THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 19, 1861. 
A NEW DESIGN FOR A PIGEON-HOUSE. 
311 
Haying had notice given me that my house would be required 
in the spring for conversion into a barrack, I was compelled 
in the winter to check my ardour as a fancier of poultry 
•and Pigeons, by a great reduction of my stock; but being 
exceedingly fond of Carriers and other Pigeons, I retained 
four or five pair of the former. As I could not bring myself 
to part with them, I began to think how I could best meet 
the case, and preserve them and any young and eggs that I 
might chance to have in April, when, having been obliged to put 
off the evil day, I must move. I have seen various kinds of 
boxes, but never one like the present, and if a description of it is 
novel or useful to any of your readers, my wishes will be fully 
met. The only thing I advocate is the principle of construction, 
leaving the dimensions to be regulated by the taste, space to be 
occupied, and length of pocket of the fancier. 
The first box I made was for three pair, as shown in fig. 1. 
(The dotted lines on the nest-doors, show the groves in which 
the slides to shut the holes, run behind.) 
Fig. 1.—Front Elevation. 
and floors of each compartment to allow of the front doors 
folding up. The perching-bar should be about one inch and a 
half from the floor to allow of a small hoe to clean out, or a drawer 
might be placed there if preferred. 
I have made three of these boxes not exactly similar as to 
dimensions, as in two cases I fitted up purchased boxes, which 
is the most economical plan, and I consider that 16 inches to 
18 inches is the least height that should be allowed for Carriers. 
So that the box should be 3 feet for two pairs, and 4 feet 6 inches 
in height for three pairs, and so on; 2 feet 6 inches would be 
the best width, and about 2 feet 2 inches, or three nine-inch deals 
for the depth. The centre partition should run the whole height 
of the box, and the fillet piece on which the nest-doors are hung 
should have them put on with butt-liinges before it is fixed to 
its place in front of the centre partition. The bottoms on which - 
the nest-pans rest, or are let into according to taste, merely 
slide on pieces nailed to the centre division and sides, and can, 
therefore, be taken out and scrubbed. The nest-fronts are about 
an inch from the top and bottom, to allow them to clear the 
front door when up, and to facilitate cleaning. The front doors 
are merely frames bolted together with tliree-eighths-of-an-inch 
iron-wire bars, at 2\ inches apart. They fasten up by the same 
button that keeps them shut when down. A beaded fillet, more 
Fig. 2.—Section and Elevation on Line A b. 
Scale for Figs. 1 and 2, 1 in. = 1 foot. 
The top pair shows the box as in every-day use ; the second 
show's the left nest-door open, forming a partition to prevent the 
young that are nearly fledged, from running to the hen sitting 
in the next hole; and the bottom shows the front door down, 
as when used to confine a pair to two holes. If it is advised to 
make two pens, open both nest-doors, shut the slides, and the 
feat is accomplished. When open, they are kept in their places 
by two pins put through the perching-bar, and the drinking- 
vessel can be hung in the ordinary way. 
I have given what I consider the minimum dimensions for 
stout birds ; but in all cases the nest-doors should be equal in 
width to the distance they are from inside the perching-bar, and 
the latter should be the same distance below the top of the box 
for appearance than anything else, is nailed on the edge of the 
box as a finish. When obliged to shift quarters to a distance, a 
box with a lid nailed on will make a good packing-case ; or if only 
a short distance, as in my case, I should put it in a wheel or 
hand-barrow, and two men can carry birds and all. It will 
answer outside as well as inside a house, and keep the birds at 
night safe from cats; and if an aviary is to be fitted up, it is 
only to extend the number of compartments at the top, bottom, 
or sides, as required. If Mr. Brent or any other of your con¬ 
tributors would state any objections or improvements, I should 
be obliged, in order that they might be obviated or made, as my 
only object in bringing it to notice is, that, as Mr. Eaton says, 
(t X might benefit a brother fancier and could do no harm trying. » 
