PIGEONS AND GUINEA-FOWL 



445 



Pigeons mature at five months, but are said not to breed 

 until the tail feathers are moulted. In order to hasten the 



Fig. 210 



iStiiialjs ("squeakers"), twenty-four liours old. 

 J ) II 







- ^' 







Squabs ("squealers"), twenty-eight days old, ready for market. 



breeding it is sometimes customary to pull the tail feathers 

 out at the age between six and nine weeks, at which time 

 they may be placed in the mating-room. 



