BREEDING 87 



give the preference to the runt-Maltese hen 

 crosses. For breeders, squabs of the first cross; 

 for market, squabs of the second cross. 



For instance, I put my young thoroughbred 

 stock, which was thoroughbred Maltese hens 

 and English runts, in a pen by themselves and 

 allowed them to choose their own mates. ^fter 

 I saw that they were well mated good breed- 

 ers I took the runts that were mated with 

 runts and hen pigeons that were mated with hen 

 pigeons and placed them back in the thorough- 

 bred pens. The runts and hen pigeons that 

 were mated together I placed in the breeders' 

 pen. The young stock from the breeders' pen 

 was placed in a pen by itself, and when they 

 paired and the pairs were found to be good 

 breeders they were placed in the market pen. 

 One can readily see that by this method the 

 stock is constantly increasing and there is abso- 

 lutely no danger of inbreeding in the breeder 

 and market stock pens, a watch only having to 

 be kept on the thoroughbred pens which have 

 only a few dozen in each. 



Occasionally, you will find birds that are 

 barren, or that lay infertile eggs. Do not dis- 

 card these birds as they are invaluable as nur- 

 sery maids. Put them in a pen by themselves 

 and give them the eggs from either some finq 



