44 PIGEON RAISING 



buildings, including fly-pens and feeders, cost 

 in the neighborhood of $450, which I consider 

 was very poorly expended; but, barring all mis- 

 takes and even if the plant, roughly estimated, 

 cost $1,200, it was a large interest on the 

 money. In fact, I know of very few invest- 

 ments that make such large returns on small 

 capital, and certainly none that has such light 

 and interesting work. 



In breeding for market large numbers only 

 are profitable, and if the pigeon raiser selects 

 a straight breed for his stock it becomes a diffi- 

 cult problem to prevent inbreeding, which he 

 would not have to face if his flock was that of 

 crosses. In selecting stock, however, the pigeon 

 raiser must cater to the demand of the market 

 or he loses. The Western market prefers a 

 squab large enough to be served in halves, and 

 it is foolish for the pigeon raiser to try to raise 

 homer stock in the West because it is advocated 

 and demanded in the East. The Western res- 

 taurateur is willing to pay the marketman forty 

 or fifty cents for a bird he can sell in two por- 

 tions for eighty cents or a dollar. It is less 

 trouble to handle in the dressing and cooking 

 and is more pleasing to the eye of the consumer 

 than the small squab, but has precisely the same 

 delicacy of flavor. This is where so many fail 



