The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



tinued use of spongia will bring them through. Swab- 

 bing the throat with a solution of borax is also excellent. 



CROSSED BILLS 



While this is. not a disease, still it is an affection of 

 common occurrence among all varieties of pigeons, and 

 is caused by the manner of feeding that some old birds 

 have, and on the principle "as the twig is bent the tree 

 is inclined," the young bird's bill gets a twist that it 

 never recovers from, and as it grows and the bill hard- 

 ens it becomes a permanent defect. Should it be dis- 

 covered early either change the feeder, or bring the bird 

 up by hand, at the same time manipulating the bill so as 

 to gradually restore it to its natural shape. After the 

 defect has become permanent, the only course to pur- 

 sue is to trim it occasionally to as near a natural shape 

 as possible, being careful in trimming not to cut into 

 the quick or fleshy portion of the bill. As this is not an 

 hereditary defect such birds, if of good stock and other- 

 wise of good quality, can be used as breeders. 



PIP 

 This is a trouble with which pigeons are rarely afflict- 

 ed, but it is sometimes found among them. The bird, 

 it will be noticed, does not eat well, gives indications of 

 an uncomfortable condition of the tongue by opening 

 the mouth and moving the tongue uneasily. On ex- 

 amination the tongue will be found dry and hard on its 

 surface, and the end elongated and split into three or 

 four bone-like parts. The remedy is to clip this splin- 

 tered portion of the tongue off with a pair of sharp 

 scissors, not so high up as to make it bleed, but far 

 enough to remove the offending portion. One opera- 

 tion of this kind is usually enough, but it is well to 

 watch the patient, and if a recurrence of the trouble 



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