CHAPTER VI 

 GRIT, CHARCOAL, SALT AND WATER 



GRIT, SAND AND GRAVEL 



There are several different kinds of grit on the market for 

 pigeons composed of various substances and combination of 

 substances. Birds that fly at liberty have an opportunity to 

 pick up many things in the way of sand, gravel, different kinds 

 or dirt, roots, etc., all of which come under the head of grit, or 

 at least they are eaten by birds for that purpose. 



The small gravel, as it is commonly called, is eaten and re- 

 tained in their gizzards as a part of their digestive organs with 

 which the food is ground, while dry sand, clay, roots- and even 

 pieces of wood are eaten for the chemical substances and food 

 values contained therein. 



These two forms of grit are often confused to the extent that 

 sometimes one is entirely neglected with the idea that the other 

 will take its place. Small gravel or various shapes of small, 

 sharp stones cannot be dispensed with for reasons just stated, 

 while the other substances mentioned can be substituted with 

 various other articles. 



There are several kinds of health grit manufactured and sold 

 that contain many of these different articles, including salt, 

 sand, Venetian red, small shells, charcoal, wood pulp and certain 

 kinds of dirt that are relished more or less by pigeons and are 

 probably very good for them, but are often eaten only because 

 the birds crave salt and the so-called health grit is generally 

 salty. In such cases I do not believe the birds are benefited 

 but are injured by having to eat articles they do not want in 

 order to get the salt they crave. 



If the fly pen is kept strewn with fine gravel or coarse sand 

 and a supply of it kept inside of the nest room for the young 



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