PIGEON NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 14926, 12 July 1912, Page 10

PIGEON NOTES.

[By The Antwerp.] Questions relating to pigenn-hreeding, etc., requiring answer must he sent to “ Antwerp,” rare of this office, not later than noon of Thursday, in order to secure attention the same week. From schedule to hand I see the Taieri Society have made arrangements to hold their annual show on July 27. The hall in which this society used to hold their; show was burned down, and will not be rebuilt till about the middle of this month.; This accounts for their show being nearly a month late. This- year throe of the Dunedin specialist clubs are giving this society their patronage--namely, the Bantam Club, Cage-bird Club, and the Pigeon Club. Pigeons come up '.veil at the Wellington Show, there being 250 pigeons, against 145 poultry, while canaries had the magnificent entry of 201. The two local exhibitors who sent up fared- very well,'Mr Uankshaw winning all honors with his' team of imported Croppers, while Mr Allan accounted for the .premier honors in; a strong class of African hens and seconds in a pood class of rocks, both ndtiltj rung. The strong classes at this fixturd were show homers, owls, magpies, and dragoons. Clean-leg tumblers were very poorly represented, but their muffed brethren came up very well. The championship show will be held at Waiumte on the 19th and 20th. Several local fanciers have sent- birds up to try and annex one of the championships. It is about time one of the championships came Dunedin way. and “Antwerp” trusts the best bird will win, and that it will be a- Dunedin bird. The Dunedin boys had a day out at Tcmnka show on Wednesday. This show had close on 200 pigeons on exhibition. The strongest class in thin section was Red or Yellow Self Tumblers, and the honor in this class went to A. E. Jeftcr-, sin, one of the junior .members of the Dunedin Pigeon Club. This youthful enthusiast also won fourth in the same class. He will lie heard of still further at next year's shows. “ Bob ” again took all, the cards in the “ Coppers,” while H. h'onth, of Caversham, won the first and third in Adult Black self class, and all the tickets in the same color young bird-class. . This fancier holds possibly the strongest- team of Black Pelfs in New Zealand, and well deserves the special he won for the best tumblin’ in the show. Mr Allan annexed the medal for best pigeon in the show with his now well-known Blade African owl. This same fancier also won in Baldheads. any color Mottles, and Modena*. Tumblers were cxeptionallv strong, both in number? and quality. Fan-tails were a feature of the show, \V. T. f-Tott winning the medal with one of this variety for the best bird of opposite sex to winner of the other medal. (‘hiistchurch show will be held early in August, and that will finish the winter shows off. and then for the breeding season, which is the most interesting .period to all fanciers. In preparing for the breeding season first of all give the pigeon houses a thorough clean out from top to bottom. I do not mean with whitewash, ns this is apt to leave- a- certain dampness for some time, and nothing is more harmful than darn]) to pigeons. The cleaning consists in first removing all perches, etc,, and then sweeping the roof and walls thoroughly with a good, stiff American or carpet broom, and carrying all the dust, etc., away. After this give the walls a good, head scrub with a dry scrubbing brush and a bucket of clean saw-;!nst. Dip the brush in the sawdust and scrub well, using nlcntv of “elbow grease.” It is astonishing how clean a wall may be inr.de with a drv brush. For nest boxes nothing is better than the portable variety. Kerosene or candle boxes make ideal nesting places. They do the turn as well as more, expensive fixture.?, ami can be burned at the end of the breeding season. >ee that all your birds are in condition before .pairing them up. Fat is not condition. When the birds are first paired feed them liberally. To know whether your birds are ‘'fit.” see that they are, full of life, hard and tight in plumage, and vigorous in their movements. Never pair birds up that are dull in eye. heavy and listless in their movements, and roll and slack in feather. When birds are in good condition the results of the breeding season are generally need, but when they are ml in condition one can expect a .series of soft-shelled and unfertile egg« and egg-bound hens. . Condition play.- the main part in the ?no f’s or failure of your loft. Get it. keep it, cling to it, and success will be obtained am! failure avoided.