1905.] 



Rearing of Pigeons for Market. 



275; 



old birds must be passed on to the young, whether they are 

 suitable or not, since there is nothing else available. 



However, the difficulties of finding a suitable diet are, to a 

 great extent, overcome by the instinct of the parent birds, which 

 teaches them to eat only what is wholesome for the young, and 

 the best system is to keep a variety of seeds and grains in the 

 hoppers, and to feed liberally with mashes, and then trust to< 

 the instinct of the old birds to take the foods which are best 

 for their offspring. 



A Silver Dun Homer Cock. 



When newly hatched, and for several days afterwards, young 

 pigeons are nourished on a milky substance or fluid, which is 

 generated in the crops of the parents, and mixed with such 

 foods as may be wholesome. This fluid accumulates during the 

 hatching period, which is sixteen days ; and if a pair of squabs,, 

 only a day or two old, were given to pigeons which had been 

 hatching only a week, it would be impossible for them to rear 

 the squabs, as they would not have a supply of the necessary 

 fluid to feed them. The pigeon feeds its young by eating a 

 full meal and then disgorging the food into the crops of the 

 young birds. 



z 2 



