21 
nest mate. If there is in the pigeon house a nest with only one young 
squab of the same size as the weakling, it is a good practice to transfer 
the latter to this nest, when the parents of the younger squab will feed 
both, usually with good results. It must be remembered, however, 
that no change of this kind should be made until after the squab is a 
week old, or during the time the parents are furnishing the u pigeon 
milk.” 
KILLING AND DRESSING. 
The squabs should be killed before they get so large that they leave 
the nests. The standard size is 8 pounds to the dozen. With properly 
kept birds this weight is usually attained in four weeks with straight 
Homers, and five weeks with Dragoons. 
Preparation.—The producer should have a regular shipping day, 
selecting such as best suits his convenience, and on that day he should 
kill all squabs which are of proper size (fig. 11). The squabs should be 
caught in the morning before the feeding and watering is done. This 
assures empty crops. Judgment must be used in selecting the squabs, 
or some which are too light may be taken, causing a cut in the price. 
As caught, the squabs should be placed in pigeon hampers and taken 
to the killing room, which in cool weather should be heated to be made 
comfortable for the picker. An oil stove lighted at the time of 
beginning to catch the squabs, will temper the room nicely by the time 
* the squabs are all brought in if the flock is large. Place the hampers 
within easy reach of the chair in which the picker is to sit, and have a 
basin of water close by. Directly in front of the picker, suspend in a 
horizontal position a ring of wood or iron, about a foot in diameter, 
and hang from the ring four cords 8 inches long, terminating in slip 
nooses. 
Killing the squabs.—Catch a squab from the hamper, and suspend 
it by passing one of the nooses around the legs, tail, and wings, let¬ 
ting about 2 inches of the ends of the wings project beyond the noose, 
and tighten it well. Insert the killing knife (sold for such purposes) 
well into the back of the mouth and draw it forward cutting clear into 
the brain, hang a weighted wire in the bill and let the bird bleed. The 
wire is six inches long, hooked and pointed at the upper end, and 
weighted at the lower end with a piece of lead the size of a hulled 
walnut. Four birds are killed in turn, and picking begins on No. 1 as 
soon as dead. Novices may kill and pick but one at a time until some 
speed is gained, but an expert picker will kill four and “rough pick” 
them all before they get too cold. 
Dressing the squabs.—Allow the birds to remain suspended, but 
release the wings, grasping them both in the left hand back of the 
bird. Moisten the thumb and forefingers of the right hand in the pan 
of water, and begin picking the neck, leaving about three-quarters of 
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