The Feather's Practical Pigeon Book 



white pigeons, although of no particular variety, is a 

 pretty sight about any home, and so the owner has not 

 ■only a source of income but a constant source of pleas- 

 iLire in the pleasing addition they furnish to the home 

 surroundings. 



Squabs are most in demand during January, Febru- 

 ary, and March, and owing to their scarcity bring then 

 the best prices of the year, say from $3.50 to $4 per 

 ■dozen for nice, large, fat and light-colored birds. The 

 time has been when they brought $7 and $8 per pair, but 

 that was long ago, when every one had "money to burn." 

 The advantage of raising light-colored squabs as 

 against the darker ones can be "seen in the great differ- 

 ence they command in price. Good, fat squabs should 

 weigh from six to seven pounds to the dozen. In years 

 gone by there was no systematic attention given to rais- 

 ing squabs for the market; they were picked up a few 

 pairs here, and a few pairs there. Now there are those 

 who make a regular business of it, keeping from 1,500 

 In 2,000 birds for breeders. 



These are usually divided into colonies and treated 

 much after the manner recommended in the first of this 

 article. Squabs are sent to market in packages of one- 

 lialf dozen each, undrawn or with their intestines un- 

 disturbed, usually packed in ice, and when held up for 

 examination are suggestive of a delicacy that having 

 once been tried is ever remembered. They are largely 

 used for invalids who need tempting, appetizing, and 

 delicate morsels, and that they fill the bill many young 

 mothers can testify who, while convalescing, have 

 found them to be the only food having any attraction for 

 ilieir fastidious appetites. By squabs is meant the young 

 pigeon up to six or eight weeks old, nearly or quite 

 feathered. But young pigeons are tender and delicate 



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