HOUSING AND HYGIENE 



301 



and a two-foot fence all of those commonly raised, as most 

 of them cannot fly. 



Care should be taken not to frighten ducks by moving 

 among them at night with a lantern, as they are liable to 

 stampede, thereby causing a stopping of egg production, 

 loss of flesh, if not the death of some by trampling. 



Pigeon Houses. — Any outbuilding that is dry and has a 

 board floor may be used for a pigeon loft. It should be 

 sheltered and have a south exposure. It is customary to 

 allow four square feet of floor space per pair of birds. Upon 



Fig. 171 



Pigeon house and fly. 



Note bath pan against fence, 

 of Animal Industry.) 



(Courtesy of Bureau 



this basis it is possible to house one hundred pairs in a 

 building 25 x 16 with a gable 10 feet high. Dryness is 

 so essential that squab breeders frequently erect their 

 houses on posts, giving a clearance of two feet between the 

 ground and floor. 



The nests should be placed on the north, east, and west 

 walls, beginning one foot above the floor. This may be 

 done by nailing a cleat on the east and west walls one foot 

 wide and holding a board ten to twelve inches wide one foot 

 above the floor; every ten inches above these other cleats 



