37 



Squabs which are to be kept for breeding should be taken 

 away from older birds as soon as they have learned to eat 

 for themselves. Feed them well all the time, and at the 

 age of about six months they will begin to mate and then 

 require regular attention, as they should be kept under close 

 supervision at this time. 



As soon as a male bird is seen "driving" a female, both 

 should be caught and their bands examined. If they are 



Squabs at Four Weeks Old. 



nest mates, they should be separated as recommended in 

 the beginning of this chapter and forced to mate with other 

 birds. It will only be necessary to remove the cock bird, 

 substituting another cock in his place. 



If the cock and the hen he is driving are not nest mates, 

 their band number should be recorded in a book kept for 

 this purpose. Such a record gives the owner an opportunity 

 to keep account of the number of squabs a given pair pro- 



