72 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



along the path which makes most money for the breeder. 

 We all know how Darwin studied natural and forced selection 

 of pigeons. He took one pigeon with a certain peculiarity, 

 say a full breast, and mated it to another pigeon with a full 

 breast. The squabs from these birds, when grown, had 

 breasts fuller than their parents. Then these in turn were 

 mated to full-breasted pigeons from other parents, and the 

 grandchildren had even larger breasts. Darwin's experi- 

 ments covered a period of over twenty years and in this time he 

 developed little faults and peculiarities to an amazing degree. 

 Every intelligent, careful pigeon breeder is striving by his 

 forced matings to push along the path of progress the peculiar- 

 ity in pigeons which is his specialty. The breeder who selects 

 most carefully and keeps at it the longest wins over the 

 others. By selecting from your best and most prolific 

 breeders the biggest and fattest squabs, keeping them for 

 breeders and mating so as to get something larger and plumper, 

 you are all the time getting bigger squabs. Every breeder 

 of squabs has it in his power to increase the efficiency of his 

 flock by studying his matings. There is commerical satis- 

 faction in breeding for size and plumpness because it pays 

 at once, and at the same time the breeder has the satisfaction 

 of increasing the stamina and variety of pigeons. 



To be master of the matings, the breeder should band his 

 squabs. As soon as they are weaned (that is, as soon as the 

 breeder sees them flying to the feed and eating it) they should 

 be taken and put into one of the rearing pens. When about 

 six months old, the breeder should begin mating them by 

 selection, using the mating coop, then when they are mated 

 turn the pair into a working pen with other adult birds. By 

 looking at the number on the band of each bird, then on your 

 record card, you know how to avoid mating up brother and 

 sister. 



When the young birds are just over four weeks old, or 

 between four and six weeks, they are able to fly a little, and 

 if they do not hop out of the nest (or are not pushed out by 

 the parents) you may push them out yourself. They are 

 now able to feed themselves. If these young birds are left 

 in the squab house, they will bother the old birds by begging 

 for food, and this infantile nagging will hinder the regular 

 breeders in their next hatch, so the very best thing to do is 



