30 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
opinion is one we have had made and in use for years, and which is shown in Fig. 15. It is 
made so that the top slants and overhangs the feeding-trough, and is also furnished with a wire 
above the ridge, in order to prevent the food being soiled by birds perching upon it. The feeding- 
trough extends all round, and this is equally important in a large loft, as many birds are spiteful 
(this is especially the case when sitting or feeding young ones) and will not allow others to feed 
near them. If there be but one small place at which to feed, such a bird appears to take a pride 
in standing there, and driving away all others ; and very often a hen bird coming to feed in a 
weak state (either just before laying, or after, or before hatching) has to be content with a very 
scanty meal, when she more than ever requires an ample diet. Especially if a hen is feeding 
young ones, she is thus prevented from eating nearly as much as she needs, and would have taken 
were she unmolested. All this is prevented by having the feeding-trough extend all round. 
Finally, the trough is covered or protected with wires about two inches apart, to prevent the 
pigeons scattering the food right and left with their beaks, which they take a perverse pleasure in 
Fig. 15.— Feeding Hopper. 
doing, wasting more than they eat, unless thus guarded against. The wires allow plenty of room 
for a bird to put in its head, but no more. If the birds are fed by scattering the food on the floor, 
as some recommend, there will probably be some left after they have done feeding, which remains 
all night, and becomes more or less polluted. Then in the morning, if they are very hungry, 
it will be eaten, which frequently causes purging and death, while the owner never suspects 
the cause. We have seen many such cases when birds were fed off the ground, and would 
therefore strongly advise all who keep their pigeons confined to use a hopper. Even when 
birds are penned it will be best to feed out of some box or dish, to avoid any possibility of 
their eating soiled food. 
The feeding-hopper here described is meant to be made of zinc, but except as regards security 
from mice and rats, will be equally good in any other material. Should mice infest the loft, they 
may be effectually defied, as regards the food, by slinging a board say six inches from the ground 
by four smooth wires at the four corners, and standing the hopper upon it. It is of some importance 
to see to this, for independently of the great waste of food when the mice “get to it," food mingled 
with their excrement and the shells they leave — “ mousy ” food — is another fruitful source of that 
severe obstinate “scouring” so much dreaded by the pigeon-fancier. For the same reason, all 
food should be kept in bins or chests, either made of iron or lined with tin or zinc, wherever mice 
are likely to abound. 
For pigeons left at liberty, the hopper above described is less suitable. The owner naturally 
