134 



bigglf: poultry book. 



it is better to seud squabs in crates alive. In this case 

 they must be old enough to fly, or, at least, old 

 enough to feed themselves. 



There should be a weekly slaughter on a fixed 

 date in the week. On these occasions every nest 

 should be examined so that no l:)ird that is old enough 

 may be overlooked or get away. 



A well-managed flock will raise, on an average, 

 five pairs of squabs annually for every pair of birds it 

 contains. It is not safe to base calculations for profit on 

 a greater increase than this, although it is quite possible. 



Prices vary with the season, rising in the winter 

 and spring and falling in summer. Near the large 

 eastern markets it is safe to reckon on an average of 

 forty cents a pair. This will make the returns from 

 one pair of breeders |i2.40 a year. During this time 

 the parents and their progeny will consume food 

 worth at least I1.50. This will leave a balance to their 

 credit of ninety cents. The droppings of a pair of 

 pigeons in confinement are worth ten cents a year, 

 which will make the profit, not counting labor, an 

 even dollar. It is possible to do better than this and 

 possible also to do worse. 



