210 AMERICAN SQUAB CULTURE 



swinging into the nest room, attach a screen door coil spring to 

 the door and the casing to pull and hold the door shut. 



I neglected to state that there must be a 2x4 two feet long 

 nailed in at the top of each door to complete the door frame 

 and a 2x4 about 2 feet 6 inches long nailed horizontally 17 inches 

 above the floor to nail the Slats on to. There should also be 

 a one inch thick strip nailed on the floor on either side of the 

 door for the same purpose. 



SQUAB HOUSES FOR SMALL PLANTS 



A squab house for a small plant can be arranged at a small 

 expense and a small temporary place will produce fairly good 

 results. I recommend the double nest system, however, even 

 if there are only two pairs to be provided for. A corner in a barn 

 loft, chicken house, garage, or most any outbuilding can be 

 partitioned off with wood or wire and converted into a nest room 

 with little expense. It is advisable, ho\vever, to have the birds 

 where they will get some light, fresh air and not too hot in sum- 

 mer. 



Pigeons can stana considerable heat or cold, but they do not 

 work near as fast in close warm rooms, and if their place is 

 too open or cold, eggs are apt to freeze, especially in a climate 

 where they have zero weather. Artificial heat is not necessary 

 and, in fact, it is a disadvantage. 



Pigeons will generate enough heat from their bodies to keep 

 their eggs and young warm, provided their nests are not ex- 

 posed too much to the weather. A few birds can be kept nicely 

 and will do fairly well without a fly pen, if they are confined 

 in a building where they have plenty of light and air. 



The same general plan should be followed with a small or 

 temporary house as with a large one. (See articles "Squab 

 Houses for Large Plants" and "How to Build a One or Many 

 Unit Squab Hoiise.") 



SQUAB HOUSES FOR LARGE PLANTS 



The nest rooms and fly pens for a large plant should be built 

 on the same plan and according to the dimensions as is described 

 in the article on "How to Build a Squab House," except the num- 



