The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



those of a quiet and courageous disposition, and avoid 

 those of a wild and nervous temperament, as such are 

 likely to jump from the nest at your approach, a habit 

 that greatly interferes with incubation. Should the be- 

 ginner be so situated as not to have any feeders for his 

 young squabs, and notice that the parent birds were 

 neglecting them, he can feed them artificially, if they are 

 valuable, by taking crackers or toasted bread crushed 

 fine and mixed with warm milk or warm water, then 

 taking a small syringe, either of glass or rubber and in- 

 jecting the food into their throats. This can be done 

 until the little crop is well filled. Three or four doses 

 of this kind each day will bring the young birds through 

 all right. As they grow older and able to take coarse 

 grain, soak peas, wheat, or small corn, till well swollen, 

 then put these into the mouth, when they will swallow 

 and soon fill their crop. Some fanciers, more enthusias- 

 tic than fastidious, take this food in their own mouths, 

 masticate it well, then taking the young bird in their 

 hands and placing its bill in their mouth, with the assist- 

 ance of the tongue force the masticated grain into the 

 young bird's mouths and so fill their crops. 



The young pigeon soon learns to like this manner of 

 feeding and will evince the greatest apparent joy at the 

 master's approach, squealing, flapping its little stubs of 

 wings, and raising up and down in the nest. Many a 

 good bird has been raised in this manner, but I would 

 only advise the practice in case of pecessity. A watch- 

 ful fancier visits his lofts often and can soon tell what 

 pairs are feeding well and what are neglecting their 

 charges, by feeling of their Uttle crops. If well filled 

 and distended and the young bird feels warm you may 

 know the parents or nurses are attending to their busi- 

 ness.' Sometimes you will find a young bird with a crop 



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