80 National Standard Squab Book. 
the parent birds, and when you wish to kill them you find both in the 
nest ready for you. 
Question. Your book states that pigeons sometimes lay their eggs on the 
floor. But it does not say anything about taking the eggs and putting 
them in a nappy. Would the birds follow their eggs and accept change 
ef nest from floor to nappy? Answer. No; you must leave the eggs 
where they Jay them. You can handle a nest and change eggs from one 
nappy to another, if you wish, but you cannot move eggs from one place 
in the squab house to another and expect the birds to find them and go 
on with their laying. 
Question. Do all squab breeders heat their houses in the winter time; 
{ mean those who do a large business like yourself. Answer. No; some 
breeders of many years’ experience believe that a warm house is detri- 
mentai to the health of the birds, on account of the sudden change of 
temperature from a warm house to a cold flying pen. The object should 
be merely to take the damp winter chill off the air. If you have a warm, 
tight squab house which you will close when night comes, you will need no 
heat. 
Question. In the case of a long house, say four units long, should there 
be wire netting partitions between the units, so as to separate the birds 
into four flocks? Answer. Such an arrangement is more practical than 
one long house. It is better to keep track of four small flocks than one 
large flock. You can keep account of the birds both on paper, and with 
your eyes, with more precision. 
Question. How would a cement floor for the squab house do? Answer. 
Do not have a cement floor. It will be too cold and damp.. Rats will 
burrow under it and breed. The best flooring is made of two layers of 
inch board, with tarred paper between. 
Question. How is salt cat made? Answer. Take 16 quarts of sand, 
cight quarts of slaked lime, four quarts of ground oyster shells, one pint 
of salt, one pint of caraway seeds and mix with water into a stiff mud. 
Form into bricks and set away to dry. The water with which you mix 
should have a tablespoonful of sulphate of iron and a tablespoonful of 
sulphuric acid for tonic and disinfectant. The birds peck at this mixture 
and it is believed to have a tonic and strengthening effect on them. 
Question. Shall I crowd one of the units with nest boxes, or would it be 
better to have a smaller number of nest boxes and build another unit to 
accommodate the new birds which I am going ¢o ‘buy. Answer. Better 
enlarge your squab house. In case of doubt, you will be on the safer side 
if you do not crowd the birds. 
