SELECTING AND RAISING QI 



Pen for young birds. — The birds are kept in the 

 youngsters' pen until they are surely mated. Too 

 much haste must not be used to remove them. They 

 must be firmly established at housekeeping, for the 

 first pairs of squabs are usually of little consequence. 

 From 200 to 300 youngsters can be kept in the regular 

 sized pen while they are growing, but care must 

 be taken to see that an equal number of each sex are in 

 the pen, so that all may have a mate. Let the young- 

 sters have full use of the bath and let everything be 

 done to ensure their comfort and steady growth. 



No old, makeshift house should be used for young 

 birds. They should have the best and the best con- 

 ditions possible. Especially note to see that there 

 are no leaks in the roof, through which water might 

 drip on the birds, and make dampness inside, and also 

 that no boards have been warped, through which 

 drafts may blow upon them. Give them compound 

 tincture of gentian, two tablespoonfuls in water foun- 

 tain, once a week during the molting season. Once 

 every week for the balance of the year give one table- 

 spoonful of the tincture to the gallon when they seem 

 to need it. A lump of lime the size of a hickory nut 

 dropped in the water fountain once during two weeks 

 is a benefit to youngsters as well as the breeders. We 

 always use it. 



Beyond the precautions mentioned of not per- 

 mitting the youngsters related to each other to mate, 

 make no attempt to control their selection of mates. 

 Except where there are particular reasons for desiring 

 to have certain birds to mate, they can best be trusted 

 to attend to their courtship in their own way. The 

 result is likely to be better than if one meddles with the 

 matchmaking. 



