The Feathers Practical Pigeon Book 



first starting, it is not so necessary to guard against 

 insects, but later when changing the sawdust, a few 

 drops of turpentine can be sprinkled in the bottom of 

 the can, or a little air-slacked lime be placed there and 

 sawdust on top of that. For birds just mated and about 

 beginning to nest, I would recommend that a few short 

 straws and fine twigs be scattered about the floor of the 

 ioft ; these they will gather up and put in the pan, and in 

 this way keep themselves busy, and in a more natural 

 condition. This is supposing that your birds are not 

 yet allowed full liberty. If allowed to fly out and into 

 the loft at will, they will bring in plenty of nesting- 

 material, a practice not always conducive to cleanli- 

 ness. 



As the time approaches for the hen to lay, the cock 

 M'ill place himself in the nest, and, making a peculiar 

 gurgling sound, try and induce her to take her place 

 there; this he will vary by continually following her 

 about from place to place, and by gentle pecks on the 

 head endeavor to induce her to do as he wants her to do. 



This is called driving to nest, and when this takes 

 place you can generally depend on the hen soon laying. 

 The hen usually lays the first egg in the afternoon, and 

 stands over it all the following night and sometimes 

 most of the following day. The second egg is laid about 

 noon of the third day, when she settles down to the 

 work of incubation, sitting all night and until nine or 

 ten in the morning, when she is reHeved by the cock, 

 who sits through the day until four or five in the even- 

 ing, when the hen again takes her place, and so the 

 alternation is kept up until the young are hatched, which 

 is in about eighteen days, counting from the time the 

 first egg is laid, or sixteen or seventeen, counting from 

 the time the last egg is laid. 



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