FEEDS AND FEEDING 91 



At 10 days old an average squab can receive whole grains of 

 corn with no inconvenience; and right here I might add there 

 is no danger of squabs becoming choked on whole grains or corn 

 for the reason that if the space between the beak is large enough 

 for the grain to enter it will pass into the throat and into their 

 crops without difficulty. 



If you have an opportunity some time I would suggest that 

 you take a young squab a week or 10 days old and for your 

 own curiosity put two or three grains of corn into its mouth 

 at once and you will be surprised to see how easily they will 

 slip down its throat. 



THE HIGH COST OF FEED 



I have received a large number of letters and have been 

 asked often if squabs can be raised profitably since the world 

 war has increased the price of grain so greatly. The answer is, 

 yes, provided one studies the feed situation and takes advantage 

 of the local conditions by feeding more freely of the grain that 

 is the cheapest in his section, but at the same time he must 

 know enough about the values of different seeds and grain to 

 enable him to feed a balanced ration. 



Prof. Frank C. Hare writing for the American Pigeon Journal, 

 very ably covers this question. He states, "The present high 

 prices of food stuffs make it imperative for most of us to study 

 the feeding question more thoroughly than under normal price 

 conditions, when we can buy at a reasonable cost almost any 

 mixture of grains we fancy. We have reached the point where 

 we would like to use some of the home grown grains that are 

 cheaper than the imported grains we formerly fed and we want 

 information about compounding a pigeon feed at home that will 

 maintain the production of squabs and the health of breeders." 



Bear in mind that pigeons are more or less like children and 

 are apt to eat too much of things that are not the best for them. 

 Too much hemp for instance, is not good for pigeons yet they 

 will eat as much as they can get and hold. But as between 

 com, wheat and other staple grains their likes and dislikes 

 should be considered when same does not interfere too much 

 with the cost of feed. 



