8o National Standard Squab Book. 



Ilif iiaii'Ut birds, ;uul wiu'U you wish to kill tliein you tind both in the 

 nest roady tor you. 



(Jut'slion. Vour boolc stato-^ that pigeou.s sometimes hiy tlioir oyg^ on the 

 Mooi'. Hut it iloes uot say auythinjL; about taliiug the <'fc'g.s and initting 

 thrm ill a iiaiipy. Would the birds follow their eggs and accept change 

 of nest fi(jm lloor to najipy? Ans\\'er, N«.); yon must leave the eggs 

 where th(y lay theui. You caa handle a nest and change eggs from one 

 napiiy to another, if you wish, but you canuol move eggs from one place 

 ill the sipiab house to another and e.xpeet the birds to find them and gu 

 on with tlieir laying. 



(Juesliini. Ho all sijiiab breeders heat their houses in the winter time; 

 I iHoaii t'lH.'se ^\■|]o di;) .-i large business like yourself. Ans\A-i'r. Xo; some 

 iireeilers of iiiaiiv years' experience believe that a warm liiuise is detri- 

 lueiital to (he health of the birds, on account of the snilden change of 

 leuipei.-itui-e from a warm house to a cold flying pen. The oljject should 

 bi' merely (o take the damp winter chill off the air. If you have a warm, 

 ii,..dit si|uab hou^e "\^'hicli you Mill close wluui night cones, .\ ou \^'ill need no 

 heat. 



tjuesiiou. In the case of a long h uise, say fruir units long, should there 

 lie wire netting partitions between the units, so as to separati' the birds 

 iat<i four flocks'. Answer, yucli an arrangement is more practii-al than 

 one long house. It is liettt'r to keep track of four small flocks than one 

 large flock. Ion can kec|"i account of the birds both on paper, and with 

 your eyes, with more precision. 



•jiiestion. How would a cement floor for the squab house do? Answer. 

 Ho not have a c<uuent floor. It will be too cold aud damp. Rats will 

 burroH- under it and breed. The best flooring is made of two layers of 

 inch board, with tarred paper between. 



Queslion. How is salt cat made"? Answer. Take 16 quarts of sand, 

 I'ighl quarts of slaked lime, four quarts of ground oyster shells, one pint 

 of sail, oue pint of caraway seeds and mix with water into a stiff mud. 

 Form into bricks and set away to dry. The water with which yon mix 

 should have a tablespoonful of sulphate of iron and a tablespoonful of 

 sulphuric acid for tonic and ilisinfectant. The birds peck nt this mixture 

 and it is believed to have a tonic and strengthening effect on them. 



Question. Shall I crowd one of the units with nest boxes, or would it be 

 lietter to have a smaller number of iiest boxes and bnild another unit to 

 accommodate the now liirds which I am goiup' ' o 'buy. Answer. Better 

 enlarge your squab house. In case of doubt, you will be on the safer side 

 if vou do not crowd the birds. 



