FEEDING 29 



principal reasons \\liy we feed mixed grains (o our birds in 

 ronfineuient. 



Besides grain pigeons recpiire green food in some foim and 

 it sliould lie fed as often as jiossilile and the lireeder shonld try 

 to \ai-\ this form of food. A\'e use Swiss cliard, lettuce leaves, 

 cahhage leaves, sjirouted oats and green bean Aines. It is to 

 the advanlage of the breeder to have a small piece of ground 

 where he can gi'ow one or t\\(i of 1he above mentioned green 

 foods as in doing Ihis he will get tliem cheaply and will have 

 them on hand more or li'ss all of the time. In feeding sprouted 

 oats uevei', under any conditions, feeil the spi-out(^d seed liut 

 onh' thi' green blades. Pigeons are especially fond tjf greens 

 and will rusli for tbem wlien put into the flys. 



One will find thread crnmlis an cxccdlent food for pigeons and 

 something that they al\\a>s devour eagerly. Stale bread is 

 usualh' ohlainabb^ at bakeries at a most reasonable ]5rice and 

 its use will hel|i materially to cut down tlie feed bills. The 

 baker, as a rule, is anxious to get I'id of such bread at a nominal 

 lii'ice. Nmer use il, liowever, shduld it show any signs of 

 being mouldy. The ■wi'iter admits that he does not know what 

 good the birds deri\(i from eating bread crumbs but it has al- 

 ways seemed to do them absolutely no liarm and in that it helps 

 to reduce the feed bills a\c recommend its use. 



Tliere is on the market toda>- ■what is known as ^^'ild Grass 

 Seed Mixture. It is usually made up of vario\is wild grass 

 seeds and is a most excellent feed for pigeons. This feed seems 

 to sn]iply a great man>' seeds which pigeons would get were 

 they flying at lai'ge hut which are rarely, if e\ er, placed m 

 commercial ]iigcon feeds. This mixtm'e is very reasonable in 

 price and should be used freely as it is relished very much 

 by tlie birds. It seems to tone them up. 



We \\'ill take several grains that ^A■e have mentioned above 

 and see just wherein they are or are not good for pigeons. 



Cracked corn is very deceiitive and I am sincere in my 

 belief that it should never be fed under any circumstances. 

 I am also firm in mv belief that cracked corn is the cause of 



