WHY RAISE SQUABS? 15 



United States making money raising squabs, there are many 

 who are not succeeding, and some who have no knowledge of 

 whether they are making or losing money. 



Belgian Carneaux are conceded to be good, average all-around 

 squab producers. Therefore, I will take this breed as a standard 

 from which to figure profit and loss. 



The first item of expense to be reckoned in squab raising is 

 ground space. If a squab plant is built in the country, naturally 

 the ground space is worth but little. If it is built on the back 

 end of a lot, it is also a small item, but if built on a lot purchased 

 for that purpose, a fair interest on the value of the portion of 

 the lot used must be added annually to expense. 



Good Carneaux from a reliable breeder can be purchased for 

 about $5 a pair. House room, fly pen, nest boxes and other 

 equipment, suitable for the average American climate, will cost 

 for lumber and labor about $1.70 a pair, provided a house is 

 planned sufficient for as many as 160 pairs; less than that 

 number the building would cost more, proportionately up to 

 $3.00 a pair. This is based upon the loft, fly pen, and nest 

 box system described in this book, and it is firmly believed 

 that the houses and buildings described herein will be as cheap 

 as any. Forty pairs of squab Ijreeders will do well in one room, 

 8 by 10, feet, with fly pen 8 by 12 feet, making a total space of 

 8 by 26 feet, counting a 4-foot aisle. It will cost to feed a pair of 

 Carneaux for one year, including their squabs, until killing age, 

 $1.80 or less. 



One man can, with good equipment and convenient arrange- 

 ments care for 2,000 pairs of birds, with the services of one extra 

 man or two extra boys or girls to help pick on killing days, so 

 the proportionate annual expense of caring for squab breeders 

 will be about 25 cents per pair, in excess of feed and housing. 



The breeding life of a pair of Carneaux is easily six years, 

 so one-sixth of the purchase price of the breeders should be 

 charged off annually, and it is also a good plan to charge off 

 10% of the cost price of buildings and equipment annually, 

 although buildings used for squab purposes will last a long 

 time if painted regularly and properly cared for. 



Taking all the above into consideration, and allowing an extra 

 percentage for waste and other leakages, the expense will run 

 less than $2.50 a year per pair. With ordinary care and treat- 



