The Homing Pigeon
WAR DEPARTMENT TECHNICAL MANUAL TM 11-410
This manual supersedes TM 11—410, 10 September 1940
DISSEMINATION OF RESTRICTED MATTER. The information contained in restricted documents and the essential characteristics of restricted material may be given to any person known to be in the service of the United States and to persons of undoubted loyalty and discretion who are cooperating in Government work, but will not be communicated to the public or to the press except by authorized military public relations agencies. (See also par. 23b, AR 380-5, 15 Mar 44.)
U. S. Government Printing Office Washington: 1945
WAR DEPARTMENT Washington 25, D. C., 1 January 1945
TM 11-410, The Homing Pigeon, is published for the information and guidance of all concerned.
G. C. MARSHALL Chief of Staff
Official: J. A. ULIO Major General The Adjutant General
Distribution:
AAF (10); AGF (10); ASF (10); Arm & Sv Bd (2); Dept (10); Tech Sv (2); Sv C (10); PC & S (1); Gen & Sp Sv Sch (10); USMA (1); ROTC (1); ROTC, Lib (1); A(10); CHQ (10); D(2); Bn(1); Bn 11(2); C 11(5); T/O & E 11-39 (50)
For explanation of symbols, see FM 21-6.
★ ★
United States. Army. Signal Corps
United States. War Department
---
CONTENTS
1. Purpose
2. Methods
3. Origin and History
4. Nature
5. Utility
6. General Appearance
7. Weight
8. Plumage
9. Head
10. Neck
11. Body
13. Digestive Organs
14. Bloom or Milt
15. Molt
16. Varieties of Feathers
17. Loft
18. Preparation of Loft to Receive Pigeons
19. Receipt of Pigeons at Loft
20. Watering
21. Feeding
22. Pigeon Feed
23. Bathing
24. Catching and Handling
25. Routine
26. Classification of Pigeon Colors
27. Records and Reports
28. Banding
29. Loft Equipment
30. Message Holders
31. Responsibility for Training
32. Qualifications for Pigeoneers
33. Introduction to Pigeon Training
34. Settling Pigeons
35. Training for Messenger Service
36. Delivering Pigeons by Parachute
37. Mating
38. Sex
39. Selection of Stock
40. Line Breeding
41. Nests
42. Control of Breeding
43. Laying
44. Hatching and Feeding
45. Identification
46. Culling
47. General
48. Prevention of Disease
49. Control of Disease
50. Anatomy and Physiology
51. Indications of Sickness
52. Diseases
53. External Parasites
54. Internal Parasites
55. Treatment of Injuries
56. Medicines