674 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



feathers are used in cheap pillows and 

 mattresses. 



The price for feathers varies from 2 

 to 3 cents a pound for body feathers to 

 25 cents a pound for the wing and tail 

 feathers. For a complete account of 

 turkeys, see Turkeys and How to Grow 

 Them, by H. Myrick; also Ehode Is- 

 land experiment station bulletin 25, on 

 Turkeys, by S. Cushman; and United 

 States Department of Agriculture, 

 Farmers' Bulletin, No. 200, on Turkeys, 

 by T. F. McGrew. 



PIGEONS 



These birds are also referred to as 

 doves. ' Within the past five or six years 

 unusual interest has been awakened in 

 the growing of unfledged pigeons, or 

 squabs, as they are termed, for market. 



Fig. 429 — YOUNG HOMER COCK PIGEON 



Squabs are marketed when about four 

 weeks old, and weighing about three- 

 fourths pounds each at 75 cents to $1 a 

 pair. A pair of healthy pigeons produce 

 ordinarily five to 12 pairs of squabs a 

 season, at a total cost for feed of about 

 $1 to $1.20 a year for each pair of 

 breeding birds. There is a demand also 

 for fancy and carrier pigeons; well 

 trained birds of the latter class sell for 

 $10 to $100 each. 



The squab business is especially suit- 

 able for people having limited areas of 

 land, since they are grown almost en- 

 tirely in wire inclosed areas, require no 

 pasture and but a limited amount of 

 green feed. 



The Homer, f all the different breeds 

 of pigeons, is considered by far the best 

 for the production of squabs. Squabs 

 from pure bred Homers are ready for 

 market when 25 to 28 days old. The 

 birds of this breed are all colors, blue, 

 red, black, white, checked, etc., but are 

 quite distinct in form and the flesh is 

 light colored, a very desirable feature. 



The Dragoon stands second only to 

 the Homer for the production of squabs, 

 but the squabs of the pure bred birds 

 usually require five weeks before they 

 can be marketed. When pure Homer 

 birds are too expensive, excellent results 

 may be expected from crosses either way, 

 between these breeds. 



The Duchess [ s considered a poorer 

 feeder than the Homer and has feathers 

 on the legs, which is a disadvantage in 

 dressing for market. 



The Runt i s the largest of the pigeon 

 breed and the squabs are unusually 

 large, but only a few are produced and 

 the flesh is dark colored, selling on this 

 account at a discount. 



Buildings and fixtures 



The pigeon house should first of all 

 be situated in a dry location facing 

 the south or east and be built up off the 

 ground and tightly floored to secure dry- 

 ness. A building 12 feet wide, 10 feet 

 long and 9 feet high to the roof is suf- 

 ficient to accommodate 50 pairs of birds 

 and is a convenient building unit on 

 which to add more sections as the busi- 

 ness increases. In the more northern 

 climates double walls may be necessary. 



The nest boxes on the inside of the 

 building are made about 12 inches 

 square and 9 inches high out of boxing 

 material and preferably with a movable 

 bottom to facilitate cleaning. At least 

 two nests are provided for each pair of 

 birds, since before one lot of squabs is 

 fit for market the female often begins 

 laying again. No provision need be 

 made for perches in the house, the nest- 

 ing boxes being sufficient. A tin or 

 earthenware nappy 7 to 9 inches in 

 diameter, and 2 to 2V 2 inches deep, is 

 placed in each box for the birds to nest 

 in. 



Attached to the building, a flying pen, 

 inclosed with 2-inch mesh wire netting, 

 about the height of the building and 30 

 to 40 feet long, is built for exercise and 

 the confinement of the birds. A roomy 

 window that can be closed nights in 



