Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
EXTERIOR RABBIT HUTCH.

within his grasp. But to be an amusement
worth INDUCING in it should be properly built,
well stocked and conducted in the right way.
The pigeon lott should be in q barn where there
is plenty OF room for the rds to fly about and
exercise their wings. At ole end of the loft
there should be nesting boxes, one for each pair
OF birds. Outside OF the hole in the barn wall,
through which they fly in and out, shelf should
be placed; for pigeons are not like some other
buds that fly into their houses without resting
their wings They must have chance to perch
on this shelf and walk about before they go inside
their domicie.
After you have put your pigeons in the loft
you must be careful not 10 let them out for at
least two or three weeks. Ii you do they Will
not return. AS soon they become accus-
toned to their new home they win not leave it
no matter what liberty You afford them, unless
some other pov who is given over to evil ways
CAPTURES them and takes them to his loft. II
they are lost that way you might as well give
them up, for the pigeon Is a tickle bird and its
affection seldom lasts longer than three week
at the utmost.
Now a word sbout your pigeons, There are
many pretty varieties that make beautiful pets.
For instance, there is the vain and strutting
pouter, the fantail, runt, the gentle nun, the
baTbed, and the ruffle- necked pigeon. These
are all hardy varieties and will repay the
trouble of raising and caring for them.
There is another species l should not forget
for in respects 1t is the most interesting of
all. The tumbler pigeon is one of the most ex-
pert aerial acrobats N the feathered world.
When he flies with the air and perhaps grows
tired he does not come down to his perch as
other pigeons do, but he tumbles over and over
the tips OF his claws at the very point he had
in mind when be began his wonderful desce Mt.
These birds can be bought for from So. so to s.
a air. il you go to a bird fancier for them
though 1 have doubt many of my readers
have friends who can spare them a pair from
their lofts at very much lower figure. In buy
ing pigeons be sure that the Pairs are mated.
While the pigeon is tickle in his treatment of
his owner. he is constancy itself in the treat
ment of his mate, and to hatch out eggs and
raise young pigeons you must have mated pairs.
Pigeons hatch out their young six times year,
and 1t will not take you long TO have o loft full
If Won make good start.
The proper food for pigeons is whole grains of
wheat. dried peas. cracked corn and gravel.
They use the gravel in their crops to triurate
their food the same as chickens do.
RABBITS THEIR CARE.
Another pretty pet for boys is the rabbit, but
bunny, IKE ir the pi cons. NEEDS the right kind
bits in the yard, where You must build for them
hutch. | have seen hutches built out of old
dry goods boxes, but the best kind of a hutch is
little shed, one half of which is shut in, with
little door in the side for them to pass
through, and the other half is barred like a
away. In the dark part OF the box you should
put plenty of hay foE bedding. for that is where
they sleep and spend thrir time in rainy and un-
pleasant weather. You should give them plenty
OF green food to eat, such as lettuce leaves,
beet stalks, and carrots and apples.
Among the choice varieties OF rabbits the
lopped-eared and Angola. The forme. has long
ears that do not stand up straight the ears OF
the common bunny, but hang over like those OF
spaniel. The longer the ears the more valu-
able the rabbit. In all the poultry shows where
rabbits are exhibited the longest cared rabbit
wins the FIRST prize. have seen one with ears
twenty -one inches long. The price varies &C
cording to the and runs all the wsy from S.
to $50 pair. The Ragors rabbit has a coat like
the angora cat, fluffy, like mutt with the fur
rubbed the wrong way. They can be bought for
81 to Sc pair. The common rabbit can be got
for very much less-fifty cents pair would be 3
very good price.
The rabbit makes pretty pet. It IS sfec-
tionate and can learn to come at call and to eat
out of your hand. but have never heard of one
being educated to higher degree of intelli
gence. pair of rabbits will bear young three
or four times year.
q BUsHYTAILED PET.
Among the most destructive pets a boy can