impure water than from 

 any other source. Pigeons seem to have a penchant for 

 fouling their water with their excrement, and conse- 

 quently a closed vessel is the best' for drinking purposes. 

 I!ut this water should be renewed every day, no matter 

 whether all is consumed or not. The practice of filling a 

 fountain and leaving it to stand until all the water is ex- 

 hausted, is a bad one. The fountain should be filled 

 every day and frequently scalded to keep it sweet. A 

 good drinking- vessel can be made by taking an ordinary 

 red earthen flower-pot. Stop the hole in the bottom 

 tightly with a cork. Fill the flower-pot full to the brim 

 with water, then take a saucer, such as is. usually sold 

 with such pots, of a size large enough to fit over the top 

 of the pot, leaving a space of about an inch all around 

 the edge of the pot and outside edge of the saucer. In 

 the bottom of the saucer put three or four strips of wood 

 or iron a quarter of an inch thick and place the saucer, 

 bottom up, on top of the pot. Then quickly invert pot 



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