30 SQUABS FOR PROFIT 



cases, we usually test the birds a couple of times, giving 

 them a nesting pan, but if they refuse it, we allow 

 them to have their own way rather than disturb them. 

 We use tobacco stems in our breeding houses. The 

 stems are purchased by the bale and cut into four to 

 six-inch lengths and placed in the house where the 

 birds can get at them. It is frequently desirable, after 

 the foundation of the nest is made, to supply the birds 

 with a little straw to complete their nests. The straw 

 is not absolutely necessary, and, unless the tobacco 

 stems are very coarse, they serve the purpose very 

 well and are a safeguard against lice and other 

 vermin. 



The fly or yard. — To give birds the proper exer- 

 cise and an opportunity of bathing and sunning them- 

 selves in the open air a fly or yard is necessary. Our 

 yards are 32 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet high, 

 as shown in Fig. i. For details about the construc- 

 tion of the yard, see Fig. 10. A yard of this size 

 is fully large enough. In one of our houses, how- 

 ever, the yard is only 21 feet long. We have not 

 noticed any bad results from its use. There should 

 be no cross perches or roosting poles through the yard. 

 A six-inch board on each side of the yard and across 

 its ends is desirable. On this board the birds rest, 

 walk, or sun themselves, as shown at "f", "i" and "k", 

 in Fig. 10. The frames should be made of 2 x 3- 

 inch hemlock posts. These are arranged as shown in 

 Fig. 10. 



The birds enter the yards or pens through six- 

 inch openings as shown at "c", in Fig. 12. On either 

 side of these openings are six-inch shelves which serve 

 as a landing or run, as shown at "e", in Fig. 13, and at 

 c", and "f", in Fig. 10. These openings are provided 



<f„)» 



