The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-28
ABOUT H0MING PIGEONS.
HOW THE FLEET WING D BIRDS
MAY BE KEPT AND TRAINED.

First Requisite-Necessary Food and
the Proper Care of the Young-Tbe
'Ideal Homer" and Other Notable
Flyers With Big Records.
(Copyright)
New York, Dec. 22.-Although hominp
pigeons are the most interesting and attrac-
tive of all birds that are possessed of strong
domestic tendencies and attachments. 50
little is known concerning their habits and
requirements that the average householder
hesitates about venturing to establish a
loft Of his own. The comparatively few
who have done so fad in their swift and
graceful flyers never-failing source of de.
light. 1t is not necessary to be a profess
sional fancier or a member of a homing
club to successfully raise and train homing
pigeons. Their study and care can and
ought to rank among the most charming
recreations of country or suburban life.
while even in cities valuable fiocks NAV be
and are maintained
Fascinating, deed. such birds become
after slight acquaintance with them. The
growth of their individual characters les
almost as distinct and varied as is the hu-
man family-their marked intelligence
their high and long circling sweeps as they
grow old enough to test their wings; then
their first "toss,n a few miles from home
aud the gradual frightening Of the tossing
distance, until the day comes when the
miles. multiplied by hundreds if you wish it
so, seem never too many to keep the swift
and strong and tireless flyers from making
direct and ligntning-like course to the g
spot on earth which they love because it is
their Only home-all these things make
homing pigeon culture a pursuit which
grows in interest with every additional
day. 1t is pursuit which may be advant-
ageously taken up by the young people of
any family whose home is so arranged that
a loft will not be in the way.
The loft is easily constructed. II NAV be
built out of doors, or a corner Of a barn.
or shed, or garrett may be wired off for the
purpose. Some Of the most extensive lofts
in the United States are built upon the fiat
roofs of city homes. A loft six feet square
and six or seven feet high will comfortably
accommodate Il focks of forty birds, and
would not be too large for beginners
few pairs of young birds. Nothing Is
worse for homing pigeons than overcrowd-
ing, and it is just as easy at the start to
construct spacious loft as to build one that
will soon prove too small. Still more i'm.
portant Is it to see that your loft is free
from draughts and dampness. Attention
TO details of this kind at tho beginning is
the best kind of insurance against bird dis
eases In the flock you hope to own. With
the loft dry and free from draughts no
artificial heat in winter is required. Indeed,
it should be avoided.
Lofts can be low-priced or expensive, ac-
cording to taste. A simple enclosure could
be made almost without expense, by any
clever boy or young man with mechanical
skill. Shelves, divided into compartments
should be placed along the walls for future
nesting, and such compartment should have
oDe-half of its front enclosed, for homing
pigeons, when nesting, appreciate privacy.
Perches, pegs and small platforms can be
placed about the loft as the owner pleases.
Some, OF course, are necessary.
The home prepared it is time to look for
its occupants. A single pair of young
pigeons may be bought, but it is better to
purchase several pairs. If you want large
Gock the best plan at beginning is to buy
about six pairs of young pigeons, and in
stead of dealing with single fancier get
tue birds from two or three good, reliable
fauciers in your neighborhood. You can
buy young homing pigeons at 81 pain, but
it's much more satisfactory to tell your
fauc.er that you want birds from the best
sraius obtainable. At IS pair you can
buy first-class record birds. with guar
aateed pedigrees. The young of record
makers are always good birds,
but it is still better to get
birds whose elder brothers or sisters have
also made coed records. Then you are
doubly sure of having pigeons you will yet
be proud of. Sometimes loft is started by
buying two or three pairs of old birds that
have bred record birds. Then If the young
get lost or killed in their first outings-as
bon Cfin hGua the
breeders They must, however, be kept al
tyays in the loft, for once outside they
would fy rectly to their old home. Good
breeders, too, are sufficiently costly to dis
courage beginners. | know some tina; could
not be bought at any price If you want
them. however, and can obtain them, get
them pretty soon, for February is nesting
time
If YOU have purchased young birds they
will be about five weeks old when intro
duced to your loft Within week or ten
DAYS thew will be flying about outside and
peYting familiar with their surroundings
The cleanliness of toe loft must be regarded
from the teginuing as a matter of supre ne
importance. The loft should be thoroughly
cleaned at least once every week. Pigeon
owners VINO clean their lofts every day say
that their birds are healthier and stronger
for IT, 1t is certain that foul loft soon
breeds vermin and disease. Plenty OF fresh
drinking water and spacious, clean bath
ing tub are among the absolute necessities
OF the loft ;.
Washed sand, oyster shells. and salt.
mixed. constitute an important item OF
nigeon food, and should always be accessl-
bic to the birds. The mixture is generally
nlaced in small box in the loft. Occa-
sionally the addition of a little cayenne
manner is beneficial For general sustenance
have an assortment of the best quality OF
feed consisting of old, small round corn
old Il should be always-small white Can
ode meas and oat grits. These eau be OBJ
tanned in quantities from any fancier. II
DossibJe. too add vetches to the assort-
mani Vetches are small black beans I'M
norted from Belgium, and considered by
many of the crack pigeon flyers to be mos'
beneficial article of bird food. Netches IL
this country can generally be obtained IRON
seedsmen and of en from pigeon fanclers'
Now and then the pigeons Will ENJOY mix
tnre of hemp, canary and rape SEED, ano
will be better for 1t.
With wholesome food, plenty o.
drinking and bathing water. ana
clean. dry, spacious loft, the younf
birds will thrive, and daily open air e1er'
else will strengthen their wings a1d give
chem confidence in their abilities. LEI
them have plenty of exercise flying around
their home. and some bright day, whei
shaw are about four months Old, take thelL
abont two miles from home IL oasKe'
and give them their first toss" 1ot
nrohably could go five miles in SAFETY, put i
Is inst as well to be satisfied Win Two az th'