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CHAPTER TV. - ; . 
FEEDING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF PIGEONS. 
Good food is of the very first importance towards success in keeping and breeding pigeons, not 
only for the sake of the old birds, but still more on account of the young ones; for it is often found 
that if the food be bad these latter will die, even although the old birds, by exercise and a strong 
constitution, remain in vigorous health. Old worm-eaten beans, or such as have many with a 
little hole in them, should especially be avoided, as also should those very old shrivelled beans 
which look nearly black from age. In such food the inside part is nearly gone, and unless the 
birds are extra strong, the fancier will find his birds “sick,” as it is called, not being able to digest 
their food. Small, full, plump-looking beans should be selected ; and the same general remark 
applies to tares, except that these being naturally smaller, the large full-looking ones should be 
chosen, which seem to be all good, and not merely the skin of the tare left, such as we have seen 
given to pigeons, but on which, though the old birds may just manage to live, the young ones 
cannot be reared without heavy loss. Next come good grey (or dark) peas, and in the breeding- 
time no food can surpass these, as old beans are often too much for the young ones to digest. 
During this time, therefore, say from March to the end of August, there is nothing better as a 
diet for the old birds than good grey peas, tares, and small maize in equal parts, on which they 
will rear their young well. From the time the birds are separated, on the contrary — say from 
the end of August to the end of February — we have always found it best to change the diet to 
such good old tick beans as we have described, finding that in the cold weather they do best 
with a diet rather less laxative than in the summer months. 
We would particularly caution the amateur not to feed his fancy pigeons on maize during the 
winter months, as such is very apt to cause severe scouring, emaciation, and finally death. Wheat 
should also be avoided in the cold weather, for unless birds are well accustomed to it, they generally 
go wrong when wheat is given them. Even a little is often bad ; but like the maize, in the warm 
weather it seems to suit them well. Hempseed, if sound and good, they are very fond of, and it 
is very beneficial at times, especially in cold weather, or given as a relish and not as regular 
food. It is, in fact, a stimulant, and to be so regarded. If a bird appear low-spirited, nothing will 
cheer it up more than a little good hempseed mixed with some dry raw rice. Particular care 
should be taken that all hempseed given to pigeons be fresh and new, old seed being most 
injurious, and often causing illness. 
The feeding here described is what we have found most suitable for pigeons generally ; but 
the small, delicately-formed Short-faced Tumblers could not swallow beans, unless they are coarse 
specimens, or the beans unusually small. These should therefore be fed during the winter upon 
small grey peas and tares, with occasionally a handful of canary or hempseed, or millet seed ; 
while during the breeding season the fancier may add with advantage some raw rice or old wheat. 
Having thus spoken of the food itself, we would strongly advise that it be given always from 
a hopper. Various patterns are in use, the principle being the same in all ; but the best in our 
