30 PROFITABLE PIGEON BREEDING 



more canker than any other thing. It will absorb moisture 

 and become mouUly in a very short time and mouldy feed 

 invariably lends to one of two things — canker or roup. Use 

 only sound, hard corn and best of all Argentine Flint corn. 

 This is a small yellow grain that is very hard. 



In passing from cracked corn wc \\'ill consider ^\■hat is known 

 as Scratch Feed, such as is fed to poultry. Do not resort to 

 this feed if it can possibly be avoided. It is usually priced at 

 a much lo\\er figvn-e than mixed pigeon feed and in order to 

 economize the novice will, in a great many cases, use it and 

 think that he is acting judiciously. This mixture was never 

 intended for pigeons and does not carry the correct amount 

 of nutriment nor usually the proper grains. The scratch feed 

 is invariably mixed with cracked corn and it is, therefore, I 

 consider, dangerous to feed. It may well be used for & while 

 but our experienc(^ has Ijeen that feeding it is taking a great 

 chance. 



Wheat is a splendid feed l)ut, in a way. it is also a dangerous 

 one. The danger in feeding wheat lies in the fact that feeding 

 too much of it is very A\eakening to the birds. Birds fed an 

 excessive amount of it liecome unable to fly. New soft whit? 

 \\'heat should never be used. Feed only hard red winter ■wheat. 

 Tliis grain is relislicd very much liy pigeons. 



Canada peas make an excellent pigeon feed. Th(^y ai'e tlie 

 cleanest and best of all (leas for pigeons and if possib'e to get 

 them at a reasoualile price they should be fed freeh'. If one 

 is unalile to get them for any reason cow peas or mixed field 

 peas may be substituted, in fact either of these make an 

 excellent feed. The Canada peas, however, contain 23.7% pro- 

 tein as against 22.1% for mixed peas and 23.5% for cow ])eas. 

 Therefore the Canada peas should be given the preference when 

 the prices for the three are equal. 



Rice is a necessary feed once in a while. This grain is used 

 principally to check loose bowels ))ut it will constipate the birds 

 if fed too often. The writer makes it a practice to feed his birds 

 once a week with rice, using only a small amount at a time 

 and feeds it separately from the regular ration. 



