566 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



to determine by casual observation, and when one considers the 

 delay and loss likely to occur from unmated birds, or from stock 

 so old as to be past their period of prolificacy, it becomes apparent 

 that much depends upon the word of the seller. 



Unmated birds will cause a lot of trouble in a loft. Unlike 

 poultry, pigeons are monogamous; they mate in pairs, and 

 usually remain devoted for life. Obviously, the experienced 

 breeder sees to it that his birds are properly mated, either 



Fig. 339. — ^White runt, female pigeon. 



naturally or by special methods. The presence of unmated 

 males means fighting and jealousy. 



Unscrupulous dealers sell anything as mated birds. Some 

 claim that so long as there is a male and a female they are re- 

 lieved of any responsibility for further devotion. An authority 

 on squab raising has this to say about mated pigeons: "A mated 

 pair of pigeons consists of a male and female that have built a 

 nest, laid eggs and hatched a pair of squabs which are fit for 

 market in four weeks from the time of hatching. The only safe 

 way in buying breeders is to get a written guarantee that they 



