FARM POULTRY PROBLEMS 157 



The grain is fed in the morning and afternoon, and enough 

 given so that it is about cleaned up in Ij^ to 2 hours. Only 

 clean, wholesome grain should be fed. Small hoppers of grit, 

 charcoal, oyster shell, and salt are provided. Some breeders 

 use a health grit, which is a mixture of shell, grit, salt, and 

 other substances, and which is much relished by the pigeons. 



Special care must be paid to the feeding as the old birds 

 go directly to their young and food is transferred from the 

 crop of the old bird to that of the squab, through the mouths. 

 For the best results, it is necessary that sufficient feed be 

 given at regular feeding periods. 



Pen Management. Pairs per Pen. — ^About 50 pairs per 

 pen seem to be a good working unit. 



Nest Material. — ^A slatted frame with removable top may 

 be placed against the side of the building. This should be 

 kept filled with cut straw 8 inches in length. The mixture 

 should be about half and half. The birds make their own 

 nests. 



Selecting Breeders. — It is not a good policy to select the 

 largest bird from a pair to save as breeders, as by so doing, 

 a larger percentage of males is likely to result. A better way 

 is to save only from those nests which contain two large, well 

 developed squabs. By selecting for size, shape, and strength, 

 any breeder can improve the type of market squabs. Plum- 

 age color may also be a factor, although some pigeons, as e.g. 

 the Homer, come in many different colors. 



Mating. — As these squabs are selected, they are banded 

 with an aluminum band and placed in a pen along with other 

 youngsters. Here they continue their development and even- 

 tually mate and breed. Careful watching should be kept and 

 when a nest with eggs is discovered, the birds should be 

 trapped. The male bird broods the eggs from 10 a.m. to 4 or 

 5 P.M., and the female the rest of the time. Making use of 

 this fact, the breeder is able to determine the sex. When a 

 bird is caught it is banded with a colored band, the male on 

 one leg and the female on the other. It is but rarely that 

 brother and sister mate, as they are in a pen with 50 other 

 unmated pairs. The aluminum band placed on at the time 

 they were selected shows whether they are related or not. 



