CHAPTER XII 



SELF FEEDERS 



Advantages of Self-Feeders — Disadvantages of Open Trough Feeding, 



In other chapters I have strongly advised against the practice 

 of feeding pigeons on the ground of the fly and on the floor 

 of the loft. The foremost reason is that the grain will become 

 fouled and fouled grain \\ill cause sickness. The same thing 

 may he said of the ojien trough. I have found from experience 

 that the hopper melliod (Self-feeder) is not only the most 

 sanitary one but by far the most advantageous in several re- 

 spects. 



We all know that birds that are setting will not always leave 

 the ii(>st when feed is given to the other birds. They, therefore, 

 have to eat whatever is left over. This is indeed liard on the 

 birds and will surely not do any good towards maintaining their 

 bodily strength. The self-feeder should be used to offset the 

 possibility of any bird being tuiderfed for no matter at what 

 time a bird may want to eat it will find grain in the feeder. 



A properly designed feeder will keep grain absolutely clean. 

 On the other hand, have you not ever noticed the filth deposited 

 by the birds in an open trough? Can any serious minded 

 breeder overlook the fact that pigeons do not relish grain cov- 

 ered with excreta from the other birds? One will surely have 

 disease in his lofts in several tonus if he is lax in the manner 

 in which his birds are fed. It is to the advantage of the breeder 

 to keep his breeding stock in first class condition but he can 

 never hope to do this if he feeds fouled grain or does not take 

 the proper precaution to keep it from becoming fouled. The 

 self-feeder is the proper solution. 



The self-feeder also cuts down the waste of feed in that it 

 prohibits the birds from scattering the grain in every direction 

 in their desire to first eat the choicest morsels such as peas and 



89 



