34 National’ Standard Squab Book. 
ours, although there is no objection to the breeder doing so, if he cares 
to take the time. It will add to their appearance and the sanitary con- 
dition of the squab house. ‘I'he work of whitewashing takes time, how- 
ever, and we have not found it essentia!. 
We ship all large orders for these wooden nappies, and many small 
orders, direct from the factory in Michigan, depending on the location of 
the customer. We wish to urge you most emphatically to get your order 
for these goods to us at least a month before your order for birds. Freight 
traffic is slow and we have no control over the railroads, and we have 
found that it takes from two to six weeks to get these goods from 
Michigan to the customer, often causing an annoying delay. To customers 
living near Boston, of course, we ship from our Boston office, if the order 
is a small one. If you are in a hurry for them and order them sent by 
express, remember that the express companies charge for weight and not 
‘in this ease) for value, and that you will have to pay from two to four 
times what the nappies are worth for transportation by express. It will 
do vour birds no harm to be in their new home a week or so before the 
arrival of the nappies, for this period is spent by a new flock in getting 
acquainted with their new surroundings. The nests that they build in 
the nest-boxes may be transferred bodily to the wooden nappies safely, 
and of course you do this before the eggs are hatched. 
The pigeons will not take with mathematical regularity pair by pair 
the nest boxes which you have provided. Some of them will take them 
in pairs, one adjoining the other. This makes it very convenient for you 
in keeping track of them. Others will take one nest box in one part 
of the squab house but go to another part of the squab house for their 
second nest. Some will not take a nest box at all, but will build a rough 
nest on the Noor of the squab house and rear their faniily there. Let them 
choose for themselves. 
The nests are built by the birds of hay, straw and grass. The birds fly 
to the pile, select what wisps they want, then fly to the nest-boxes and 
arrange the wisps in a nappy to suit themselves. Tobacco stems are rec- 
onmepded for nesting material, because the odor from them will have 
a tendency to drive away lice, but they are not necessary if the nappies 
are used and ordinary cleanliness observed. 
The best thing to keep the nesting material in is a berry crate. Fill it 
with straw and hay (use the fine oat, not rye straw, cut into six inch 
lengths) and shut down the cover. Then when the birds want nesting 
material they will fly to the vertical openings in the sides of the berry 
crates, stick their bills in and make their selection. ‘The cover of the 
herry crate prevents the birds from soiling the nesting material. They 
will not build nests with dirty nesting material. It must be first-class, 
clenn, dry and sweet or they will not use it. 
