# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Pigeon-house

Edition of 1802.
​PIGEON-HOUSE, or Dove-cote, a structure usually erected of wood, for the accommodation and rearing of pigeons.
Dove-cotes ought to be built of a moderate height, and spacious, so that the birds may find sufficient room to fly about them with ease; and, in case any external object should alarm them, that they may readily escape. In constructing the nests, it will be advisable to interweave wickers, in imitation of those formed by wild pigeons; as they will thus be more easily domesticated, and have no inducement to forsake their habitations.
Should any repairs become necessary in the cote, or in the nests, it will be proper to complete them before the middle of the day; because, if the pigeons be disturbed ​in the afternoon, they will not rest quietly during the night, and the greater part will perhaps sit moping on the ground, till the ensuing day: such unfavourable accidents, in the breeding season, will either occasion the destruction of many eggs in embryo; or, if there should be any nestlings, they will consequently be starved.
In Mr. Parkinson's Experienced Farmer, we meet with a remark made by a skilful pigeon-breeder, who cautioned him "against letting the first-flight fly to increase his stock," but advised him to take them without exception; because they will otherwise appear at the Benting-season, that is, between seed-time and harvest, when pigeons are very scarce, and many of the young birds would pine to death, from mere weakness.—Pigeons rise early: and, as they require to be supplied with food only during the benting season, it should not be carried to the cote later than three or four o'clock in the morning: for, if it be served long after that hour, they will hover restlessly about the house, and tlius be prevented from taking their proper exercise. During the greater part of the year, they ought to provide their own food: as they will find abundance in the fields, from the commencement of harvest to the end of the sowing season: on the contrary, those which are constantly fed at home, will not be prolific.
The spring-flight generally appears in the month of April or May; when all the eggs, which have been laid too late, must be removed. And, as the weather becomes cold after the harvest, the parent bird should not be suffered to sit so late as to be injured; for, though the young ones be hatched, they will be weakly, and useless; a warm situation being most suitable to their nature.
The utmost cleanliness ought to prevail in pigeon-houses: hence the holes should be carefully examined, before the breeding-season arrives. If any of the young die during the summer, they will speedily become putrid, and emit a disagreeable stench, which is extremely injurious to the inhabitants of the dove-cote: thus, from the insupportable filth, and smell, they are often unwillingly compelled to quit the eggs laid for a second brood; so that the principal part of the season is lost. Farther, as pigeons are very liable to be infected with fleas, all the nests ought to be cleaned; and, if it be conveniently practicable, they should be washed out, and the dung, or other impurities removed, immediately after the first flight is hatched: this business, however, should, on all occasions, be performed at an early hour in the morning; and the remaining eggs must likewise be removed, so as to render the habitation perfectly clean for the harvest-flight.
Thus managed, pigeons will thrive and multiply to an uncommon degree; but, as they have a great antipathy to owls, which sometimes enter their habitations, such intruders must be immediately destroyed. Rats, cats, weasels, and squirrels, are likewise their mortal enemies, and will speedily depopulate a whole dove-cote. To prevent these depredations, it will be necessary to examine the different avenues to the pigeon-house, regularly once a week, or oftener, and with minute attention.—Among the most common diseases ​of these birds, are, a species of itch, and a pustular eruption resembling the small-pox; either of which may be cured by mixing small quantities of crude antimony, in powder, with pure water, for their daily drink, till the skin appear perfectly clear.—From Mr. Parkinson's book before quoted, we learn, that a pigeon-conjurer, who, by fascinating means effected the return of his emigrant birds, together with a colony of strangers, employed salt and asa-fœtida, as the principal ingredients in his secret composition.
Those of our readers, who wish to acquire more extensive information, respecting the management of the domestic pigeon, will be amply gratified by the perusal of Mr. Girton's Complete Pigeon-Fancier, &c. a small work, of which several editions have lately been published.