MATING AND SELECTION OP BREEDING STOCK 



143 



ed before it leaves the nest. It begins to get tough and is not 

 very good to eat after five \^^'eeks of age. 



The quick mushroom growth and the lack of exercise is vt^hat 

 makes squab meat so tender and delicious. Some breeders have 

 classified squabs by giving them different names at different 

 ages. They are first called peepers, as they make a small peep- 

 ing noise about the time they are ten days old; they are next 

 called squeakers until they are two or three weks old, then 

 squealers until they are four weeks old, when they are called 

 squabs. These names are taken from the noise that a squab 

 makes. They first peep, then squeak, then squeal when they are 

 hungry and wish to be fed, and will keep up the squealing noise 

 until seven or eight weeks old. 



SQUAB TWO WEEKS OLD 



