The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



and saucer, setting the saucer in its usual position on the 

 floor. The quarter-inch sticks will allow the water to 

 flow out enough to about fill the space between saucer 

 and pot, and you have a vessel easily filled and cleaned, 

 and one in which the water will keep cool at all times. 



For locations where water freezes in winter, this same 

 fountain will answer, but needs to be filled several 

 times each day, and watched that it does not freeze, and 

 should always be emptied at night. In fact, I would 

 advise emptying all. fountains at night, and refilling 

 them in the morning, not allowing water to stand in any 

 vessel over night. There are many different kinds of 

 drinking-vessels, but none better in all ways than the 

 one above described. By using pieces of iron for the 

 pot to rest on in the saucer it gives a little chalybeate 

 quality to the water, that is said to be good as a tonic 

 for the birds. 



, Another article needed as part of the furniture of the 

 loft is a bathing-pan. This can be about 4 inches deep 

 and of any size you choose ; it may be an earthen pan 

 accommodating three or four birds, it may be a sheet- 

 iron one accommodating twenty-five or thirty, or it may 

 be made of one end of a barrel, accommodating ten or 

 twelve. But let its dimensions be what they may, it is to 

 be counted among the necessary articles of the loft. In 

 the summer a bath can be given every day, but in winter 

 twice a week will do unless the weather is very severe. 

 Sunny days should always be selected, and after the 

 bath the birds be allowed to dry themselves in the sun. 



As soon as the bath is finished, the pans should be 

 removed, to prevent the birds drinking the water, which 

 they are likely to do if the pans are not emptied. It is 

 astonishing how much dirt is removed by a bath. * Put 

 your water in the pans as clear as crystal, and when the 



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