24 SQUABS FOR PROFIT 



not be used under any circumstances until it is thor- 

 oughly seasoned and dried out. This is especially 

 true if it is constructed of green or unseasoned lumber 

 or erected during damp weather. We once lost $80 

 worth of good breeding stock by carelessness in this 

 respect. Our third building had been erected late in 

 the fall and we were anxious to fill it with birds. The 

 birds were put in as soon as it was finished. We had 

 several days of damp weather and the inside walls of 

 the building were saturated with moisture which trick- 

 led down the sides in tiny streams. We added to our 

 folly, in this respect, by keeping the windows and 

 doors tightly closed. When we came to our senses 

 we thoroughly aired the building and mopped off the 

 moisture from the inside walls. By thorough ventila- 

 tion we had no further losses. 



The end section of one of our buildings is used as a 

 storeroom and for dressing squabs. It is also used as 

 a hospital for sick birds. Over the grain bins, which 

 are of ample size for a week's supply, we have 

 arranged several compartments, with sliding doors, in 

 which the sick birds are kept and watched. In this 

 room we keep a supply of granulated charcoal, sharp 

 grit, cracked oyster shells, fine table salt, medicines, 

 etc. An oil stove is used to warm the room in cold 

 weather when we are dressing squabs. 



Light and ventilation. — In each gable near the 

 peak, as shown in Fig. 10, at "b", is a sliding window 

 with four panes of glass, each 8 x 10 inches. There 

 are two windows on the front or south side as shown 

 in Fig. 12, section A, each with six panes, 8 x 12 

 inches. There are also two six-pane windows on the 

 north side of the house. These are used for ventila- 

 tion and are located about equal distance between 



