HOMING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 35

HOMING NOTES.

Br Maxjsta Mealy.

The continued fine weather that we ar« generally enjoying, will be the means of -keeping ianoiers' birds particularly fit and should: in itself ensure a good moult. Perhaps too much is often made of the moulf, perhaps not enough. Personally, (writes "Squills" in the Racing Pigeon) I have * long felt that the health of a bird at this period of the year, its regular moult, the growing of the new feathers, and happiness of the Bird are as good omens for the future of the left as any that can possibly be desired. I am a believer in the theory myeelf that if a gocd bird once dccc 'a journey, it ought to do it again. Many fail, but why do they fail? Is it not because them owners have got them to do the job by a' fluke, don't know why it has come ■•off, and therefore don't know when ; the bird is fit another time. I don't think you will be ab.'e to get a bird fit next year in th« racing season unless it is fit during the moult and winters well. Opinions differ as to the best means of keeping birds fit now and during the ~ winter months. Som« feed on barley, and do not separate tha sexes; others separate the sexes at once, and feed on peas.s In fact, there are just as many divergent views on management during the autumn and winter as there are during the spring and summer, and it is just as well there should be. Beans and peas, are, in my opinion, too heavy for ft feed all the year round, and I like to lighten things down during the moult and winterIn the morning, at the present time, I give my birds a portion of barley and maize, added to a little linseed and some groats, It is the first time I have use.fi groats during the moult, but 1 have a parcel I want to use up. In the afternoon I fill the old birds' hopper with beans and the young birds' with peas and the birds can help themselves, but the hoppers are always closed at night. So that the birds will eat the mixed corn in the morning. Pigeons don't like barley, but it saves the trouble of separating, and the cocks are not nearly, as noisy if fed on barley during the winter, as if peas or beans are used. If it ie intended 1 to compete at the shows, barley must not be made the staple food, for the reason that birds do not handle nearly ac veil 1 on barley as on harder grain. A Httle good wheat loosens the feathers, but I don't advise the free use of wheat at any time, ifc is too starchy and too fattening. Let me again remind my young friends that repose and plenty of it is what birds wan*' during the moult. Very little exercise is necessary to keep them in health old bird* heavy in moult should never be forced tj(J fly. Good lettuces are scarce, but waterore«£ is etill cheap, and during the moult I think a bunch of watercress occasionally, sprinkled with a little table salt refreshes the birds ami helps to keep the blood right. Pure blood, free from all particles of poison is what is nececsary to ensure a gocd moult. If you notice a bird disinclined to fly, and seemingly starts with an effort, an examination of the wing will usually show that the growing flight Is coming through in a long pipe or blood quill. Shut this bird up. give it a mild doa*) of sulphur, about enough to cover a shillingf, as a pinch, and then feed it on a little hemp seed, and with light, easily digested seeds for ar. day or two, and it will soon recover, but jmt a good big mark in you* li6t against any bird that chows any inclinctibn to have a stiff wing or wing diseased I never found a bird any trood after it once contracted this desease. If it is desired to do a bit of showing, it is a gocd idea to knock up a few pens in order to coach the birds up for this purpose. It is surprising what a difference iust one or two lessons will make a bird's chances. Everything) depends' in catching the judge's eye. Many a good birds chances are sooiled through* it dashing afcout in the pen, spoiling its plumage and breaking its flights. One lesson in a pen in th«. kitchen on the table for a night, if there is no better place, wHI save such a catastrophe as this. Keep the bird hungry, then give it a little seed, and talk to it kindly whilst in the pen. You will be 6uroriaed how quickly they understand and know what is wanted of them. A racing pigeon's vocation is to race. I need not remind fanciers of this. At the same time, a show once or twice during the season will not hurt, sfril T am convinced that good racers can be ruined by being overshown, and I never send a bird" 1 I am particularly keen on very far away from home. When a bird returns from a show don't let it o;o to the hopper and gorge itself on hard corn. A little light food should a^avs be the first meal after the outinjr. My experience teaches me that a couple of days at a show will take nvvre out of a pigeon than a 300-mila race. What about the roof of your loft and the sides? If you have a wooden cote, see to the roof. We have had a hot summer, and the boards will have warped and the felt on top have become parched. Get to work with the tar-pot, and a srcod sprinkling of sand well dusted in. We shall have the rainy sea?on here, shortly, and if you ', don't .attend to your roofs and gutters in gcod season loo^ out for trouble.

There are about 250,000 miles of cab!* laid under the sea, representing a, valuik of £50,000,00(1