The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-08-27

inhabit 1t is the main requisite In
pigeon house. No matter how much
money may be put into the construc-
ton and finish Of house, If it is
damp, dark, and close the birds that
are to live there will not do well.
The prime essentials in pigeon
houses are fresh air, dryness, sunlight,
and space enough to keep the pigeon
comfortable. TIE location should have
ton In order that the floor and yards
may be dry, while 1t should be stu
ated for convenience in management.
! A southern or southeastern exposure
is best. The general principles of con-
struction which apply to poultry build
ings apply also to pigeon houses.
Almost any style of house can be
used for pigeons, and in many cases
| where only few pigeons are kept
| available buildings, such as the lofts
OF barns and vacant poultry Eouses
can be fitted up at small cost.
gable-roof building 10 to IS feet
| wide, 6 feet from the floor to the
caves, and 8 or feet to the ridge
makes d good pigeon house. A she'd
| roof also makes a good pigeon house,
| and is the easiest and cheapest style
of house to build. If large part of
the roof slopes toward the south, the
house may be too hot during the sum-
mer. The house can be made any
length desired, but 1t is not consider
ed advisable to keep more than 400
pairs of breeders in one house. A pen
by 8 feet will accommodate 25 pairs
of pigeons, while 40 pairs may be kept
in pen 8 by Is feet. The necessary
floor space to allow for each pair
varies from PA to 8 square feet, ac-
cording to the size of the pen, pair
of birds requiring less floor space in
large than in small pens. From 20 to
40 pairs of pigeons may be kept to ad-
vantage In each pen.
Cost of Construction.
1t costs at the rate of from about 50
to $2.76 pair to construct pigeon
houses, including interior fittings and
small outside pen or flyway.
The house should be tightly con-
structed on all sides to prevent drafts.
More open and less expensive houses
may be built in warm than in cold
climates, but the house must be COM
Portable In cold weather. 1t Is especial
iy necessary to make the north, west
and east sides of the pigeon house
tight and comfortable for winter Use,
which Is often done by covering these
walls on the outside with roofing pa-
per.
The number of squads produced In
winter in cold climate may be in |
creased somewhat by heating the pig
con house, but this expense does not |
pay under average conditions In the |
United States. Windows should make |
up about one-tenth of the front of the |
house and should be arranged so that !
they can be taken out during warm |
weather. One window In each pen may |
be replaced by muslin curtain In cold |
weather for ventilation when the house
Is shut. Too many windows make the
house cold during the winter and
pigeons will not produce we'll If they
are cold. The windows should be |
placed just below the caves to allow
the sun to shine back into the house.
In the southern section of the country
1t Is advisable to have q small shutter
In the rear wall just under the caves,
for summer ventilation. This must he
well built, so that the opening can be
closed tightly in winter to prevent any
drafts, and 1t may be necessary to COW
er the opening and shutters with roof
Ing paper during cold weather.
Houses Should Be Rat Proof.
Pigeon houses should be construct.
eu 40 that they can not easily become
INFESTED with rats. This Is usually NO.
comphshed by building the house from
IL 10 "a inches above the ground nc.
Ing up the space between the ground
ana the floor but leaving small doors
so mat cats and dogs can get under
the mousse. Cement makes a very good
moor Tor a pigeon house, as II keens
out the rats. The floors shouId ha we'll
covered with sand or kept heavily had
CD with straw. Alleyways 2b to q feat
VIDE are usually built on tba norm
sue Oh the pigeon houses which con.
tam more than two or three pens,
u lhe pigeons are confined 81 av.
way, OF outside yard covered with wire
Is attached to the south side Of the
hoose. The hyway Is usually from q |
70 9 teet high, 10 to 30 feet long, and I
the WIDTH OF the pen. The sides ana
Top are usually covered with 1.Inch
mesh wire to keep sparrows an, VS. :
they eat the feed. Two.lnch mosh Ito "s ,
usn pe USED where sparrows are not {
p l.,' few pigeon holes a
,ne''es hlsL and s to IL inches wide
are cut In the front of the house and
NJ u convenient height, usually nbomt =
= 70 . feet above the aoor A shutter