22 



may be bought at about one cent a pound from stores that 

 keep pigeon and poultry supplies. These tobacco stems pre- 

 vent insects from being harbored in the nests and save a 

 great deal of trouble in this way. 



WATER FOUNTAINS. 



Pigeons are great water drinkers and should be watered at 

 least twice a day as they need a plentiful supply of pure 

 fresh water. The best way to supply this is by using the 

 regular water fountains which are made for this purpose. 

 These may be bought through almost any breeder who sells 

 pigeons. If the one of whom the pigeons are bought does 

 not keep them for sale, he will give the name of a firm which 

 handles them. These fountains cost only a small sum and 

 they keep the water clean, whereas if open water vessels are 

 used, the water becomes foul with dirt and dust. 



BATHING. 



Pigeons must be provided with facilities for bathing, as 

 they will not keep in good health if they can not have a 

 bath very regularly. They delight in getting into the water 

 and bathing themselves all over. Arj ordinary big dishpan 

 makes a good bath-tub for pigeons, or a barrel so cut off as 

 to be three inches deep makes a good tub for bathing pur- 

 poses. Empty the bath-tub as soon as the pigeons have fin- 

 ished their baths to prevent them fr^m drinking the foul 

 water. 



SANITATION. 



A pigeon loft must be kept free from insects and disease; 

 germs by carefully attending to sanitary conditions. The 

 free use of lice-killers, cleaning the nests out as soon as the 

 squabG are taken from them and whitewashing the whole, 



