MANAGEMENT AND BOOKKEEPING 253 



floor of the squab house weekly. The birds will scatter it with 

 their wings and it will keep the entire room dry and sanitary. 

 Squab house should be cleaned at least once a month and 

 nests after the squabs leave them. 



Carbolineum, lime, tobacco stems and clean lofts are good 

 lice preventatives. 



The bottom of the fly pens should be fine gravel, then stir up 

 occasionally or, better still, add a little fresh supply weekly. 



Don't try to catch birds with one hand. Use both or a catch- 

 ing net if one can be used to advantage. 



Pigeons should have plenty of fresh water before them .es- 

 pecially at feeding time. 



Keep the scattered grain off the floor, or it will get fouled 

 and make the birds sick if they eat it. 



Decide on one breed and then stick to it. There is nothing in 

 scattered efforts. 



Don't catch or hold birds by the feet or one wing as they will 

 iiurt themselves trying to get loose. 

 Don't feed on the ground for uneaten grain will sour and spoil. 

 Don't allow foul or dirty water to stay in the drinking troughs 

 for it will make the birds sick. 



While salt is necessary, don't give pigeons loose salt. Too 

 much salt will kill them. Make a salt cat for each pen. 



Don't allow birds to build on or near the floor as the squabs 

 will leave the nests too early. As a preventative, follow the 

 Eggleston construction plan of nests. 



The wire cover of fly pens should not be over 6 feet and 6 

 inches high. If higher you can't catch the birds well. 



The door of the nest room should not be at the opposite end 

 from fly pen for with such an arrangement the birds will fly olt 

 their nests and out of loft when one enters. 



Drinking fountains should be cleaned frequently. A good plan 

 is to scald them once a week. 



Don't pennit a draft to blow through the squab house, es- 

 pecially near the floor. This does not apply to fresh air. 



Don't be afraid of birds inbreeding. Each pair is a separate 

 family. Then, too, a little inbreeding will do no harm. 



One breed is enough if it is a good one. Keep the best breed 

 and sell the rest if you have more than one kind. 



