CHAPTER VII 



Diseases of Pigeons 



While pigeons living under natural conditions and 

 with unrestrained liberty ^.re rarely, if at all, subject to 

 disease, pigeons kept under control and even partial 

 confinement are subject to a variety of diseases, brought 

 about, no doubt, by this artificial manner of living. Lack 

 of proper exercise, breathing tainted air, improper food, 

 and unclean water have much to do with causing a dis- 

 eased condition. Consequently it stands a fancier well 

 in hand to provide especially clean, roomy apartments, 

 to give all the open-air exercise possible (if not feasible 

 to allow perfect liberty, then provide roomy areas for 

 the pigeons to fly about in), feed sound, clean grain, and 

 furnish a supply of fresh, clean water at all times. 



Many of the infectious diseases, such as roup, canker, 

 etc., are, no doubt, communicated through the medium 

 of food and water. For instance, a bird with roup will 

 pick among the grain in the feeding-dishes for some 

 favorite grain ; in doing so he throws the other grain 

 aside with his bill, and the grain naturally becomes 

 polluted with the secretions from his nostrils. This 

 grain being afterwards picked up by other birds the 

 disease is thus spread. .So in drinking, the diseased 

 pigeon thrusts its beak up to its nostrils into the drink- 

 ing-water, and thus the water becomes contaminated. 

 It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to remove, as soon 

 as possible, from the main flock any specimens showing 

 symptoms of disease. Daily observation will acquaint 

 you so well with your birds that you will notice at a 



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