36 



Be sure to select squabs which have light-colored flesh, 

 as these will produce squabs like themselves and light flesh 

 brings the highest price in the market, unless they are sent 

 in too soon. 



When we say that light color in flesh of a squab denotes 

 that it will produce light-fleshed squabs, it is to be under- 

 stood that this will be the case if the parents are properly 

 fed according to the directions given in a previous chapter. 

 Pigeons which are kept confined and properly fed always 

 produce more and better squabs than those allowed to run 

 at large. 



Having selected the squabs which are to be retained for 

 breeding purposes, band them at once. Open pigeon bands 

 can be bought at about a cent each. The best plan is to 

 band cocks on the right leg and hens on the left, using con- 

 secutive numbers for each pair. 



Thus III might be a cock and ii2 a hen. In making 

 matings, the owner would know at once that these two 

 were not to be allowed to mate together, as they would be 

 brother and sister. If, in any case, nest mates show an 

 inclination to mate together, they should be shut away from 

 each other and forced to mate with non-related birds. 



A forced mating is made by using a mating pen. This 

 is a cage with two compartments in it, separated by a wire 

 screen, such as two-inch mesh poultry netting. Put the 

 cock in one side and the hen with which you want him to 

 mate in another, and leave them in the pen until they are 

 acquaintel with each other. Then shut them in the same 

 compartment and usually they will mate up with each other 

 all right. 



