PIGEONS FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES 171 



experienced, or not known, with no reputation to back him up. 

 And this is quite right, for the reason that it pays to get good 

 stock, at even a high price, rather than inferior birds for nothing. 



Many breeders of squabs make a mistake by trying to raise 

 and sell breeding stock. I do not mean by this that a few breed- 

 ers can not be sold profitably by most any one in the squab busi- 

 ness, but it is a mistake to figure on selling breeding stock to 

 any extent, unless you have the experience, are known and are 

 equipped to handle same. 



The difference in the profit to be made on a hundred birds 

 sold for breeding purposes at a year old for a fair price and 

 what could have been realized out of the same number of birds 

 had they been sold at four weeks old for squabs, is not very 

 large, after reckoning the expense of feed, care, housing, adver- 

 tising and all expense; but it is sufficiently large to make the 

 business profitable, to one who is established in that line. And 

 has, by years of advertising in magazines, by exhibiting birds, 

 nnd through satisfied customers, built up a permanent business. 

 But this is a slow undertaking, and one should give careful and 

 due consideration before entering the business of selling squab 

 breeding stock. 



If you should decide to enter this branch of the business, I 

 would suggest that you proceed as follows: First, start in in a 

 small way, have a few letterheads printed with your name 

 and address, and the kind of birds that you are going to offer 

 for sale, and right here I would advise that you confine your 

 business to one breed of birds only. If you have several breeds 

 you certainly have one breed that is better than the others, or 

 one that you are better equipped to raise. You can gain nothing 

 by scattering your efforts, and, on the other hand, if you con- 

 centrate on a single breed your sale talks will be more effective 

 and consistent, you will have to have fewer houses, a smaller 

 number of assorting and breeding pens, and a smaller invest- 

 ment in breeding stock. 



Next you should run a small ad. in a good Pigeon Journal. 

 Poultry and other papers are all right for large breeders to 

 advertise in, but will not pay the small breeder, as such ads. 

 are more along the line of educational, and requires considerable 

 time to mature them. 



