57 



what he could do with them. His experience was identically 

 the same as mine. Now you may ask, what was the trouble that 

 they layed and hatched and raised them to over two weeks old, 

 and then died? Here, my dear reader, is the answer in a nut- 

 shell. Inbreeding! After I turned these birds over to the squab 

 breeder I sent to another breeder for some good tested breeders ; 

 and right here let me tell you I got them all right, coming up to 

 my ideals in every way. 



So be careful with whom you place your orders for birds, 

 as all the first part of your success depends on getting the right 

 kind of stock to begin with; that is why so many have failed in 

 the squab business, and more are doing so constantly. The man 

 who has been successful enough to get together one or two 

 thousand pairs of good Carneaux does not need to care much 

 which way the wind blows, as he is fixed in getting a good living 

 and money besides. There are many men to-day who can show 

 a good bank account made from squab raising, for one man can 

 attend to at least 1,000 pairs of pigeons, doing all work except 

 plucking and killing or dressing them for market. Ycu may 

 say that is right, but how about diseasp. Well, let me tell you; 

 you will have very little disease among pigeons properly housed 

 and cared for, being very careful as to feeding only good sound 

 grain and a variety of it. White wheat or musty wheat has 

 carried off more pigeons than almost anything else. This causes 

 sour crop, vomiting, diarrhoea and defth in very short ord^r. 

 Moreover, if stock is raised from birds that have canker they 

 will throw weaklings which are almost sure to die sooner or 

 later from some disease; therefor^, the best remedy for birds 

 cankering their young is the hatchet. Never raise a young 

 pigeon from stock which is diseasjed in any wdy. Then you can 

 make a success out of the pigeon business, 



I had something to happen to me just lately with a hen 

 pigeon. She raised three pair of young squabs, then went into 

 moult and never laid another egg after that. The cock bird was 

 driving her all the time until she got on the nest and hatched 

 for about four months, never laying any eggs. I took a pair of 

 eggs and put them under her. She was hatching all right, looked 

 healthy, never was droopy; hatched about one week, then died. 

 I examined her and found she had fatty infiltration of thfe liver 

 and bowels; no canker. This is gpmething I never heard of 

 before, but I am §wre Qi my diagnosis, 



