APPENDIX G 



311 



HOW THE CITY MARKETMAN WANTS 

 SQUABS, by A. Silz. Squab raisers should 

 bear in mind that squabs should not be more 

 than three ro four weeks old when killed, and 

 after being killed, it is very essential that they 

 be allowed to bleed properly, by hanging head 

 downward, otherwise the blood congeals and 

 tends to turn the bird more or less dark. The 

 best-selling squab, at all times, is the one 

 which is perfectly white and free from blem- 

 ishes. 



Within a short time after being killed and 

 after being dry-picked perfectly clean of all 

 feathers, it is a good plan to immerse the 

 squabs in ice-cold water until such time as 

 they are to be packed for shipment. They 

 should never be held for any length of time, as 

 it tends to make the birds flabby, and by the 

 time they get to the dealer, who places them 

 to the trade, they present a very stale, unde- 

 sirable appearance, and in the majority of 

 cases, must be sold at a sacrifice as a result of 

 this condition. 



We receive, from time to time, among the 

 fancy squabs, some nice, large, plump birds 

 whidi would otherwise be perfect were it not 

 for one or more red blotches which appear on 

 the back of the bird and detract from its 

 appearance to such an extent that high-class 

 trade will not touch them at all. If squab 

 raisers can arrive at some method by which 

 these red blotches will be eliminated they will 

 very naturally benefit, as the birds will bring 

 better money, at all times, where this con- 

 dition Ls not apparent. 



During the summer months, the squabs, 

 after being properly cooled, should be care- 

 fully packed between layers of cracked ice, 

 using a layer first to cover the bottom of the 

 package, then a layer of squabs arranged head 

 downward, then another good layer of ice, a 

 layer of squabs and so on, and when the pack- 

 age is filled a ^ood double layer of ice on top, 

 so that the birds are completely enveloped. 

 This will keep them thoroughly chilled and 

 prevent any chance of spoiling while en route 



A SILZ DRAYLOAD OF SQUABS FOR ONE OF THE TRANS- 

 ATIiANTIC STEAMSHIPS. 



to the dealer. Care, however, must be exer- 

 cised, even here, that too many squabs are not 

 put into a package. It is better to use a 

 little more ice and not pack the squabs very 

 tightly, as this all tends to bring them to 

 market in the best possible condition. 



WHY, WHEN, HOW TO TRANSFER 



SQUABS. It is a noticeable fact to all squab 

 breeders that there is apt to be a difference 

 of size between the two squabs in a nest when 

 they are three daj^ old and upwards and that 

 the difference in size becomes more apparent 

 the older they get until they are pretty well 

 feathered. This condition is fotmd less with 

 Homers than with any of the other breeds, 

 but Homers are not exempt from it. The 

 reason for it is that one egg hatches from one 

 to two days before the other. As soon as 

 the first one hatches the parents begin to 

 feed it and it will double in size in a day or 

 two so that when the second squab hatches 

 it is only half the size and strength of the 

 first one. Have a flat-bottomed 

 basket or box with a handle 

 that you can carry on your arm. 

 With this go through all your 

 nests twice a week and even 

 up the sizes of the two squabs 

 in each nest. First, take a 

 hasty glance through the nests 

 in a pen to get an estimate of 

 how many pairs of squabs need 

 attending to and their relative 

 sizes. Then take one of an 

 imeven pair and put in the 

 nest of another uneven pair 

 so that the two will exactly 

 match, remove the third one 

 thus formed and either put it 

 in the first nest or in some 

 other so that they will exactly 

 match in size and so on. If 

 there is a nest with but one 

 squab do not hesitate to put 

 another with it if it be of the 

 same size. 



