The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-21
GREAT PIGEON RANCH.
Picturesque Industry That Brought
in $4,000 Last Year.

From Country Life in America.
The pigeon ranch owned by Z. Y.
Johnson, of Los Angeles, Cal, is said
to be the largest in the world. Three
years ago Mr.. johnson selected pretty
spot in the Los Angeles river bed,
where, among sycamores. willows and
alders that outlined the small stream,
he erected a number Of immense bird
tenements. one being sixty feet long,
twenty-four feet wide. and eighteen
feet high. Tiny domestic establishments
were arranged in tiers all over the ex-
terror walls, while through the interior
ran eight narrow asles. affording pas
sage way to the inner flats. Three thou
sand pigeons were secured as tenants.
The male bird chooses the nest before
mating. During the eighteen days Of
incubation he takes the nest for an
hour both morning and afternoon. The
progeny are numerous, each pair Of
pigeons producing twelve squads a
year. The squads are allowed to re-
main under the parental roof for only
three weeks, at the end of which time
they are prepared for market. When
they are old enough to fly they invar-
iably become thin and tough. At the
age of six months those birds which
have escaped the stew kettle select
their mates and nest. During the past
three years the original 5000 birds have
increased to $4,000.
September and October are the
moulting months, and during that time
only forty dozen squads are produced
monthly, but during every other month
400 dozen squads are Matched.
In selecting birds for the market Mr..
Johnson takes the dark-feathered
youngsters, as he hopes eventually to
have only white birds. Two hundred
and fifty dozen squads, on an average,
are sent to market each month, the
price Of sale ranging from $3.50 to So
per dozen, though in moulting seasons.
when the birds are scarce. $40 a dozen
Is often realized. Mr.. johnson estimates
that his revenue from the birds during
the past year has amounted to $4,000.
At present the lofts are all occupied
and some Of the more recent home
makers are compelled to occupy hum
BILE habitations on the ground. Each
week the lofts are disinfected with a
solution of carbolic acid, while every
nest IS sprinkled with insect powder
and sulphur, process the birds seem
to dislike.
At mealtime the scene on the ranch
is one of picturesque animation. Re-
sponsive to the first note of a musical,
long-drawn whistle from Mr.. Johnson,
which announces banquet, the birds
flock from every crack and crevice of
their tenement. The air Is full of pig
cons. To feed this flock Of $4,000 birds
requires twelve sacks Of screenings,
eight sacks of grain, and an immense
quantity of boiled meal each day. Dur
ing the week three or four barrels OF
stale bread are soaked in water and
added to the menu. The cost of these
provisions amounts to sl5 per day.
The birds never stray beyond the
wire boundaries of their home, seeming
quite content with the narrow confines
of eight acres. Convenience and COM
fort are carefully considered. and
every morning straw is trewn on the |.
ground that the birds may build new
nests il they so desire. The life of this
interesting bird city is one of unending
contentment, undistul'bed save when
a predatory hawk or rat appears upon
the scene.