48 
REARING AND MANAGEMENT OF PIGEONS. 
MATING. 
Sometimes there is a little trouble attending the mating of pigeons, and it 
is of as great importance that they should be comfortably matched, as it is 
that men and women should be properly married. To produce this desirable 
state of things, the coops should have only a thin lattice-work partition 
between them, so that the birds may make “acquaintance” with each other; 
they should also be allowed to feed out of the same vessel, and in a short 
time the young observer will find the birds selecting for themselves the bird 
of their choice, when they may be placed together in one pen. If they 
agree, of course they will be continued together, but if they should disagree 
and fight, a deed of separation must be drawn up. When the “loving 
couple” are properly mated, they may be left at liberty to arrange their own 
domestic affairs, and to build their nests, which they will do very readily. 
MOULTING. 
Sometimes the birds will suffer a good deal in moulting, and when they 
do not throw off their feathers freely, at the proper time of moulting, it is a 
sign that the birds are not in vigorous health. Such birds should be removed 
to a warm place; hempseed should be mixed with their food for a few days, 
and a little saffron should be placed in their water. Their tail-feathers may 
be also gently removed, and any other little office performed for them which 
the necessity of their case seems to call for. 
