FARM POULTRY PROBLEMS 



153 



birds for squab production. TlK\y are prolific, hardy, good 

 feeders and mothers, and produces plump, sound squal)S. 



The Carneaux tends to produce squabs of sliglitly greater 

 weight than does the Homer. 



Crosses of the Carneaux and Homer are being tried out by 

 some breeders with the hope of combining the prolificacy of 

 the homer with the larger size of the Carneaux. 



Careful selection of breeders will go far in increasing the 

 size of the squab. 



Age of Birds as Affecting Production. — At the age of 2^ 

 to 6 years, the production of squabs is highest per pair of 





i. 



Fig. .56. — A pigeon loft and fly. Forty to fifty pairs constitute a unit. 



breeders. While they will mate and commence breeding at 

 6 to 7 months and are doing fairly good work at one j^ear, the 

 best years are those mentioned. On the other hand, birds 12 

 years old have produced 4 pairs of squabs per year, on the 

 average, for a considerable sized flock. 



It is fairly safe to figure on 8 to 10 squabs per year for old 

 birds and 11 to 15 for birds from 2^2 to 6 years of age. 



Housing. — The general principles applying to poultry 

 house construction apply to pigeon houses. The houses 

 should be dry, provide for fresh air, sunlight, air drainage, 

 be sufficiently large to permit the attendant to work conveni- 



