i6 THE PIGEON BOOK 



of clear pure water passing through the water-troughs. 

 This is not always possible. Still it is possible to fre- 

 quently change the water, and it should be stored in 

 open vessels with a cover, or in fountains made in two 

 parts that can easily and readily be cleaned. Zinc 

 fountains should be avoided. Cool, clean earthenware 

 ones are the best, but are liable to get broken, especially 

 in frosty weather. 



The Bath. 



A list of accessories for the loft would not be complete 

 without the bath. These can be obtained in various 

 shapes and sizes. Their depth should be about sjin., 

 size according to convenience. 



Perches. 



There are various kinds of perches in use. For my 

 part I like the square box perches, about iiin. by iiin., 

 and 3in. deep. These are easy to make and easy to fit 

 up. V-shaped perches are also very popular and easy 

 to clean. But with regard to perches, it is a question 

 of convenience. In some odd corners you may use one 

 kind of perch, and in others a different kind. I always 

 like to have half as many perches again as I have birds 

 in my loft, for unless there is plenty of perch-room there 

 will be a considerable amount of fighting. 



Nest-pans. 



In pole-houses or locker-hole pigeon-cotes it is not, 

 of course, possible to use nest-pans in which the birds 

 lay and sit or rear the young. They must be allowed to 

 build their own nests. For other lofts there are various 

 kinds of nest-pans made : glazed earthenware, sold at 

 about 4d. each; ordinary red earthenware, sold at about 



