CHAPTER XXVI 

 RODENTS AND THIEVES 



Common Enemies of the Pigeon Breeder and How to Get Rid of Them. 



Sparrows and mice are probably the most common enemies 

 that tlie pigeon breeder 'has to contend with. However, with a 

 little care and forethought those can be very easily guarded 

 against. 



If the breeder lives in a neighborhood where sparrows are 

 plentiful he would be wise to cover his flys with one inch mesh 

 wire instead of two inch. A sparrow cannot get through the 

 former but he can get through the latter. Sparrows will eat 

 (luite an amount of grain out of a pigeon pen in the course of 

 a year so tliey should be kept out if possible. 



As a protection against mice and rats several methods may be 

 used. We have found Steam's Electric Paste placed on small 

 pieces of fresh bread and put in an out of the way place in 

 the lofts (where the birds cannot get it) will prove very effec- 

 tive. Of course small mouse traps may be resorted to. 



The writer has, at his fomier home, a cat, now about six 

 years old which he raised in his pigeon lofts and this cat never 

 troubles a squab nor an old bird and never has done so. Many 

 a visitor has looked surprised to see us let Tom into the pens 

 but they very soon find out that he will not harm the squabs 

 in any way. This cat has kept my lofts practically free from 

 mice for the past six years and has never eaten a single squab 

 though I have kept him locked up in the lofts at night many a 

 time. He A^-as placed in the lofts when a very young kitten and 

 trained to catch mice, not squabs. It will pay breeders to own 

 such a cat but when you try this be sure that the cat is properly 

 fed at the house. 



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