57 

 CHAPTER VII. 



DISEASES OF PIGEONS. 



The very best way to escape trouble from diseases among 

 pigeons is to prevent them by aWays keeping the lofts and 

 flies in first-class condition. Carelessness is the worst disease 

 that affects pigeons, and this is always manifest in the owner 

 before it has any effect on the birds. 



If the lofts are kept clean, the feed supplied is sound and 

 sweet, the water pure and the feeding regular, the birds 

 themselves will not often be troubled with disease of any 

 kind. 



However, with all possible care, diseases will appear at 

 times, and it is well to know what to do to prevent them 

 from spreading and causing serious loss. 



Epidemic diseases vnll never appear in a flock which has 

 been properly cared for, unless it is brought in through 

 putting newly purchased birds among healthy ones. 



It is just as well to use caution when introducing new 

 birds, even if there is not the least suspicion that they are 

 not perfectly healthy. 



When new stock is bought, it should be kept by itself for 

 a week to determine if it is free from any disease. Not once 

 in a hundred times will birds bought of a reliable breeder 

 be found unhealthy, but prevention is better than cure any 

 time, so precautions should be taken. In such cases it is 

 much better to be overcautions than to have accidents occur 

 through lack of precaution. 



GOING LIGHT. 



"Going light" is the common name for tuberculosis in 

 pfgeons. It is brought on by drinking impure water, eating 



