2 SQUABS FOR PROFIT 



and for several weeks I was pleased with them. Later 

 I went to see a friend who had some high pedigree 

 Homers which had won first prize in several hotly 

 contested races. A simple glance at these superb 

 birds made me dissatisfied with mine. The next 

 day I sold my entire lot. 



My next purchase was 25 pairs of racing Homers, 

 for which I paid $25. They were a wonderful bar- 

 gain, which I can never hope to repeat. Another 

 $25 had been used previously in refitting a brood- 

 er house for the occupancy of my birds. Thus the 

 second attempt, or my real beginning, was fairly 

 launched. The birds gave me quick results in squabs. 

 As fast as any money was accumulated from my birds, 

 I began to add to my flock, by the purchase of other 

 Homers. I also saved all the best young birds from 

 my little flock. 



Selecting and adding good strains. — At this time 

 there was a Homing club of half a dozen members in 

 my own city. They were all eager to win first prizes 

 in their frequent contests from 100 to 600 miles. 

 Some of their stock had cost $30 a pair. From this 

 choice stock, I was able at times to buy young birds 

 at a little above market price for squabs, thus supple- 

 menting my first purchase by others of sound constitu- 

 tion and strong vigor. I was thus able to secure 

 several different strains of blood, but all first-class 

 Homers. 



My flock soon outgrew the capacity of the old 

 brooder house. The problem of financing a new and 

 satisfactory building was before me. I determined to 

 erect a five-pen house as shown in Fig. i. It was 12 

 X 40 feet and built to accommodate 250 pairs of birds. 

 I paid down what cash I had saved up from the sale of 



