Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-20
PIGEON DIFFICULTIES

that beSet a breeders path are not d
few. 1t is well to know both sides
fully, so that the obstacles may be met
with some practical knowledge of their
nature.
1t is not uncommon for female stock
birds to lose the use of their limbs
either Immediately before or after
laying. Usually it is the young hen
that falls a victim to that sort OF
thing, but even older hens are not eX-
empt. If the hen is afflicted at the
time of laying, it is rarely that she
carries out the process of Matching.
Richard Woods, an English author
ity, says: This leg weakness is due
to a number of causes. Inherited
weakness is certainly often account
able for the trouble. Presumably
healthy and vigorous birds often man
ifest their inherent weakness at the
time of laying, if not before, either in
the shape of leg weakness or loss OF
wing power. Almost invariably a
general breakdown of constitution is
the result. The fallacy of attempting
to breed from weakly stock cannot be
too strongly condemned, for apart
from the needless trouble involved,
the offspring Qf any are debilitated,
and consequently worthless. Equally
Objectionable is the present day fall
ing of matching up quite young hens.
A hen pigeon should never be bred
from until she attains the age of one
year. Two-year-old hens of some
breeds are but just ripe for carrying
out the laws of nature to the fullest
extent. Many a promising young hen
has been irretrievably ruined through
breeding from her too soon this in
terdict applies chiefly to the mottled
breeds and those in which an exces-
sive development of beak is highly es-
teemed. The temptation to combat
this ruling is strong, but it must be
remembered that sooner or later the
penalty of immature breeding has to
be paid"
Next, lack of exercise and high
feeding are often responsible for much
trouble at the time of laying. 1t is
a wonder that some pigeons breed at
all, for they are very often kept in
the most unsuitable quarters and fed
most injudiciously.
Egg bound is shown in hens by loss
of wing power and leg weakness in
many cases; indeed, egg-binding may
be suspected whenever a hen suddenly
droops or loses the use of it's legs. At
the commencement of the breeding
season. that is, during the prevalence
of cold weather, the soundest and
healthiest birds are occasionally vic
tins of this weakness. Whatever the
cause, no time should be lost in caus>
ing the egg to pass, for there is al
ways a danger of Inflammation of the
egg passage setting in. The majority
of cases will yield to simple treat
ment. The ailing bird should be i'm
mediately removed from the loft and
kept in a quiet pen. First, let steam
ing be tried this may easily be done
by holding the vent for a few minutes
over a jug filled with very hot water
Should a single steaming be insuffi-
cient, this form of treatment may be
repeated several times a day. The in
sertion in the vent of feather dipped
in warm salad oil is another favorite
remedy. 1t is also a good plan to ad
minister one or two castor oil cap
sules, according to the size and con-
stitution of the patient. AS last re-
source, bathing the parts surrounding
the organs of reproduction with a de-
coction of camomile flowers and poppy
heads should be tried; indeed, this
form of treatment may be adopted in
the first instance If the affected bird
appears to be in pain. Unfortunately,
hens that are egg bound once are very
liable to be so again. Sometimes an
otherwise robust hen pigeon will be
slightly affected every time she lays.
Remarkably good birds have been
known to be bred from hens affected
with this weakness, but as a rule the
offspring are sickly and often sue
cumb before they arrive at maturity.
The laying of soft-shelled eggs is
very disappointing. Happily, this sort
of thing can generally be guarded
against by supplying the breeding
stock with an ample supply of gravel