26 



Fancy Pigeons. 



much as they can, but their domestic duties will prevent them being 

 always there, so that all will have some advantage from it. 



They may either be fed from a ilat board that has a marginal edge 

 running round it, raised about an inch, to prevent the scattering of their 

 food, or from a self-supplying hopper. By the exercise of due care in 

 not putting down more grain each time the birds are fed than they 

 will eat, there need not be much waste of food. Giving thom too much 

 at a time, and then grudging to throw away any that becomes soiled is but 

 poor economy, and a likely cause of disease among them. If a flat board 

 is used for their feeding on, it should be well scraped each time fresh food 

 is given, and any left over will not be lost if fowls are kept. In the 

 breeding season, when a constant supply of food is more necessary, 

 hoppers made of zinc or wood, such as the illustration (Fig. 2), will be 



Fig. 2.— Grain Hoppee. 

 useful. They can be made of any desired length. The lid or lids, if 

 they are intended to be divided inside, open with hinges, and should be 

 at such an angle as wiU prevent the birds resting on them. A wire 

 run along the ridge, raised an inch and a half, will keep them from 

 settling there. As the food is eaten from the trough, the bulk inside 

 will continue falling down, and so insure a constant supply as long as it 

 lasts. By au inside division, dividing the hopper into two parts, two 

 kinds or two separate mixtures of food may be supplied. Hoppers -of 

 various designs may be bought from manufacturers who make a speciality 

 of them. One has lately been brought out in which the food is exposed 

 by the pigeon stepping on the board in front of it, which prevents waste 

 from mice or sparrows, their weight being insufficient to open it. 



