Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-10-29
The Worlds Largest Pigeon Farm.

The Worlds Largest Pigeon Farm.
You would hardly believe THAT, il al
the word. there could b 50 many pig
eous-pigeons black, white and fzwu-
ooIored ; pigeons rising in perfect clouds
in the air. tut ~ descend and cover the
earth As might some sudden s1ow-Stormi
That, though, s Just one phase Of q visii
to the largest pigeon farm IN the world,
located nezr Los Angeles, California
Al tins pigeon ranch, a last report,
there we're something Ike 1000 ooies,
which shelter, zs roughly estimated, over
60,OU biros. These ooies are placed On
Z series OF wooden tables and are ar
ranged IN tiers OF SIX, each ner having
seven pairs OF holes
The ootes are made Of cheaper wood
each resembling an ordinary soap-boX
with two square holes cui IN each side
10 trout OF each hole there s little porch.
about two inches vide, forming the ROOT
o. the similar Porch below. Inside the
holes there Is straw. the oaly furniture in
The little home.
EyeUWhere. in, On, around and over
this arrangement. are the pigeons, max
ing charming picture. Most OF then
are pure white. but they vary; many
have Z br OF black around the eve and
SPOT OF black on The bresS; some have
gray wings with Z SeneS Of black dots
others brown. The feet and blllS are
pink, the eyes black and always SUI
rounded with Z yellow nm. Over these
thousands OF BIRDS there flosi the sounds
OF perpetual cooing, Ike the WhITing oi
some distant mil.
II you rs1bie among them you all Ind
them yery tame, and II you proceed Tar
enough YOU All come 10 building shzP-
ec Ike z barn, bui each end Of which
consists Of thirteen tiers. Of eighteen pairs
Of holes. INSIDE there IS roW upon row
Of ooies. Ia these separate boxes the
male and ieTsle birds are placed. Like
the ostrich. s9usbs frequently pair on Tor
life.
Gentle ard tame as they are, the pig
cons are also most inguisIiiVe and Wiil
watch The srzrgsr wIih The greatest IN
terest. Frequently. however, one vii
take fright and fly away. quickly follow
Cd by al OF the others, each one giving q
scolcing CIV. Shortly Afterwards. how
ever. they Nil return and settle down
among the bouldsrs n the nver, where
they look exactly ike flock OF gulls.
The profits IRON pigeon raising come
very quickly, since the birds lay al The
year round. except in The fall, ounng the
mouliing period, when they take ysca-
ton. TNo eggs are laid, and require
about eighteen days 10 hatch. During
this period the male birds take turn wIth
the female sitting uDoa the eggs. The
mothsr-bir leeds tle Little ones by the
method knowr as "fegurgiiziion. " which
consists in forcing up predigesied food
from their own crzW into the mouths oi
their Young. The squads are ready 10
fy when sbou; three weeks Old. This IS
also The tine when they are most likely
10 be killed. Three-Seeks old squads, al
wholesale, bring from s. 10 S3psr dozen.
/ Each year about Eve carloads OF fertilizer
are sod 10 tznnenes, orchsrdIsts and ber-
~ plantations, bringing Sl25 car load.
The BIRDS are fed on wheat and corn,
and II requires The services Of about i've
men 10 manage The large pigeon ranch.
Their duties consist Of feeding the parent
birds, cleaning the boxes and catching
ard delivering the small ones. Little a.
teuiion IS gwen 10 Inc sdUli birds, IS they
vii not leave the place.
Experiments have been made in cross
breeding bJ, Is yet. without any SPECIAL
advantage, 50 thsi NOS, OF the pigeons
are iuierbred, ss Il makes no cifietnce
II the price o. the sgusb What rs species
nay be. Occasionally. ho~eyer. boming
pigeons are raised Tor tsncers, sn3 there
Is 4 suspicion thzi these also return. some
/ times, TO s&ell The multitude. Some teE
turtle doves are also raised, Tor their
/ beauty.
The greatest enemies OF the BIRDS are
csts and rats. though i IS uncertain hoE
rlznV they kiH escA year. fof there IS 20
method Of keeping record Of the age Of
the plgeoas, and they breed 50 rapidly
that Il Is impossible 10 keep a. accurate
/ count Of the number.
This rs1ch Ezs started sixteen years
ago ~ith 100 BIRDS and. as Stsiec. hss
BoE over 5000. AZ night the BIRDS all
retire into the coles, as chickens 90 IN z
coop.