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CHAPTER III. 



FEEDS AN.D FEEDING BREEDING HABITS. 



Pigeons are exclusively grain-eaters. They do not require 

 animal feed of any kind, nor is green feed necessary for them. 

 Occasionally a nice tender head of lettuce may be given to 

 each loft and they will eat it with relish, but such green 

 feeds as grass, lawn clippings, or cut clover should never 

 be given to them. The lettuce is not necessary but may be 

 given by way of variety, but not more than one head to fifty 

 pairs of birds. 



The principal feeds are red wheat, sifted cracked corn, 

 Canada peas, kaffir corn, hemp seed and German millet seed. 

 Besides these, buckw^heat, barley and canary seed may some- 

 times be given; but the first-named constitute a good variety 

 and should be used as the main feeds. It will not do to feed 

 wheat, corn, or peas as a constant feed. All of them are 

 necessary and they should be properly rotated. 



SOUND GRAIN NECESSARY. 



We want to emphasize the fact that all grain used for 

 feeding pigeons must be sound and wholesome. It is the very 

 poorest kind of economy to feed shrunken, musty, or damaged, 

 grain of any kind. 



WHEAT. 



The wheat used should be sound red wheat which has 

 been thoroughly dried. New wheat should never be used. 

 Good No. 2 red wheat, at least six months out of the straw, 

 should be selected. 



