112 SQUABS FOR PROFIT 



toward you, as a broken wing or bruised head may re- 

 sult. Watch closely and as the bird is even with 

 you make a quick pass with the net in the same 

 direction it is flying. Make a quick half turn 

 of the handle at the same time, so the bag of the 

 net lies against the ring. Thus caught the bird cannot 

 escape. In Fig. 15, Mr. Rice is shown at the instant 

 he secured the bird. Note the character of the net and 

 the method of holding it. 



Will mated birds always stay mated? — The almost 

 invariable rule is, that birds once mated will stay thus. 

 There are exceptions, however, to all rules. For in- 

 stance, in molting, the cock of a certain pair may be 

 recovered and in good health long before his mate. 

 About the same time, a hen of another pair may have 

 finished molting in advance of her mate. The respec- 

 tive mates of these birds may not finish molting for 

 several weeks. In such cases, although rare, we have 

 known the molted birds to mate. 



Dun hens yielding hen squabs. — In our pens we 

 have a few dun hens mated to birds not dun in color. 

 One pair, however, both cock and hen, are duns. The 

 peculiarity of these matings is that about 90 per cent 

 of their progeny are hens. They are prolific and alto- 

 gether desirable. We will not attempt to explain this 

 excellent peculiarity, but the fact remains constant in 

 all our observations. Usually in a flock of youngsters 

 there will be more cocks than hens. These dun mat- 

 ings help us out in evening up the sexes and we guard 

 them carefully. 



Proper price for mated birds. — A good way to es- 

 timate the value of mated birds is to add to the market 

 value of the squabs their cost of feeding, care and 

 mating until they are old enough to bring profitable 



