CHAPTER VIII. 



Dressing; &nd Marketing Squabs 



Squabs should be marketed with empty crops. To 

 insure this, the feed of the previous afternoon should 

 be given in such quantity that none will be left over for 

 the birds to eat the morning of the killing day. We 

 dress squabs once a week on Thursday. If the 

 weather is cold, we first light the oil stove in the pick- 

 ing room. 



All squabs of suitable size are taken from the nest 

 and placed in a hamper. A little experience is neces- 

 sary for a beginner to judge the proper size and 

 weight. But after a few squabs are handled one soon 

 becomes expert. The squabs are taken in turn from 

 each of the pens, |)laced in the hampers, and taken to 

 the dressing room. A faithful colored man, familiarly 

 known as Pink, has picked all our squabs for several 

 seasons. 



Equipment necessary. — Before beginning the ac- 

 tual dressing, tubs of cold water should be placed in 

 the room, also a small basin filled with water handy 

 to the picker, who seats himself ready for action, 

 with a hamper of squabs at his side. Suspended by a 

 cord from above is an iron ring lo to 12 inches in 

 diameter, to which are attached four double strings as 

 long as desired. A squab is taken from the hamper, 

 the end of the string is made into a noose and slipped 

 around both feet with the ends of both wings crossed 

 over the feet. Each squab is thus hung at the ends of 

 the strings as shown in Fig. 23. 



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