32 PROFITABLE PIGEON BREEDING 



The writer has used all of the aliove hrands and can heartily 

 reenmmend each of them for the>' are all halanced rations. 



In making a study of grains for pigeon feed we ivnd five 

 constituents that enter into their composition and these must 

 he so proportioned as to form a propei'ly lialanced ration. They 

 are: \\ater, ash, protein, carhohydrates and fat. Carbohydrates 

 in turn are divided into two suhheads, i. e., fiber and nitrogen 

 free extracts. 



Water is contained in all feeds lo a certain extent. In looking 

 over the accompan\ing table showing the composition of pigeon 

 foodstuffs wc find that the water contained in the different 

 grains Aaries from 7.5% to 15%. 



Ash consists of mineral matter including lime, soda, iron, 

 potash, 6tc. 



Protein is that constituent which hiulds up the body in that 

 it manufactures flesh, featliers, blood, muscle, eggs, etc. It 

 is the most important of the constituents entering into the 

 make-up of pigeon feeds. Without the proper amount cf it we 

 cannot expect to get eggs nor can ^^e expect any but scrawny 

 squabs that may or may not live after birth. To keep pigeons 

 in proper condition to work efficiently it is' necessary to feed 

 the proper amount of protein because it is that substance which 

 has to be relied upon to repair the body in most of its parts 

 and keep it in first class working ord(U'. But, on the other hand, 

 it is dangerous to feed an excessive amount of protein because, 

 fed in this manner, it proves to be injurious to the internal 

 organs of the bird. Scientific investigation and careful study 

 has sho\\'n \is that the percentage of protein that should be 

 used is from fourteen to fifteen which means that the protein 

 content of every one hundred pounds of pigeon feed should 

 be from fourteen to fifteen per cent of protein or that many 

 pounds of it. 



Carbohydrates or nitrogen-free extracts consist of sugars and 

 starches and it is this material which supplies the heat and 

 energy to the bird's body. In referring to our table showing 



