Homing Pigeon Notes.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 265, 4 October 1902, Page 3

Homing Pigeon Notes.

(by luxe chequer ) This month the appearance of the young squabs will be general, 1 and it behoves the fancier to keep the nests thoroughly clean. This should be done at least once a day ; I dirt is almost sure to cause canker, one of the worst diseases pigeons are heir to. Pine sawdust is a capital thing to have in the nest boxes, as they are then easily cleaned, by scraping oil the top each day. If pine, sawdust ia not available, any kind will do if sprinkled lightly with turpentine, as this keeps all vermin away, A few half dry blnegum leaves are also excellent on top of the sawdust, and a green branch hung up in the loft occasionally is a splendid disinfectant. If a bird is suffering from canker it should be separated from the others as it will be liable tc transmit the disease* to the whole of the loft. If not a very valuable bird the best cure is to destroy it at once, but if you wish to spare the bird, if not too far gone, a cure can sometimes be effected by painting the affected part with a dilution of one part saturated carbolic acid to eight parts glycerine twice in twenty-four horn s till cured. Keep a lump of rocksalt in the loft for them to pick at, as they are very fond of it and it aids digestion ; also a head of cabbage hung up in a convenient place.

The first old bird race of the season inChristchurch was held a fortnight ago, and was won by Mr Kingsford, velocity 114-Iyds per •minute; Mr F. Wilson 2nd; 1136yds ; Mr A. Stewart 3rd, 1139yds. The race was from Hinds. I have heard a great many stories from time to time of the intelligence of the pigeon in America. One paper states that birds hatched from eggs that were sent a few hundred miles to a fancier turned back to the loft where they were laid, but we have a genuine case in New Zealand jjwhich excels the above and proves the sagacity of the bird in question to be wonderful indeed. It seems that Mr Stewart, of Christ* church, had an imported Belgian cock in his loft for three years, and on releasing him the other day he bolted clean away without any hesitation whatever, and a few days after he was found on a steamer in Lyttelton Harbour, just about starting for home. The little stowaway was discovered by the sailors, however, and as he was “ wanted " for no crime whatever, he was not tried, but sent back to his owner. Fact!