MATING AND SEI.ErTTON OF BREEDTNn STOCK 



143 



ed before it leaves the nest It begins to get tough and is not 

 very good to eat after five w^ieeks of age. 



The quick mushroom growth and the lack of exercise is what 

 makes squab meat so tender and delicious. Some ])reedcrs have 

 classified squabs by giving them different names at different 

 ages. They are first called peepers, as they make a small peep- 

 ing noise about the time they are ten days old; they are next 

 called squeakers until they are two or three weks old, then 

 squealers until they arc four weeks old, when they are called 

 squabs. These names are taken from the noise that a scpiab 

 makes. They first peep, then squeak, then squeal when they are 

 hungry and wish to l)e fed, and will keep up llic s(piealing noise 

 vuitil seveu or eight weeks old. 



SQUAB TWO WEEKS OLD 



