The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-04-29
Pigeons and Their E1.ccs.

hciuluS plScOl-laHClcTS Sa tnaI tner0
Is increased interest in the raising Of
pigeons, particularly among the ladies'
who care for them at odd moments at
homo and obtain from the sale of the
birds considerable pin-money A resi-
dent of New Jersey, who is ono of tho
best-known pigeon-fanciers of this coun-
try, and whose lofts of nearly five hun
dred birds includes some of the hand
soonest and most valuable in the world
says:
Every one Of my birds knows me,
and whenever | enter the loft they floc <
around. Most people have the idea that
pigeons must be bred in the dark. This
is not the case, for it makes them wild.
All mine are bred in the light, in glass
boxes painted white, about six b. eight
inches in size, and with hay inside for
the nest. A curious fact have noticed
about pigeons is their loyalty to each.
Let pair be once mated and they will
never forsake one another while alive.
How long do they live? Twelve years,
and keep up their full vigor for that
period. We feed them on Canada peas,
wheat, cracked corn, and occasionally
u little hempsced. Tho weight of Il
pigeon varies from three or four ounces
to several pounds. Tho biggest figure
have heard that was paid for pair of
pigeons in this country was $500. 1t
was given for Il pair of carrier pigeons" +"
viii you tell me something about
the different kinds Of pigcons?" DR.. Nc
Cook, Il lover of the bird. was asked,
"Anyonc having owned pigeons Of
any kind will know what is meant by
common pigeons They are not of any
distinct breed or color. There are but
-,
which some traces of the higher classes
can not be detected. At tho same time
l believe that were flock of the So
called common pigeons kept entirely to
themselves for II number of years color
markings and other characteristics OF
the higher classes would entirely disap-
pear and the birds would be more like
ly to resemble in color and shape those
they originally camo frCm---the Blue
Rocks. Next TO a common pigeon, per-
haps the best known, at least by name,
IS the homing Antwerp, which is tho
carrier pigeon, 80 called. 1t is the bird
known to make long flights. The fan
tails are special favoritcs. The white
ones arc inc most common and easiest
to breed, but they arc also to be had in
black, brown, blue, red and yellow.
The two latter are rare, and easily
bring from $40 to $50 pair. Fans,
with fowl feathers. mottled or checker
ed, are not of much value. No breed of
pigeons has SO many varieties and sub
varieties rs the tumblcr pigeons. nor is
there variety SO wcll-known that is rs
yet SO little understood by pigcon-brecd-
crs. Many who own them expect then
to perform, whether the birds arc givel
Il chance or not. Usually they arc kcp
with lot Of other birds and arc flowr
with them. There arc also many tum
blers who do not tumble at all. All @
the short-faced varieties arc not SUI
posed to be performers, although l hav
seen some tumble very we'll Pouter
are the first selection of mIny promincn
igeon-fanciers, and rarely is this birt
entirely abandoned for other varieties
A Baltimore citizen who is an enthusi
astic breeder of poutcrs has at presen
probably the best birds of that variet,
in the country. They arc somewha,
difficult to breed. and good ones alway.
command high prices. Fifty dollars tol
a pair of first-class birds would not bt
extravagant in this country, and in En-
gland perhaps the same birds would
bring twice that amount and more.
remember that Mr.. Scheli, of Brooklyn,
had one he refused $3.50 for. They can
be had in pure white, black, red, vel,
| low and Isabella. IN Y Mail ana
ETDreSs