1905.] Rearing of Pigeons for Market. 



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the others in these experiments, and the yearly produce of ten 

 pairs of Homers was sold at a higher price than the produce of 

 an equal number of any other kind of pigeons. 



The Homer is a clean, active, vigorous breed, which may be 

 depended upon to produce eight to ten nests of young in a year 

 when proper care is taken. It is possible, by careful selection 

 of the breeding stock, to raise Homer squabs which will weigh 

 over eight pounds per dozen dead weight, at four weeks old, 

 and the " eight-pound " squab is a really marketable article. 



Runts and Dragoons will weigh over nine pounds a dozen, 

 but they are not ready for killing until about five weeks old, 

 and frequently they take a few days longer to become properly 

 finished. This extra feeding detracts considerably from the 

 profits, and hinders the old birds from going forward with their 

 second nest. I have found the Homer-Dragoon cross next in 

 value to the Homer, but Runts and Dragoons, either pure or 

 cross-bred, are comparatively unprofitable, being big feeders 

 as well as lazy and inactive, eating one and a half times 

 as much as Homers. My experience with Runts is that they 

 do not lay more than four or five nests of eggs in the year. 

 Common pigeons are out of the question as producers of squabs 

 for table, being too small, not very reliable as breeders, and 

 lacking uniformity — a very necessary qualification when high 

 prices are desired. 



Mating Pigeons. — All the pigeons in a loft must be mated for 

 breeding, and if there are any odd birds, either male or female, 

 a separate apartment must be set aside for them. It is advisable 

 to keep a few odd cocks and hens in a coop or large cage, for use 

 in case the matings made do not give satisfactory results 

 Pigeons are monogamous, and when paired will not interfere 

 with one another, but it is necessary sometimes to re-mate birds, 

 when the birds which have been mated prove sterile or when 

 the produce is not up to the desired standard. 



In-breeding must be avoided when strong, healthy, large squabs 

 are desired, but it is comparatively easy to arrange that the 

 parent birds shall not be closely related when two or more lofts 

 are kept. Pigeons breed well for three or four years, and it is 

 only necessary to mate up a pair of unrelated young birds to 

 replace a pair which show signs of becoming worthless. The 



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