National Standard Squab Book. 75 



Question. My liinls sfeiii tiiiiiil ami I am ;<fi-aiil to rateh thnu. How- 

 shall I go aliont it? An.swei'. I )o iiol lie aliaiti iif liiii-tiny them. Take a 

 broom and drive mie where .vou will, hiially [liiiuiuK it asainst the side of 

 Ihe squall liouse, oi- in a corner. Grasii lit and hold its wings firmly and 

 it will not struggle. Or you may make a uct nn the eud at a pole, like 

 au ordiuary fish landing net, and seooii the liird into it as it flies through 

 the air. 



Question. Suppo.^e I have several squab houses, as you describe, but 

 let all the birds together into one large flying pen, where they cin bathe 

 trom one large fountain. Answer, This is all right if you do not wish 

 to keep close track of your birds. If the birds can roam from luie house 

 to another, there is nothing to prevent a pair from building one nest on oue 

 house and then going to anolher house lo build the second nesl. 



Question. I believe 1 will put a strip of wire or piece of wood across 

 the front of each nest box so as to keep each pair more secluded, and to 

 keep the nests from dropping out. xlnswer. Don't do it. Ton do not 

 need, and the pigeons do not like a dark, secluded nest. Don't worry 

 about the nests falling out. Build the pigeon holes perfectly plain. 



Question. How many squabs shall I pack in one box when sending to 

 inaiket? Answer. Having picked out the size of the box you wish, 

 fill it up close with squabs, so they will not "shuck." As to the size of 

 the Ihix, make it as big or little as you please, but do not m.ake it any 

 bigger than one expressman can handle easily. A good size is two feet 

 S'iuare and one foot deep. 



Question. Send mo two males and ten females. Answer. You must 

 buy your birds in pairs. They pair oft' in this way, namely, one male to 

 one female. One male does not have two or three females. We have 

 heard pigeon breeders talk of having one cock which would attend two 

 hens, tint never had a ease in our experience. 



Question. After plucking the squab, and bcdore sending it to market, 

 do you remove the entrails? Answer. No. 



Question. In order to avoid the trouble of using the mating coop, may 

 I put an equal nundier of cocks and hens in the same pen? Answer. Yes. 



Question. Can I discover the male and female organs by examination of 

 the birds with a magnifying glass" Answer. No. You can discover them 

 bv dissecting the dead bird. 



'Question. Suppose T build the nest boxes larger, so as to giv .a shelf on 

 which the birds can alight? Answer. Don't do it. Tlie bird will fly 

 directly into the nest, or onto the nest box in front of the nest. You do 

 not need an alighting place. ^ , . , t 1 t <- 



Question. Seems to me that if I start with IS pairs of birds, I ought to 

 have 96 perches. Answer. The birds ,lo not ;,1I perch at^ the same tune. 

 While some are perching, others are on the nests, or w.dking oti the floor, 

 or are outside in the flying pen. or on the roof. Put up a few perches 

 where yau have room and let it go at that. 



