35 



CHAPTER IV. 



INCREASING THE FLOCK SELECTING FUTURE BREEDERS. 



BANDING MATING. 



Almost everyone who raises squabs finds that he must 

 constantly increase the number of breeding pigeons in his 

 lofts, in order to keep up with the increasing demand for 

 squabs. 



The most economical way to increase a flock is to save 

 the best squabs from the first breeding stock bought; and 

 to do this it is necessary to select squabs for this purpose 

 as they are hatched, the object being to improve the qualitj^ 

 of the flock by keeping only the best of the squabs. 



Where a flock is being increased, it is a good plan to buy 

 some new stock which has been banded and mate the cocks 

 which have been bought with home-raised hens and the hens 

 which have been bought with home-raised cocks. This saves 

 inbreeding. 



Close inbreeding soon runs down the vitality of a flock 

 and should be avoided. This matter will be taken up fur- 

 ther on. 



As we have said, the first pigeon to hatch in a nest is 

 almost invariably a cock and the last one a hen. This rule 

 is so constant that it may be depended upon. 



In selecting squabs for breeding stock, always select those 

 from the nests of pairs which produce squabs most regu- 

 larly. Such squabs are more likely to be good producers 

 themselves. 



Select the squabs which grow most rapidly and weigh 

 the most at the time they are ready for market. Such squabs 

 are from pairs which are good feeders and will be most 

 likely to become good feeders themselves. 



