40 



PIGEONS. 



length of the sides, they would be more convenient for the birds, and those 

 belonging to the upper story would serve to shelter the lower nesting-places from 

 the weather. 



Pigeon lockers, or houses placed against a wall, should have a southerly aspect, 

 and be well protected by a broad projecting roof; but, under even the most 

 favourable circumstances, they must be regarded as greatly inferior in productive- 

 ness to lofts or rooms. 



It seldom occurs that a room is specially built for pigeons ; but where there is 

 any choice of locality, it is best to select one that is open to the south, so as to 

 get a warm aspect in winter and early spring, as that tends to encourage early 

 breeding, and is more healthy for the birds than a room exposed to the cold 

 blasts from the north. It is not uncommon to see many pigeon rooms or lofts 

 that are very deficient in light : this is particularly objectionable. A dark room 

 is not as healthy for the birds, especially if they are not suffered to fly out ; and 

 it can hardly be as well cleaned as one which is well lighted. Moreover, the 

 owner is not able to see his birds conveniently, or to examine the nests when 

 required. 



Another point, of the highest importance to the health of the birds, is the 

 establishment of a good system of ventilation. Nine-tenths of the diseases that 

 afflict our high-bred pigeons arise from their being crowded together in dark, 

 dirty, ill-ventilated lofts. There is no necessity for an absolute draught of wind to 

 be allowed to rush through the loft, but full provision must be made for ventilation, 

 if healthy birds are desired. 



Cleanliness in the pigeon-loft is no less essential than ventilation, particularly if 

 many birds are kept, and they are not flown. The loft should be cleared out daily. 

 Under no circumstances should the dung be suffered to accumulate until it 

 becomes offensive to the smell. 



Fresh gravel, sand, or dry earth should be thickly strewn on the floor every day, 

 and the dung that accumulates in the nest-boxes and around the nest-pans not 

 suffered to collect so as to be offensive. The most convenient instrument for 

 clearing the shelves will be found to be a small hoe fixed on a short handle about 

 eight or ten inches in length. 



Pigeons are often kept in lofts, or in the spaces under the tiles or slates of a 

 house. In this case the rafters should be properly boarded over, otherwise the 

 dung which falls upon the laths is with difficulty removed ; and there is the still 

 more serious evil, that the owner's foot may occasionally slip off the rafter and find 

 its way through the ceiling into the room below. 



It is requisite that the loft or room devoted to pigeons should be proof against 

 the ingress of cats, rats, and other vermin. Strange cats are most destructive to 

 pigeons. When a cat has once tasted pigeon, she seems to prefer it to all other 

 food. Sometimes the access of a cat can hardly be prevented, and it may be 

 necessary to get rid of the intruder to prevent the entire loss of the stock. A box 

 trap baited with a pigeon's head will be fouud to be invariably successful in the 



