73 



of the box put a heavy weight so the pigeons can not get 

 at the trap. Set a few traps around the feed bins also, and 

 it will not be long until the last mouse is caught, as they 

 like the cheese better than the grain which brought them 

 to the pigeon house at first. A good cat kept around the 

 feed room is often a good investment, but do not forget 

 that a cat likes squab very much and must be carefully kept 

 outside the breeding lofts. 



FEED A VARIETY. 



In the proper place we have given directions for mixing 

 feed. We refer to it again in this place to emphasize the 

 necessity of feeding a variety of grains and the mixtures we 

 recommend on previous pages will be found such as will pro- 

 duce the proper results. Never feed one grain for the reason 

 that it is cheaper than another. It does not pay to economize 

 in this way. True economy in feeding is to feed the proper 

 kinds and just as much as the birds will eat without wasting. 

 They always pick out the kind they like best first, but they 

 should be compelled to eat the whole of the feed each time 

 and fed just as much as they will clean up from one feed to 

 another. 



VENTILATION. 



Most pigeon-breeders keep their hguses closed too tight 

 during the winter. If cloth is used in the windows instead of 

 glass, there will be good ventilation all the time as the muslin 

 used for windows allows the air to get in and keeps it pure 

 inside; but where glass is used, the fly holes should be left 

 open nearly every night during the winter or the air will be- 

 come so impure that it will be likely to breed disease. Pigeons, 



