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Rearing of Pigeons for Market. [aug., 



Unsound and discoloured corn is frequently advertised as food 

 for pigeons, but it is not to be recommended unless the damage 

 is very slight. It pays far better to buy sound grain and meal, 

 and then to avoid waste and keep the birds in good condition. 

 If they are fed on unsound foods they are not likely to keep 

 healthy. 



Although many pigeon-breeders do not use mashes, but feed 

 only dry foods, the former has been found satisfactory when 

 there are many young birds in the nests, and it is my experience 

 that a larger number of squabs can be raised to maturity when 

 mashes are provided. A good crumbly mash is much relished, 

 and agrees very well with both old and young birds. 



A mash should be given twice a day in long and shallow 

 troughs, and an hour allowed for each meal, so that the old 

 birds can eat enough, feed their young and lay in a second 

 supply before the troughs are cleaned Up and laid aside. The 

 mash may be made of equal parts maize-meal, best wheat 

 middlings, barley-meal, and pea-meal, moistened with skim 

 milk. The birds which are rearing very young squabs, eat 

 largely of the mashes and also resort to the hoppers, 

 containing small seeds, such as millet, rape, hemp, &c, but 

 avoid the coarser grains. On the other hand, it may be 

 observed that birds whose squabs are over three weeks old, eat 

 largely of peas, wheat, cracked corn, and similar stuffs. The 

 hoppers should be kept supplied at all times with these various 

 grains, so that the birds can help themselves as they desire. 



Amongst other things which it is absolutely necessary to 

 supply with regularity are salt, charcoal, grit, and water. The 

 grit and charcoal should be broken small — say, about the size of 

 wheat — and may be placed in separate boxes or mixed. A box 

 of dry salt or broken rock-salt should be kept where the birds 

 can reach it, for it tends to keep them in health ; and perhaps it 

 is needless to say that fresh water must be regularly supplied. 

 Pigeons also require a bath, and this may be given in a trough 

 or pan about three inches deep. The trough should be filled 

 with cold water every morning after feeding time, as the bath is 

 usually taken early, and it is advisable to throw out the water 

 soon afterwards, so that the pigeons may not drink it. 



Rapid Growth of Squabs. — The growth of squabs and the 



