86 PIGEON RAISING 



after whatever model he selects, he does not 

 allow his birds to breed more than once or 

 twice a year, so that the accumulated strength 

 of the parents may go into the young; this is 

 especially true in breeding record homers. For 

 market stock it is different. I believe young 

 pigeons of any of the various breeds I have 

 here mentioned can be taken and, giving them 

 proper conditions, first-class breeders can be 

 made from them. In selecting breeds for mar- 

 ket, however, the breeder must conform to the 

 requirements of the market. Birds too closely 

 bred will make poor breeders. 



Squabs that are slow to learn to eat may be 

 fattened and taught to eat by hand feeding 

 with hemp and millet seed slightly moistened 

 with salted water and a little fine gravel or grit. 

 Some breeders blow in soft food through a 

 syringe into the squab's crop. I have never 

 tried it, but have heard it is constantly done in 

 Europe. There are even professional squab- 

 feeders. 



BREEDING FOR MARKET 



My experience ran over many known breeds 

 of pigeons and, for health, strength, size, 

 shape, prolific breeders, and market value, 1 



