Plan of a General Loft. 
17 
accommodation for such strong-flying breeds will hardly be susceptible of further improvement ; 
but, for the reasons given, is not suitable for the “ high class” fancy birds. 
The best general plan we can suggest for a moderate-sized loft, suitable for keeping any of 
the “ high-class” pigeons, except Carriers and Pouters (which require somewhat special accommo- 
dation, to be fully explained when treating of these varieties), is shown in Fig. 3, which represents 
a loft about fourteen feet square, and containing arrangements of the most perfect kind for eighteen 
breeding pairs of pigeons. The nest-boxes are of the kind already described, and are upon the 
floor as there recommended ; at the back, over the nest-boxes, are six pens for matching birds, 
which will be further described in the next chapter, while the sides of the loft, and the back wall 
over the matching-pens, are fitted up with perches, the construction of which is more clearly shown 
in Fig. 4. They are contrived on a plan described some years since by Mr. Noye, of Birmingham, 
slightly modified, and form the very best perches for all kinds of pigeons except the two breeds 
already mentioned, the provision for which will be treated of in the proper place. They are formed 
by nailing on triangular brackets fastened to the wall, or to perpendicular uprights fixed to it, 
boards ten inches wide, planed smooth on the upper side, so as to secure them in a slanting position, 
as represented in the figure. On the top edges of these boards are nailed or screwed, in a horizontal 
position, slips of wood about four and a half inches long, by two and a half inches wide, with the 
corners rounded off to prevent injury while flying. These strips or perches must be not less than 
ten inches apart, so that one bird cannot possibly peck at another whilst perched ; but of course 
the total number of perches must depend upon the size of the loft and the number of birds it is 
meant to accommodate, and there should not be many more perches than there are meant to be 
birds. The boards catch all the droppings, and prevent any bird soiling the plumage of the one 
underneath it or on the floor, while the slant prevents them from being perched or walked upon. 
It gives a little more trouble in construction if the perches are fixed in a separate length of wood, 
fixed rather above the slanting board ; but it saves a little trouble afterwards in cleaning, as a 
scraper can then be drawn with one sweep along each board. This was the plan adopted by 
Mr. Noye, who used round perches instead of flat ; but the pigeon not being a perching bird, and 
its feet only adapted for flat surfaces, the flat strips here described will be found preferable. 
The best nest-pans are those made of rough earthenware, of the shape shown in Fig. 5. The 
size for ordinary pigeons is eight inches across ; for Carriers, Pouters, and Runts, ten inches. 
3 
