HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 54

HOMING NOTES.

(Bt Mausta Meait.)

"Cumberland" writes: — "I have a bird JHhich is growing its end flights, and which •re blood quilled ones. I would like to itnow the cause of same and also a cure, if mny, and, when racing it next year, if it drill affect the bird at all?" Reply to "■"Cumberland" : — The growing of blood quills in end flights of the bird owned by ''Cumberland" seems to be the result of a [temporary weakness at this stage of the moult, probably caused by a chill. I presume that the bird has kept its condition up and thrown the other flights of th© ,wing to all satisfaction up to the present, jvrhen this feather derangement has become apparent. Weakness at this final stage, I should suggest, is the root of all this trouble, ana th© webbing on the quill no doubt will bear traces of fret mark, and be of much inferior quality to the others that have been well grown. I should advise that the bird be isolated by itself in a place where it cannot injure itself, and be treated each morning before feeding to a OOd liver oil or Parish's Chemical Food capsule, until the bird has grown the full flights. This treatment will resuscitate ■nd bring the bird up to its normal, and if these are the only flights so affected I do not see but "Cumberland" will be able to condition and have his pet competing in jthe next season's races. I believe I am right in saying that often we are the victims of catastrophes in our »oung bird races by our own fault. Before .putting them on the road and expecting them to travel distances always increasing in length, ought we not to teach them how to lire in the panniers which they travel in? I think so. I should advise fanciers who love their birds to procure a large ba*ket, and in it educate the youngsters. For a commencement put in five or six pigeons. After leaving 1 them there for ■everal hours feed them lightly, and attach i drinking fountain to the basket; pour in the watei from above, so that the birds may see it running, and thus draw their attention and lead them to drink. When your first brigade will have learned that which you have taught replace them by " a fresh contingent, continue this until •11 have learned both how to eat and drink in the basket Afterwards put a lot in together to teach them to do the same ts when they were put a few at a time. My opinion is that in employing these means we shall finish by having juniors .who, taking example by the old campaigner*, are hardly in the basket before they commence to scatter the litter from left to right in the effort to find upon the basket bottom several grains of colza, which they pick up with great satisfaction. What I say may not be everyone's opinion. I believe, however, they will be (wrong in ridiculing these observations. To prove if this system is worth anything, train at the iame time j. part of the young birds in the manner indicated, and let another portion be exempt. I believe it will be found that the non-initiated will show the larger contingent of lost birds. — "Le Monitour Colombophile." The moulting period is making itself felt already, and everyone knows the importance of this critical passage. We will deal later with this subject in a more detailed fashion, for to-day we shall content ourselves with giving to the fanciers two recommendations which they can at once put into practice The pigeon which moults has need of baths. Twice i week the fancier should be careful to put at the disposition of his birds a vessel of water very clean and (wholesome. These baths are much to be recommended* for they facilitate the fall tof the flights which the pigeon sheds rfie taost slowly. Secondly, we advise fanciers to give amongst the food sarawan. This grain acts very surely and effectively upon the moult. The pigeon eats it with pleasure, and get* slightly fatter in consequence, a state of things which is not bad during the moulting .We should not advise the use of . this grain during the raising period, but during the moult and the winter season we recommend it. It must not be given with a free hand, jather the contrary. You will ther have the surest guarantee of its happy Effects. Mr W. H. Hagger, of Christcnurch, has fceen transferred to Dunedin. Mr Haggor is an enthusiastic fancier. He was selected as judge of the working homers at the la-st Christchurch show. He has won laces over all distance* in the Pctone Homing Club and also in tlio Canterbury Fly*]fT Club. It is to he hoped ho will be *n active member of the Dunedin Club. Mr Hapger has still a number of his favourites*