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Show NOTES FOR SQUAB BREEDERS Many Important Little Hints That Will Prove Interesting and Instructive In Pigeon Loft. ,(By L. M. BENNINGTON.) In 'order that it can be taken out and cleaned, the floor of each nest i should be movable. Sawdust should not be used in the nest as it harbors lice. Never add new birds to flock already al-ready started, if you can possibly help it. After seven or eight years' breeding, the usefulness of the bird is ended. For want of. the proper experience the first year, the parent stock are apt to be more or less careless and neglectful. After giving the feed it is best to leave the loft, as pigeons are apt to forget their young if they are watched while feeding. It is estimated that a pigeon of the average size will need an ounce of food a day, together with plenty of grit, salt and fresh water. Where a loss of appetite and indisposition indis-position of the bird is noticed a good remedy is to feed a little hempseed, add precipitated chalk to the drinking drink-ing water and keep a good supply of grit and salt-cat within reach. It will help- greatly if the bird is isolated for a day or so. 4 Squabs cannot see until about eight days old. A good weight for dressed squab is eight pounds to the dozen. The eggs hatch on the eighteenth day of incubation. In stocking the loft allow two nests for each pair of breeders. As a rule the breeding season extends ex-tends from March until September. The first egg is generally laid about two weeks after the nest is made. The market price for dressed squabs are best during January, February and March. The Homer is a strong well-built bird, of good size, thrives in confinement, confine-ment, is an earnest breeder and a careful care-ful feeder. |