3fw 
 
5F 467 
 f157 
 'Opy 1 
 
 Price 50 Cents. 
 
VOTED TO THE PRACTICAL 
 SIDE OF SQUAB RAISING. 
 
 BY BASl" L_AKB SQUAB CO. 
 
 V 
 
.1A51 
 
 ILIB:-. \HY or OONuJJtSS 
 
 MAR 6 1905 
 
 I COPY t; 
 
 e: entire contents or this book to- 
 gether VyITH ALL CUTS ARE 
 
 COPYRIGHTED 1905 
 
 BY FANCIERS' PRESS, W E L L F 1_ E E T . MASS. 
 
iPreface 
 
 HE object of this book is two-fold in its pur- 
 pose. First, to give a truthful description of 
 Squab raising in all its details, the method of 
 building- houses, flying pens and feed troughs, 
 the care of the flock, the best methods of kill- 
 ing, cooling and marketing the Squabs, the ailments of 
 Pigeons and questions and answers. 
 
 Second, to obviate the endless amount of correspond- 
 ence which is entailed conducting a business of this kind. 
 If we were obliged to answer all the letters and questions 
 asked us in the course of a season's business it means 
 the emplovment of a large office force and also the ex- 
 penditure of a vast amount of time on our part. Hence 
 the issue of this little book. We have compiled the 
 contents from our own ex]KM-ience and the experience 
 of others who have spent many years in the business. 
 
 From the letters of our correspondents we have se- 
 lected the leading questions which we have endeavored 
 to answer to the best of our abilitv and knowledge. 
 Trusting that we have covered all the vital points, we are 
 obedientlv vours. 
 
m 
 
 Squab Breeding as an Industry. 
 
 yUAB breeding for profit is an especially fas- 
 cinating business inasmuch as it is very prof- 
 ital)le, easy, requiring little work, and always 
 a demand in the market for the squab. 
 
 We know of one gentleman who works 
 eight hours a day and manages a flock of over 200 pairs. 
 He informed us that last year he cleared over $600.00 
 and explained to us how he did it on so small a lot. Said 
 he: "I first started with thirty pairs and sold all my 
 scjuabs and the money left after the feed bill was de- 
 ducted I invested in breeders until mv flock reached t\\o 
 hundred and twenty pairs. I marked carefully those 
 who hatched regularly and removed those who did not. 
 I finally had left two hundred pairs. These birds I fed 
 according to your directions and averaged nine pairs of 
 squabs for every pair last year. I had some losses such 
 as squabs dying now and then, and sometimes a pan* 
 only hatched one. I watched a pair of this kind and if 
 the performance was rejieated I removed then and in- 
 serted a ])air that would hatch two. Now of course this 
 t<iok some little time and trouble, and 1 now believe my 
 flock will priiduce with anv other in the States. 
 
 "I arose early en(_)Ugh in the UKirning to fill mv bath 
 ])ans and feed and then went to my work. .At 3.30 mv 
 wife fed them and when 1 came home at night 1 made a 
 tour of ins])ection to see that all was right. When 
 scjuabs were ready for the market mv wife gathered 
 tliem in the afternoon in a basket. ])recisel\- as one would 
 gather eggs. When I came home at 5.30 1 killed them 
 and hung them up to cool. In the nii rning 1 carried 
 tlicm to town with me in a covered basket and stepped 
 
over to the nearest hotel or restaurant and disposed of 
 them. I had lots of inquiries in the street cars for squabs 
 and frequently took a dozen or two to some one who 
 had engaged them the day before and delivered them to 
 him right on the car. I can sell a hundred times as 
 many as I can raise. 
 
 "When I get one thousand pairs of Homers in opera- 
 tion I intend to give up my position, which is a verv lu- 
 crative one, and devote my whole time and attentitiU to 
 squab raising." 
 
 Leona, a Homer with a record of 500 miles. 
 
"^^ 
 
 Industry for women. 
 
 N these days, when a woman does not con- 
 sider herself too proud to be of financial as- 
 sistance to her husband, this industry is espe- 
 cially adapted. 
 
 It is a neat, clean, money-making business, 
 not without its fascinaticns, for it is more of a pleasure 
 than a task to care for these beautiful birds. 
 
 A woman can unassisted make a good income from 
 handling a flock of Homers. In fact, they have better 
 success than men do, as a rule, for they never neglect 
 them and also watch them more carefully. In a short 
 time a woman learns to know every bird in her flock, 
 and its peculiarities. She can kill, cool and market them 
 as well as a man. Ry correspondence she can easily 
 find out where she can get the most money for her birds, 
 and can pack and shi]) them as easily as any one. 
 
 If she lives in a city, the express company will send 
 for them when notified, and she does not have any 
 trouble in regard to delivery. 
 
 A great nunfl^er of pigeons can be handled in a small 
 space. In the rear yard of a fifty foot lot we have han- 
 dled 1,000 pairs without crowding the birds. 
 
 A woman with energy enough to conduct this business 
 can soon ecpial her husband's salary without half the 
 hard work. 
 
 We have lots of lady customers, and have yet to hear 
 of one who has scored a failure. We have taken espe- 
 cial interest in the efiforts of such and have, and will as- 
 sist them in any way possible to assure them of success. 
 So when in doubt do not hesitate to write us, and you 
 will always receive a reply. 
 
8 
 
 Homer Pigeons Better than a 
 Bank. 
 
 AS there ever been a man of the present age 
 who has not devoted some thought as to the 
 future welfare of his wife and family? lie 
 thinks of his wife and little ones and it starts 
 a train of thought as to what would become 
 of them in case of a i)rotracted spell of sickness, or in 
 the event of his death, or the loss of his position, or the 
 many other probabilities that arise to pull a working 
 man down. It is most appalling to contemplate, and 
 causes him many hours of unrest. 
 
 Naturally his mind turns to some course whereby he 
 can avoid these calamitous possibilities and jjrovide for 
 their future and his old age. 
 
 Numerous schemes flit through his mind as to the best 
 course to pursue, most prominent among which are life 
 insurance, the savings bank and a home to shelter his 
 loved ones. 
 
 In case of death the insurance money would build the 
 home, but what would support them? In the case of the 
 bank the savings of years would build the home, but 
 what would sui)port them? In case of a long spell of 
 idleness the bank savings would go, and nothing would 
 be left and a new start would have to be made. This is 
 very perplexing and discouraging. 
 
 We Solve the Problem for you. 
 
 Start an industry with your savings — one that will be 
 under your immediate supervision — one that will |)av 
 you ICO |)er cent, tjr more on your investment — one that 
 you can start on $25 capital, and that will grow and earn 
 
money while you sleep — one that will permit you to 
 work 8 or lo hours per day and still allow you time to 
 give it all the attention it re(|uire$. In fact, be your 
 banker and boss within a year of the time you start. 
 You can accomplish this by starting in 
 
 The Squab Raising Industry. 
 
 This business will pav vou more than the shares of a 
 gold n;ine, and no risks to run. The business is under 
 your (wn eve. in \'our own rear yard. It canncit fail — 
 no one can take it from vou. Tt is yours as long as you 
 live, and vour wife can handle it as well as you. 
 
 This is what it will Pay You: 
 
 Each and every pair of Scpiab Breeding Homer Pig- 
 eons will produce you on an average two squabs per 
 month: these scjuabs are alwa\'s worth from 25c. to 50c. 
 each in the market. It costs 5c. per pair per month to 
 Iced the old birds. 
 
 Take squabs at the lowest market rate of 25c. each, 
 the product of one pair would bring in 50c. per month. 
 Deduct 5c. for feed and you would have a net profit of 
 45c. per month for cverv pair vou own. This would make 
 }our ])rofits $450.00 a vear for every 100 pair. \A'here 
 can you get that for the use of vour luonev? .And y(_^u 
 Itx^e no sleep. Ihe sho]) whistle or the alarm clock don't 
 bother you: your future is fixed. The first (juestion that 
 arises in \our luind is 
 
 Ca;^ I Sell my Squabs? 
 
 Yes! There is always a stc-uK' demand for tliem at a 
 good ]u-ice. It w( uld be be}'ond human ])Ossil)ilities to 
 bleed enough to overstock the market. Thev are quoted 
 dailv in Xew \'oik n:arkets, and other lar^-e cities, as 
 
10 
 
 staples. As this article sroes to press thev arc (luoted at 
 $4.50 in New York. Do not take our word but write to 
 E. B. Woodward, 304 Greenwich St., New York, or 
 Knapp & Van Ostrand, 243 Washnigton St., New York, 
 or A. Silz, 267 Washington St., New York, taking care 
 to enclose stamp for answer. 
 
 We have based all of the above figures on the lowest 
 market rate we have ever known squabs to be sold for 
 ■ — 25c. each. If you wish to start in on a small scale 
 
 And Increase your Flock. 
 
 You can do so, and you would be surj^rised to 
 see what numbers you will have on hand at the 
 end of a year. Take 25 |)airs for a basis to 
 begin on, and start any nn nth of the year, say 
 April. h\ir the first five months 2-, ])air would 
 hatch you 50 s(|uabs ])er month, which would l)e a total 
 of 250 young. Xow. a ])ige()n connuences to lav and 
 hatch at five months of age, conse(|uentl\-, on the sixtli 
 month the first hatch would join in, making 100 voung 
 for that month; on the seventh month 150 voung, in the 
 eighth month 200 \dimg, the ninth month 250 ^■oung, 
 tenth month 300 \'oung, so at the end of the tenth month 
 you would have the original ^o i Id i)igcons and \ .2^n 
 y()ung, making xonr flock in round numbers 1,300 in 
 number. N\)w, you are readx' to sell stjuabs. 
 
 Many peo]de are so fixed financialh* as to buv enough 
 breeders to start selling- ^(inabs at once, and reinvest 
 their money in breeders. Hut a man nmst work accord- 
 ing t() his monew 1 )o not build 
 
 An Expensive House, 
 
 T(^ begin with, n^ake the house and H\ing |)en as 
 
11 
 
 cheaply as possible, and make the bird pay for a better 
 class of breeding' later on. This is a business that any 
 
 Woman or Boy 
 
 Can run with ease. The birds require but litte care 
 and are only fed and watered twice a day. Yen are not 
 troubled with disease like you are in the poultry busi- 
 ness, and the scpiabs are ready for the market in the re- 
 markably short space (^f 
 
 One iVIoNTH 
 
 After thcv are hatched, and the market waiting for you. 
 It recjuires little space. We have a customer who 
 handles i ,roo pair of Hon^cs on the lot ( n which his 
 house ,'-"t?nd', t tal size of the lot is 50 by 150, and he 
 wcrks eii^ht h.ours a dav into the bargain. 
 
12 
 
 Best Pigeons to Breed from. 
 
 1IR()L(1H correspondence, personal investi- 
 gation and a long and trying" experience in 
 Pigeon breeding, we Imig ago abandoned all 
 other breeds in favor of the Homer, the king 
 bird of them all, for the manv good reaso.is 
 
 given herein. 
 
 I'irst, the I fomer is the i)lnnipest, heax'iest breasted 
 l)ir(l th.'it flies, and is the hardiest, henlthie'^t l^rd of them 
 all. Always ready for his meals and enjoving them to 
 the fullest extent. 
 
 Second, he is not subject to fits of delicacy in the feed- 
 ing line. He requires no babving or coddling, and asks 
 for nothing but ])lenty of ])ure water and good plain 
 footl. 
 
 Third, he and his mate will average from nine to ten 
 pair of \dung per \"ear, a rec("»rd that no other bird can 
 a|)pr()ach. 
 
 Fourth, he is the onl_\- bird able t(^ bring his \-oung 
 to a marketable age in the remarkabh' short s])ace of 
 fotu' weeks, and sometimes less. 
 
 Fifth, his s((uabs are alwa\s in demand, for thev are 
 alwa\'s heavw i)lum]) and white, no matter what color 
 is the coat of feathers he wears. 
 
 They ;ire ahvost a third larger than an\- other breed 
 exceitt the Runt, which cau'^ot be used .as a s»|uab 
 breeder on a.ccnunt of its >^lowness, as the Ixunt onl\' 
 ])roduces < n an average, three priir per year. 
 
13 
 
 What is a Homer? 
 
 E is evidently a made bird, we mean l)y that, 
 that he is a bird produced by the crossing of 
 several different breeds. How far back this 
 happened we have no means of knowing. He 
 was bred for the purpose of carrying mes- 
 sages nany hundred years ago, in fact, so far back that 
 he can now legalh' la_\' claim to being a distinct species 
 of Dird. 
 
 After having l:)ecn used as a message carrier for m.any 
 vears, he vas hnallv selected as a s(|uab breeder on ac- 
 count of his sturdy Ir.iild, in.urerse breast, and perfect 
 health i-nder aM co'ditirns of weather. He is a strong- 
 Iv constituted bird and the grandest l^reeder ever known. 
 He must not be confounded with the Carrier for he is 
 in everv wav the superior of that liird. The Homer 
 has been known to tiy 800 miles to his home loft, while 
 it would tax the carrier severely to find its way home 
 from a point 25 miles distant. 
 
 He derives his name from his love (^f home, and the 
 wonderful instinct which guides him there from the most 
 distant ]ioiiUs. 
 
 He does not lav claim to anv ])articular color, InU 
 comes in as many hues as Joseph's c at. 
 
 He comes in red, dun, white, black, blue, checkers, 
 l)ars and mottled. When a flock is sunning themselves, 
 thev cast all the tints and cond^ination of tints shown 
 in a rainbow. It would delight the soul of an artist, 
 and a more beautifn.l sight would be hard to find. 
 
 Manv pigeons resemble the Homer yet he resembles 
 none. It might be possible to mistake a conuuon pig- 
 eon for a Homer, yet no one would mistake liim fi r a 
 common bird. 
 
14 
 
 He has a distinguished air pecuhar to himself, he is 
 larger and more compactly built, a well formed head, 
 broad and rather flat on the top, a beautiful rimmed eye, 
 and a large wattle at the base of the beak, a trim thor- 
 oughbred, racy look, possessed by no other bird. 
 
 No peacock is prouder than he, or has a more com- 
 placent strut. A breeder once remarked to us "that 
 he had no sentiment, and didn't care for looks, what he 
 was after, was the big 25 cent squab." So are we, but 
 we must acknowledge that we are sentimental enough 
 to love the grand bird that produces it. 
 
 
 Nest of Eggs. 
 
15 
 
 Getting Ready for a Start. 
 
 E will beg-in by saying that no particular style 
 
 or size of house is required for squab raising. 
 
 Any structure that is warm, or can be made 
 
 warm, and free from drafts in the winter, and 
 
 cool and well ventilated in the summer, may 
 
 be turned into a squab-house. 
 
 There are few people who haven't a vacant building 
 of some kind on their premises, a woodshed, henhouse, 
 smokehouse, or the loft of a barn, or some other build- 
 ing that could be utilized for the purpose. 
 
 After having selected the building you wish to use, 
 build a floor in it at least a foot above the ground, or 
 so that you can see under it. this is done so that the 
 rats cannot take up an abode underneath it. Then build 
 a flying pen. along the sunny side of it, the full length 
 of the house and from 8 feet to i6 feet in width, and as 
 high as the eaves of the house. Thus, if your house is 
 1 6 feet in length by lo feet in width, it would make your 
 flying pen i6 feet long, of any width you desire, and as 
 high as the eaves. It is not necessary to have a large 
 flving pen, as it is only designed for a sunning and exer- 
 cise ground. Pigeons do better when confined, as the 
 cock can drive the hen without much fatigue on his 
 part, whereas, if they were alloweri to fly. he would have 
 much dif^culty in catching her, as she is the lightest 
 and swiftest bird, and wih not go to nest until driven to 
 do so. Cover the flying pen with one inch mesh wire 
 to keep out the swallows, who if they are allowed to get 
 in. will eat as much feed as the pigeons. 
 
 On the inside of the squab house, on the three walls 
 not occupied by the door and window, build rows of nest 
 
16 
 
 boxes, 12 inches S(|uare and 12 inches deep. Do not 
 put anv boards in fr( nt (if these l)Oxes to keep the 
 scjuabs from falhng- out, as it makes them too thfficuh to 
 clean: I)uihl them just hke the i)i_!L;"e<in holes of a post- 
 oftice. If \'i>u wish to ])r<)tect the scpiabs from fallino" 
 out, build a li.i^ht frame without an_\- l.)i ttom, and when a 
 pair start to build, sli]) tlie frame over the partially built 
 nest. Wdien the s(|ual)s are taken from this nest, clean 
 the frame and di]) it in whitewash an.d ])Ut it back again. 
 Each ])air of birds must have two nest boxes, as the 
 female goes to setting whe:i the hrst hatch is f;om ten 
 da\'s to two weeks old. dims if \iiu have 100 pair of 
 birds. \du need 20c nest bi xes. \'our scpial) hotise 
 will hold as nianv pigeons without crrnvding a-; _\ou can 
 get in nest boxes. 
 
 Buying Birds for a St\rt. 
 
 When a man or woman makes u]) his, or her mind 
 to g'i 1 into S(|nab raising lor a ]:)roht, the\' should do so, 
 in all earnestness, aril Ix-gin b\- reading thus little 1)Onk. 
 
 ( ireat care should l)e taken in huxing the hrst lot of 
 l)irds, as nuicli dejiend^ on the doings and actions of 
 the hrst lot purchased b\- the beginner, as to tlie success' 
 of the enter]iise. If the birds are thoroughbred mated 
 Ilomers of a breeding age, then the result will exceed 
 their exi^ectation. ( In the other hand if the l)irds are an 
 old, or worn out tiock. inbred, or crossed, or common 
 pigeons, the result \n ill be (''^\'!i'i)i i"tirg in the extreme. 
 
 A hock of this kind reciuires tiie same building, sanie 
 feed, sar.ie attention as tht good birds, so get the best 
 or dim't start. 
 
 Methods of Unscrupuioup Brokers. 
 
17 
 
 We call them Pig-eon Brokers, for the reason that 
 they do not raise a single bird they sell, but buy them 
 all over the country without regard to age or quality, 
 and as a consequence succeed in gathering a mixed lot 
 of birds, which are sorted and sold out to the first buyer. 
 While some of these birds may be straight bred Hom- 
 ers, they are apt to be unprolific on account of age, 
 inbreeding, and various other causes. 
 
 Common Pigeons. 
 
 The common pigeon is the bird unprofital)le in the 
 way of squab raising. They are unreliable, vagrant in 
 habits, seldom raising in confinement more than four 
 or five pair a year, their ?(|uabs being classed in the mar- 
 ket as dark mixed, only bring from $1.25 to $1.75 per 
 dozen, as against the Homer squab at $3.00 to $9.50 
 per dozen. 
 
 The cost of feeding, housing, and care licing the same 
 as the better iMrd. 
 
 Cross Bred Pigsons. 
 
 In this statement, we are sure that every breeder of 
 pigeons will agree witn us. in the thorouglibred 
 Homer we have all the (lualities which gt) to make u]) a 
 perfect breeder, and we cannot cross him without a loss 
 of a heavy per cent of these perfections, consequently, 
 it is bevond the i>ossibilities to gain anything by cross- 
 ing him with anv other bird. 
 
 Many have tried to do this to the undoing of their 
 bank accounts. A cheap bunch of birds are the dearest 
 k t a man ever attempted to liandle even if the originals 
 were a gift to him. He will not realize enough from 
 them to pay his grain bills. 
 
18 
 
 He will be inspired with such a huge disgust for 
 squab breeding, that it will descend to his children. 
 (We have been over the route.) 
 
 If your means are limited, you had better start in 
 with a few Homers and buy from month to month until 
 you succeed in getting your flock to a paying size. 
 
 Always buy from a breeder on whom you can rely. 
 Do not pretend to know anything about the business, 
 and tell him so frankly, and he will always do the best 
 he can to assist you in making your venture a success. 
 
 We have always found it the best policy for a begin- 
 ner to sell his squabs and buy breeders, for you thus 
 introduce new blood into your flock and run no risk of 
 inbreeding. If you are determined to save your in- 
 crease, at a given time gather up all your young cocks 
 and trade them with some one who has good stock, by 
 doing this you can also keep your flock from inbreeding. 
 This will keep your flock healthy and rugged. 
 
 We do not adv cate the promiscuous mating of the 
 young bred in the same squab house, as frequent blood- 
 matings are liable to occur. Tliis can be readily deter- 
 mined by an exanination of the squnlx if his flesh be 
 dark colored, it is the result of a blood-mating. 
 
19 
 
 Mating, Nesting, Laying, Hatching. 
 
 OAIER cocks are not p lyganiists, they have 
 but one mate. When once mated they never 
 separate unless h\- the death of one "or the 
 other. When this occurs, after a time, thev 
 win again mate up with a bird of the opposite 
 
 sex. lUit if a cock is taken from the squab-house and 
 placed in a mating coop with a female they will after a 
 time mate with her, but, if placed in the same quarters 
 with their old mate they will desert the new spouse and 
 go back to the old. 
 
 The hen bird builds the nest, being driven to do so 
 by the cock, who is at all times the master of his own 
 home. When you see one bird driving another about 
 the yard, pecking her, and giving her no chance to eat, 
 drink, or rest tmtil she begins to carry nesting materials, 
 you !nay know that the bird being driven is the hen. 
 
 hdirting, twisting around several times, strutting and 
 putting u]> 1)\' the male, means nothing. A steady drive 
 is when the real goods are being delivered. 
 
 When the nest is built the hen lays an egg and skips 
 a day, then lays the second egg. The hen sits on the 
 eggs from about four o'clock in the afternoon until 
 about ten the next morning, when the cock takes his 
 turn sitting until four in the afternoon, this is kept up 
 until the young are hatched which usually occurs 17 
 da\s after the last egg is laid. IJoth the parent birds 
 then feed until the young are about two weeks old when 
 the cock again drives her to nest, this is the reason that 
 each pair reciuire two nest boxes. If thev are not pro- 
 vided with two, they will lay their eggs in the same nest 
 and the young squabs will be kicked out and perish. 
 
20 
 
 Both birds feed the young up to the age of two weeks, 
 or. until the hen nests again. At first the food is a thin 
 milky substance called "Pigeon's Milk." i'his is dis- 
 gorged by the old birds and gradually becomes thicker 
 and thicker, until as the scjuabs become older they are 
 fed the whole grains. 
 
 This is what makes squab breeding attractive to most 
 people, there is no care or feeding required as is the case 
 with chicks, the parent birds attend to all this and when 
 the squab is ready to leave the nest he is ready for the 
 market. At four weeks of age he is fully feathered and 
 often weighs uK^re than either of his parents. Ikit if 
 allowed to get on the floor he will soon train off the 
 superfluous flesh and become at once the trim, racy 
 Homer. 
 
 As a usual thing there is a squab of each sex hatched 
 in the same nest, the cock being the larger bird and al- 
 ways hatches first. If at any time you notice too much 
 discrepancy in the size of the two birds, then you may be 
 sure the larger and stronger one is receiving more than 
 his share ( f the nourishment. In a case of this kind, 
 go to some other nest and select a squab that is about 
 the same size of the larger one and trade places with the 
 weaker one. 1 he parent bird will go on feeding it with- 
 out noticinu' the exchantre. 
 
^^ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^'.(H 
 
 f lii 
 
 
 
 
 _L_^ 
 
Killing and Shipping. 
 
 HEN a squab is four weeks old he is ready for 
 the market and must be taken before he 
 leaves the nest. Go around in the afternoon 
 just before feeding- time and gather up the 
 squabs you intend to market. Their crops 
 are then empty. Take them into the place you intend 
 to use for killing-, and kill them either by wringing their 
 necks, tweaking and breaking them or by bleeding them 
 in the mouth, which is done by sticking a sharp knife in 
 the roof of the mouth. 
 
 We prefer tweaking as it avoids shedding of blood. 
 Hang them head downward and let them cool over 
 night. If you have a cellar, so much the better. 
 
 In your cooling room nail up a piece of 2 by 4 and 
 drive in wire finishing nails just far enough apart to 
 catch the squabs' legs. Slip the legs between these and 
 let them hang head downward, taking care that their 
 bodies do not touch each other. 
 
 Wherever the body of the s((uab comes in contact with 
 an object for any length of time it forms a discolored 
 spot, for the blood settles there. This must be avoided, 
 as on the whiteness of the squab depends the price. 
 
 In the morning thev are ready for shipping. In sum- 
 mer pack them in layers, scattering ice on the lower 
 layers. I'ack them in not more than six dozen lots; if 
 vou pack more than this they are liable to crush out of 
 shaj)e. which depreciates tlieir market value. 
 
 In the winter jiack same as al)ove without the ice. If 
 vour market wishes them (lr\- ]Mcked, pick them sron 
 after killing and throw in a tub of ice cold water and let 
 them remain over night, and pack as above. 
 
22 
 
 Market Prices. 
 
 E have never known the market to go under 
 three dollars ($3.00) per dozen for first class 
 Homer Squabs. And have seen it go as 
 high as $9.50 in the winter, or when game 
 birds were scarce. 
 
 On application we can furnish you the names of com- 
 mission houses in the large cities who handle squabs. 
 We would not advise you to write them unless you have 
 the squabs to furnish, for you will be bothered to death 
 by their trying to buy your squabs, such is the eager- 
 ness of the market. 
 
 You had better fill your home market before shipping 
 any, and if you live anywhere near a town of good size, 
 vou will find that your flock must be a large one indeed 
 before you can raise an amount sufficient to supply the 
 demand. 
 
 Hotels, Restaurants, Hospitals, Invalids and the 
 wealthy class of Jews are all squab consumers. 
 
 Our place is situated about six miles from a city, and 
 that city has shown that it is able to consume over three 
 hundred dozen per montii as taken from our books. We 
 do not know the ame-unt sold by other breeders in this 
 vicinity and there are quite a nund^er. But we do know 
 that not one of them has made a shipment outside of tlie 
 city. 
 
 Our demand for breeders for this growing industry 
 has become so gieat that we are now only selling culls 
 for the market, keeping the perfect birds for breeders. 
 
 If you are the first to begin in your vicinity, your ex- 
 perience will be the same as ours, you will find yourself 
 kept busv supplying your neighbors with young breeders 
 for some time to come. 
 
cr 
 
23 
 
 Estimate of Profits for loo Pairs of Selected 
 
 Birds. 
 
 We give below an estimate o.f the profits of lOO pair 
 of selected breeders. This estimate is given from our 
 own experience. We carefully weighed and kept ac- 
 count of the grain, grit and salt required for this num- 
 ber of birds each month, conmiencing on the first day 
 of January. 
 
 January produced 194 squabs; February, 196; March, 
 182; April, 194; May, 186: June, 198; July, 174; August 
 and September moulting periods; October, 160; No- 
 vember, 198; December, 196. Total, 1,878. Whicn 
 were sold at $3.00 per dozen, or 25 cents each, making 
 a total of $469.50. 
 
 Feed for the twelve months amounted to $54.00. 
 Making a total profit of $415.50. 
 
 This reci rd was made by a bunch of 100 pair of se- 
 lected Homers kept in an individual scjuab house and 
 flying pen. If these s(|ualis had l)een kept until they 
 were three montns old and sold as youngsters for breed- 
 ing purposes they would have brought $1.00 per pair, 
 and the profit would nave been almost doul)led. Re- 
 member this estimate provides for no labor as that part 
 we did rurselves at no cost except a small portion of our 
 time (lailv. 
 
24 
 
 Arrangements. 
 
 N the front of the squab house cut a window 
 two feet square so the birds can go in and 
 out from the Hying pen. Place a door in the 
 squab house and also one in the flying pen 
 at any point you desire. 
 
 In the corner of the flying pen place an earthen pigeon 
 bath dish, as they are superior to either tin or galvanized 
 iron. It is a good thing to place an earthen drinking 
 fountain in the flying pen so that they may always have 
 fresh water. Keep your bathing dish clean, and empty 
 it when they are through bathing, which is usually about 
 II o'clock in the morning. You cannot give them too 
 much water. It is water, water, with them all the tmie 
 
 In the winter our pigeons will break the thin ice to 
 bathe. It would make you shiver to watch them. In 
 the centre of the yard place your feeding pen. 
 
 Place a couple of bowls for grit and oyster shells in 
 some handy place in the trying pen, or in lieu of the grit 
 you can use clean, sharp sand. We find the best grit is 
 the "mica crystal grit," for sale in nearly every town. 
 Do not neglect to have salt cat laying around where they 
 can get it at all times. 
 
 If you live in a cold climate where the winters are se- 
 vere, move all the utensils we have mentioned inside the 
 squab house during that period. 
 
 Put plenty rf ]:)erches in the ?c|uab house and also in 
 the flying pen. taking care not to place one perch under 
 the other, for the l)ir(l will soil tlie one underneath with 
 its droppings. 
 
 Keep the pen and floor of your sfpiab house clean. 
 whitewash your nest boxes and you will always have a 
 good healthv lot of breeders. 
 
25 
 
 Feeding. 
 
 F you feed by hand, or, in other words, scatter 
 the grain on the floor of the flying pen or 
 squab house, throw no more than they will 
 eat up clean, for the grain soon sours when it 
 becomes damp and will make the old birds 
 sick and will surely kill the squabs. 
 
 Feed earlv in the morning and between four and five 
 in the afternoon. 
 
 We have gained better results by using the automatic 
 feeder. You do not hear the hungry squeaks of the 
 young through the day when the feed is always before 
 them, and need not be afraid of increasing your grain 
 bills, for a pigeon will eat no more than it needs. It is 
 also much less trouble as you need not fill it until it is 
 entirely empty. 
 
 Throw a bunch of nesting material in the squab house 
 consisting of the following: clean straw, hay, or dry 
 grass, coarse weeds, or tobacco stems. We prefer the 
 tobacco stems, and so do the birds, as they have a tend- 
 ency to keep off vermin such as mites, lice, etc. 
 
 The birds will build their own nests and bring out 
 their own voung without any further assistance from 
 you. As soon as tne young are taken from their nests, 
 throw the old nesting material away, and whitewash the 
 nest l)ox, and it is ready for use again. 
 
 Having followed these instructions you cannot help 
 but reahze the most flattering success. 
 
 Kinds of Food and How to Feed it. 
 
 After a good deal of experimenting, we finally settled 
 down on the following feed and method of feeding. In 
 
26 
 
 winter four days of cracked and whole corn, two days of 
 red wheat, and one day of Kaffir corn. Hemp seed or 
 Canada ]:)eas may be substituted for the Kaffir corn. 
 
 In the summer four days of the red wheat, two days 
 of tlie cracked corn, and one day of the Kaffir corn. 
 This gives them a change of diet which always gives 
 them a healthy appetite, .\lways be sure to leed the red 
 wheat as the white wheat will give them the diarrhoea. 
 
 Do not buy your feed in large quantities as it may 
 become sour or moldy. Always feed the best and your 
 squabs will be so much finer and larger that it will n\)re 
 than pay the difference in the cost of the grain. 
 
 The greatest difficulty we have had is to get enoug'li 
 lime into the bird to create the shell, until \vc began lo 
 use Salt Cat, which not only furnishes lime, but all the 
 salt that is needed. Still it is not injurious to the birds 
 to have a lump of rock salt laying on the floor in front 
 of them at all times, as they always relish a change, even 
 thouoh thev receive the same food in another wav. 
 
28 
 
 Diseases of Pigeons. 
 
 E have heard and read of a good many so- 
 called pigeon diseases and remedies, but in 
 our experience have only encountered the fol- 
 lowing: (ioing light or consumption, canker 
 and S(M-e throat, and what is known as the 
 wing disease. 
 
 Going light is an incurable disease, and is only found 
 among inbred birds (^r those that are hatched during the 
 moulting season. These birds are always of a poor con- 
 stitution, and are a detriment to any flock. Always kill 
 them, for, while the disease is not contagious, they will 
 mope around for several weeks and die in the end. 
 
 Canker is a disease which usually makes its appear- 
 ance in the summer time, or during the moulting period. 
 The throat becomes sore and a cheese like formation 
 lodges there, the eyes become watery and swollen; they 
 also have a bad diarrhoea. It is caused from feeding too 
 much corn, which is very heating to the blood and 
 causes gastritis, which in turn conununicates the poison 
 to all ]Kirts of the body. l\enie(ly — bVed wheat and 
 Kaffir corn. Cut out the conuui n corn entirely. Put in 
 their drinking water one-half ounce sul])hate of iron to 
 one gallon of water, and force them to drink it b_\' keep- 
 ing that and no other water beiore them constantlv. 
 
 Wing disease is a little corn that f rms on the wing 
 joint. Catch the bird, ])ull out some of the wing feathers 
 so that it cannot fly and ])aint the affected parts with 
 iodine every third day until cured. 
 
 Lice and mites are vermin which kdll squabs in short 
 order. Keep the nests cle;m and well whitewashed, and 
 if they then appear, sprinkle well with coal oil. It will 
 not hurt the S(jual)s. 
 
29 
 
 Another very good remedy is to place a moth ball in 
 the nest with the young- squab. This will effectually set- 
 tle them. 
 
 A tablespoonful of Xaptholenium to every two gallons 
 of water in the bath pan will rid the old birds of vermin, 
 as they do not dust themselves like a hen but bathe in 
 the water until every feather is saturated. 
 
 J. Y. Johnson says: "My pigeon ranch (in California) 
 produces close to 3,500 squabs a month. It contains 
 7,500 pair of adult pigeons and nets me an income of 
 $12,000 per year. Two men do all the work on the pig- 
 eon ranch. Every morning rounds are made and all the 
 marketable squabs are selected. In the evening these 
 are dressed. We get from $2.00 to $4.00 per dozen gen- 
 erally, and when they are scarce they sometimes bring as 
 hig-h as $10.00 per dozen." 
 
 We will say right here that if Mr. Johnson can do that 
 well on a bunch of common pigeons which are allowed 
 to fly over the country at large, that if he had Homers 
 in confinement he could double his income. 
 
 xA.t least seventy per cent, profit is the estimate made 
 by Mr. J. H. Summers, one of the best known Eastern 
 breeders. When asked as to his judgment of the profit 
 in squab raising from a most conservative estimate he 
 makes the following statement: 
 
 "The squab raising industry without doubt pavs a 
 larger percentage of profit on the capital invested than 
 many kinds of business of the present time. Take for in- 
 stance 500 pairs of good breeding birds. Good breeders 
 will have at least eight pairs of squabs a year, and some 
 average more. Takmg it at the low rate of eight pairs 
 per year. 500 pairs of birds would have 4,000 pairs of 
 squabs. Sup])ose at the end of the year that the 3.500 
 
30 
 
 pair had been sold at 35 cts. per pair for squabs, the re- 
 ceipts will amount to $1,225, ^"<^1 subtracting- the cost of 
 feeding- your old birds, which would be about $390.00, or 
 at the rate of i 1/2 cents i)er ]:)air per week, vour profit 
 would amount to $835.00, or about seventy per cent on 
 an investment of $1,000.00." 
 
 Mr. Sununers has given a very low estimate, we beat 
 that (jn the average \\ith all our squab houses, to say 
 nothing- of our selected breeders. 
 
 Twelve Days O'.d. 
 
31 
 
 Questions and Answers. 
 
 O. Can I use any kind of a Iniiltling for a squab 
 
 house? 
 A. Yes, any kind of a building can be converted into a 
 
 squab house. 
 
 O. How can I change a hen house into a squab house? 
 A. Raise it a foot off the ground, and l)uikl a good tight 
 
 floor in it, cut in a door and \vin(k:)\v on the s(iuab 
 
 liouse side of the flving pen. 
 
 Q. How shah I I)uikl my flying pen? 
 
 A. Buikl it on tlie south side of tlie squab house, so 
 that the birds can fly from the house to the pen, 
 l)uikl it the full length of the house and as high 
 as the under side of the eaves, make it any width 
 you wish and cover it with one-inch mesh wire, 
 place a door in the mesh, so that you can enter 
 pen easily. 
 
 O. How many piegons can T get in a house, say 12 by 
 
 16 feet and ten feet high? 
 A. You can get in as many pigeons as you can find 
 
 room for nest boxes. 
 
 O. How shall I build mv nest boxes? 
 
 A. r>uild them in rows against the walls of your squab 
 house, as high as you like, and make them 12 
 inches scjuare and 12 inches deep, lluild them 
 like the pigeon h.oles in a post-ofiice. 
 
 O. Sb.all I whitewash my scpiab house and nest boxes? 
 A. Yes, whitewash as often as you wish, the oftener 
 the better. 
 
32 
 
 Q. Can I use the common piegon for a squab breeder? 
 
 A. Yes, but we would advise you not to do so, as the 
 common pigeon only raises four or five pair a 
 year in confinement, and the squabs are classed 
 as culls and seldom l)ring over $1.25 per dozen 
 and not much demand at that. The feed and care 
 of a connnon flock costs just as much as a good 
 flock, and the squabs do not bring more than a 
 third of the money. 
 
 O. What kind of pigeons is the best for squab 
 breeding? 
 
 A. The HOMER by all means. His squabs are the 
 largest, demand the greatest, he raises from nine 
 to ten pair (20 scjuabs) per year, is strong and 
 healthy, and eats no more than a common bird. 
 You can always get from 25 cents to 40 cents 
 apiece for them. 
 
 O. Can you send me ten females and two males? 
 A. No. one male will only mate with one female. 
 
 O. Will mv birds go right to laying as soon as I get 
 
 them? 
 A. Xo. the birds take from two to six weeks to settle 
 
 down, and i)ick their nest boxes. When they do 
 
 this, they work on in the same nest boxes until 
 
 they die. 
 
 O. At what age do they become useless as breeders? 
 
 A. A HOMER cantiot be depended on after he is 12 
 years old, although we have some older than that 
 who are doing well. We do not recommend y u 
 to keep them after that age. 
 
33 
 
 O. Shall I build nests for them the same as I would 
 for a hen? 
 
 A. No, throw some hay. straw, or tobacco stems in 
 the :?(|uab house and they will build their own 
 nests. 
 
 O. How ;-hall 1 feed the voung' squabs? 
 
 A. You must not try to feed them, the parent birds do 
 
 that. When they are four weeks old they are 
 
 able to feed themselves. 
 
 Q. How long after the squabs are hatched before they 
 are ready for the market? 
 
 A. When they are fully feathered, from three to four 
 weeks of age, it is then time to take him from 
 the nest and send him to the market. 
 
 O. How shall I get them ready for the market? 
 
 A. Go around just before feeding tmie each afternoon, 
 and gather up the squabs that are ready for 
 market while their crops are empty, kill them 
 either by breaking the neck, or stick them in the 
 roof of the mouth, then hang them up l^y tlie 
 feet and let them cool until morning when they 
 are ready for packing and shipping. 
 
 O. How shall I pack them? 
 
 A. Have boxes made to hold three, six, nine and 
 twelve dozen lots, pack the squabs in these end 
 for end. taking care to put in clean paper so that 
 they will not come in contact with the box and 
 make them taste of the wood. 
 
 O. How soon will I get my money after shipping? 
 
 A. As soon as the birds arrive at their destination, vcu 
 
 L. of C. 
 
34 
 
 will get the money by return mail. Commission 
 men are very prompt in remitting. They are 
 afraid some one else will pick you up, and they 
 want the squabs. 
 
 Q. Are squabs classified? 
 
 A. Yes, they are classified in three classes. No. i, 
 white, weighing from lo to 12 pounds per dozen. 
 No. 2, mixed, weighing from 8 to 10 pounds per 
 dozen. No. 3. dark, weighing from 5 to 8 p:unds 
 per dozen. These ^([uabs are govvrned by the 
 New York market quotations. 
 
 O. Where can I get these prices from time to time? 
 
 A. Write to E. B. Woodward, 302 Greenwich St., New 
 York, N. Y., and enclose stamp for answer. 
 
 O. Shall I send my squabs to the market dressed, cr 
 with the feathers on? 
 
 A. That will depend on where you market them. Some 
 markets want them dressed, and others with the 
 feathers on. 
 
 O. How often shall I feed the birds, and what? 
 
 A. Feed them every morning early, and every after- 
 noon, about four in the winter and abcnU five in 
 the summer. In the winter feed five days ot 
 cracked corn and two days of red wlieat. in the 
 summer reverse the mode. You can feed millet, 
 kaffir corn, hemp seed, and Canada peas at any 
 time as dainties. 
 
 O. How shall I give them drinking and bath water? 
 
 A. Give them plenty of pure water in a common poul- 
 try- drinking fountain, and fcr baths get a stone- 
 ware bath dish and fill every morning. 
 
 O. Do they need grit and salt? 
 
 A. Yes. give them plenty of sharp sand or "'[Mica Crys- 
 
MAR 6 1905 
 
 36 
 
 tal" grit. Put salt cat where tliey can get to it at 
 any time. 
 
 O. What do you give tliem for Hme? 
 
 A. (iive them plenty of ground oyster shells. 
 
 O. Are pigeons subject to disease? 
 
 A. Yes, if they are not properly fed and cared for they 
 will l)e subject to canker, caused fr(^:u feeding too 
 much corn in the summer, and a disease called 
 going light, caused from not salting, and a lack of 
 grit. If fed and cared for according to the direc- 
 tions given by us either disease can be avoided. 
 
 O. r)o pigeons have mites, lice and other vermin? 
 
 A. Yes, but it is easy to get rid of them. Keep your 
 nest boxes clean, and wdien the squabs are a week 
 old, drop a moth ball in the nest and that will ef- 
 fectuallv settle them. For the (ild ones put one 
 tablespocnful naptholeum in the bath pan, and 
 when he bathes he saturates every feather and 
 the lice are killed out at once. 
 
 
 Four Weeks Old. 
 
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