PRACTICAL FEEDING OF POULTRY 



tures of commercial grits containing varying proportions 

 of grit, charcoal, oyster shells, and salt are used by many 

 pigeon raisers. A mixture of this kind may be made of 

 40 pounds of granite grit, 40 pounds of oyster shells, 10 

 pounds of charcoal, 5 pounds of salt, and 3 pounds of 

 Venetian red. Such mixtures are relished by the pigeons 

 and seem to have some value in keeping them in good 

 breeding and feeding condition. 



Pans of water for bathing should be provided daily ex- 

 cept during the winter and placed in the yards or fly- 

 ways. These bath pans are usually filled in the morning 

 and emptied about noon. They should be used only about 

 twice a week during the winter. 



FEEDING FLYING PIGEONS 



Pigeons for flying purposes, especially during the time 

 when the birds are used in races or long flights, are fed 

 largely on the hardest grains, principally Canada peas. 

 It is not advisable to use much corn in their ration and 

 only a small amount of wheat should be fed. Special 

 attention must be paid to securing a goo<i grade of hard 

 red wheat as a soft wheat is not good for such pigeons. 



A good mixture for flying pigeons can be made of two 

 parts Canada peas, one part Kafir corn or milo and one 

 part Argentine corn with 10 per cent of hemp seed and 5 

 per cent of vetch. During special races or when it is 

 necessary to have the birds in the very pink of condition, 

 the Argentine corn can be omitted and the pigeons fed 

 entirely on Canada peas, Kafir corn, vetch and hemp seed. 



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