44G POULriiY PRODVCriON 



A young ]3air will usually not ])ro(luce more than two 

 pairs of squabs the first year. While unusual, mature pairs 

 sometimes produce as high as twelve pairs in twelve months; 

 the average production probably lies between five and six 

 pairs. Breeders are at their prime at three .years, and six 

 to se\'en years mark the limit of their usefulness. 



In squab-breeding the white meat is the most desirable. 

 This white meat may be detected by the white toes, lieak 

 and flights, and red legs. Some of the Ijest breeders secure 

 this by crossing a Florentine and Runt and crossing the off- 

 spring with a Homer, while others prefer the ]nire Homer. 



Pigeon Houses. — Any outbuilding that is dry and has a 

 board lloor may be used for a pigeon loft. It should be 

 sheltered and lune a south exposure. It is customary to 

 allow four scjuare feet of floor space per pair of l)irds. Upon 

 this basis it is possible to house one hundred pairs in a 

 building 2.") X Ki with a gable 10 feet high. Dryness is 

 so essential that squal.) Ijreeders frequently erect their 

 houses on posts, giving a clearance of two feet between the 

 ground and floor. 



'i'he nests should be jjlaced on the north, east, and west 

 walls, beginning one foot above the floor. This may be 

 done by nailing a cleat on the east and west walls one foot 

 wide and holding a board ten to twelve inches wide one foot 

 above the floor; every ten inches above these other cleats 

 should be laid clear to the roof, after laying boards of uni- 

 form width clear to the topmost cleat. Partition pieces 

 10 X 12 may be cut and inserted between the shelves every 

 ten inches. Between these partitions ]K)ttery nests nine 

 inclies across and four inches deep should l)e j^laced. 



Good perches may be made by nailing two pieces five 

 inches wide and six inches long at right angles. These 

 perches should be nailed to the wall (as shown in Figure 212) 

 running clear to the top of the house, one perch every nine 

 inches. By placing these at right angles and letting the 

 median line of the upright bisect this angle the necessity 

 of cleaning the perches will be obviated. There should 

 be one ijerch for every bird. Tlie floor of the house should 

 be kept bare of litter and cleaned at least once a mouth. 



