72 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 
along the path which makes most money for the breeder. 
We all know how Darwin studied natural and forced selection 
of pigeons. He took one pigeon with a certain peculiarity, 
say a full breast, and mated it to another pigeon with a full 
breast. The squabs from these birds, when grown, had 
breasts fuller than their parents. Then these in turn were 
mated to full-breasted pigeons from other parents, and the 
grandchildren had even larger breasts. Darwin’s experi- 
ments covered a period of over twenty years and in this time he 
developed li-tle faults and peculiarities to an amazing degree. 
Every intelligent, careful pigeon breeder is striving by his 
forced matings to push along the path of progress the peculiar- 
ity in pigeons which is his specialty. The breeder who selects 
most carefully and keeps at it the longest wins over the 
others. By selecting from your best and most prolific 
breeders the biggest and fattest squabs, keeping them for 
breeders and mating so as to get something larger and plumper, 
you are all the time getting bigger squabs. Every breeder 
of squabs has it in his power to increase the efficiency of his 
flock by studying his matings. There is commerical satis- 
faction in breeding for size and plumpness because it pays 
at once, and at the same time the breeder has the satisfaction 
of increasing the stamina and variety of pigeons. 
To be master of the matings, the breeder should band his 
squabs. As scon as they are weaned (that is, as soon as the 
breeder sees them flying to the feed and eating it) they should 
be taken and put into one of the rearing pens. When about 
six months old, the breeder should begin mating them by 
selection, using the mating coop, then when they are mated 
turn the pair into a working pen with other adult birds. By 
looking at the number on the band of each bird, then on your 
record card, you know how to avoid mating up brother and 
sister. 
When the young birds are just over four weeks old, or 
between four and six weeks, they are able to fly a little, and 
if they do not hop out of the nest (or are not pushed out by 
the parents) you may push them out yourself. They are 
now able to feed themselves. If these young birds are left 
in the squab house, they will bother the old birds by begging 
for food, and this infantile nagging will hinder the regular 
breeders in their next hatch, so the very best thing to do is 
