THE YOUNG PIGEONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1636, 8 July 1903, Page 65 (Supplement)

THE YOUNG PIGEONS.

For some unaccountable reason the most promising young pigeons have a habit of coming to grief. Dike the good little boys in the story-books, the best young pigeons are frequently doomed to die young. When there are two squabs in the same nest the one that bids fair to turn out a clinker will probably. decline to be reared. Any young birds that have their crops empty when inspected at roosting time can easily be fed. If they are under ten days old the usual plan ’is to crush some plain biscuit, mix it into a pap with warm water, and then pour it gradually over the tongue -and down the throats of the birds. Should the neglected young one, be over ten day s they can be readily fed with peas or tares soaked beforehand for six hours in water. The crop must not be more than half filled at a meal. The advantages of a. separate place in which to keep the squeakers when they uaa feed themselves are very apparent now. The stock birds usually ill-treat their big young ones when the next parr of eggs hatch, preventing the youngsters feeding, and driving them about cruelly. They must have plenty of clean, sharp sand and a shallow bath, not more than two inches deep», always available. As a satisfactory diet for most breeds maple peas, dari, and wheat, will be found suitable, with some small tick beans added for Carriers.. An twerps, and Homers. The food can either be placed in a hopper, so that the pigeons can help themselves when they wish; or they can be fed by throwing the grain to them morning and. evening on tlie ground. The latter is the better. play for the yonng stock, a s they will have their meals at stated times, and any bird that is unwell and does not eat with good appetite can be at once noticed. A bird that is off its feed, and that sits huddled up, should be .caught and examined at roosting time. If the breast-bone is prominent and the pigeon thin, a small pinch of dry Epsom salts should be at once administered. This is done by placing the salt, with the fingers, a.t the hack of the bird’s tongue. A young pigeon that does not shed its nesting feathers freely will be assisted by having two or three of the tail feathers pulled out. Most .voting birds will change their plumage qui J&y. . H the new quills are noticed to bt coming freely on the head and breast, and the pigeon eats well and bathe-s ■'frequently.

everything is going on well. Many young pigeons “make up” so quickly at this period that they are hardly recogw nisable if they have not been looked at for a feAV days. The skul] Avill broaden, and thicken, the beak Avill appear to shorten as the forehead develops, and 1 flatness, or indentations in the skull, will alter marvellously. So young birds must not be disposed of too readily un-* less faults are very glaring.