CHAPTER XLIV 

 PIGEONS 



Fad. — ^Some years ago there was a big boom in the squab in- 

 dustry; it became quite a fad and received a great deal of pub- 

 licity. Many failed, and considerable money was lost before 

 people awakened to the fact that the profits in the business had 

 been greatly over-estimated, and that the care required by the 

 birds, the necessary skill, was greatly underestimated. Further- 

 more, there was not the demand for their products that begin- 

 ners were led to expect. High prices were not sustained. 



Failures. — It is quite likely that more money has been lost 

 on plants erected for the production of squabs on a large scale, 

 than in any other branch of the poultry business. Stories were 

 told of the great success of a few breeders; they were plausible, 

 and the figures were so seductive that many unfortunate men 

 and women were led to invest all their savings in ventures they 

 were in no way equipped to operate. Failures became so numer- 

 ous that the business was viewed askance, as a sort of joke, and 

 detracted much from its real credit. If one spoke of being in the 

 squab business he was apt to be regarded with suspicion. Most 

 of this feeling has passed, along with the boom spirit, and left 

 in its wake a great deal of knowledge of practical value. 



Profits. — ^There is profit to be made from the breeding of 

 pigeons, just as there is a profit to be had from chickens or from 

 ducks, but we would not advise the amateur to expect to make 

 a fortune or even a good living at producing squabs, unless he 

 is trained and equipped to operate a fairly large plant. From 

 my observation, only large lofts return substantial profits, and 

 most of the successful pigeon farms make a business of selling 

 breeding stock, and are not devoted primarily to the production 

 of squabs for market. 



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