20 



that never laid will not have her bones as far apart as the old 

 breeder, hence care and caution must be used in mating young 

 birds. 



How and When to Feed. 



Some prefer feeding their birds by throwing it upon the 

 ground. This would do all right if the weather be dry and 

 warm, but if it be damp or wet, and the birds did not eat up all 

 at one meal, they will pick up the damp grains (probably mouldy 

 by that time) and eat them, which is sure to produce ill health. 

 I prefer feeding in troughs, inside the buildings. Have troughs 

 made 7 feet long, 6 inches wide with a strip 2 inches wide on the 

 sides. Birds fed this way, if they do not eat all at once, still 

 have sound, dry grain to pick at between meals. 



Pigeons raising squabs need to be fed but twice each day, 

 early morning and about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Feed, if 

 possible, as much as will be eaten up clean at each meal. If 

 some of the morning meal still remains at the evening meal, give 

 a little less. In a short time one can find out exactly How much 

 each pen requires, but when there are a large number of squabs 

 in a pen, of course it will require more feed. This is to be left 

 to the judgment of the fancier. On an average the amount of 

 feed for thirty pair of birds with their young is about two quarts 

 at a meal ; without young, one to one and one-half quarts. They 

 will eat less corn than wheat or peas, so in feeding corn give 

 somewhat less than of the other grains. 



After once adapting a system of feeding it becomes easy and 

 natural, but no definite amount for a number of pairs could be 

 given. Each must use his own judgment in feeding. The age 

 of birds must also be considered. A lot of young squabs, just 

 flying out of the nest require more food in proportion than ones 

 fully matured. The amount of food also depends largely upon 

 the climate, for in colder climates a larger amount will be con- 

 sumed, and this should contain a great amount of heat. In 

 warmer climates the foods containing the largest percentage of 

 fats and carbohydrates should be fed sparingly. 



The following tai>le will give the reader an idea of the prop- 

 erties of the various grains usually fed to pigeons, and can judge 

 how and when to feed: 



