The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-09-30

Comfort for the birds that are to
inhabit II is the main requisite In a
pigeon house. No matter how much
money may be put into the construc-
tion and finish of house, it 1t 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
good water drainage and air circula-
tion 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 houses,
be fitted up at small cost.
able-roof buil9ing 10 to 10 feet
wide. @ feet from the floor to the
caves, and 8 or feet to the ridge
makes a 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 Eot during the sum-
mer. The house can be made any
htt iC
ed advisable to keep more than 4OO
pairs of breeders in one house. A pen
8 by o feet will accommodate 25 pairs
Of pigeons. while 40 pairs may be kept
in a pen s by 13 feet. The necessary
floor space to allow for each pair
varies from 2h to 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
rs pairs of pigeons may be kept to ad-
vantage in each pen.
Cost Of Construction.
It costs at the rate of from about So
to S2.75 a 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.
S=7Se open and less expensive Eouses
may be built In warm than in cold
CLIMATES, but the house must be COM
Portable in cold weather. 1t is especial
ly 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.
Tie 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 well If they
are cold. The windows should be
placed just below the caves TO allow
the sun to shine back into TIE house.
In the southern section of the country
It is advisable to have small shutter
In the rear wall just under the caves,
for summer ventilation. This must be
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
ed so that they can not easily become
infested with rats. This Is usually ac-
compllshed by building the house from
| IL to "a inches above the ground, u.s.
ing up TIE space between the ground
and the floor, but leaving small doors
so that cats and dogs can get under
the house. Cement makes a very good
floor for a pigeon house, as It keeps
out the rats. The floors should be well
covered with sand or kept heavily bed
ed with straw. Alleyways 2la to feet
wide are usually built on the north
side of the pigeon houses which con-
tain more than two or three pens.
If the pigeons are confined, a fly
way, or outside yard covered with wire
is attached to the south side of the
house. The fyway is usually from 9
to feet high, Is to 30 feet long, and
the width of the pen. The sides and