Identifier: CAT31100926 (find matches)
Title: Squab raising
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Lee, Alfred R.,
Subjects: Pigeons Columbidae
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

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oth the male and the female pigeon sit on the eg^s, the maleusually relieving the female during part or most of the day. Pigeoneggs are usually fertile if the pigeons are healthy and properly fed,espeeially when they have free range. One squab (usually the male)frequently hatehes first, and where there are several eases where onesquab outgrows its nest mate, it may be advisable to sort the squabsin the nests, making the pairs as uniform as possible in size and age.The\ hould usually be ehanged in the nest, however, before they arc10 days old, at whieh time their parents stop feeding them on pigeonmilk. Squabs are reared and fed by both of the parent birds on a thiek,ereamy mixture ealled pigeon milk, produeed in the erop of thepigeons. It is very essential that the pigeons have a plentifulsupply of grain while they are rearing squabs if rapid growth of theyoung is to be seeured. ^ Pigeons usually feed the squabs shortlyafter they themselves are fed and should not be di=iturbed at that
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Fig. 8.—Water vessels on either side and bath pan in center. time, thus making it advisable to water them before they are fed.Care should always be taken not to frighten or disturb pigeons orsquabs any more than is absolutely neeessary. If the parent birds diethe squabs may sometimes be removed to a nest where there is onlyone squab, or they may be fed artifieially, although this proeess takeseonsiderable time. FEEDING. Many varieties of grains are used in feeding pigeons. A goodmixture of staple grams may be made of equafparts by weight oferaeked eorn, hard red wheat, kafir eorn, and Canada peas, with asmall quantity (10 per eent) of hemp and millet seed added duringthe molting period. Other grains wiiieh may be substituted for oradded to these are peanuts, oats or hulled oats, buekwheat, Egyptianeorn, barley, eowpeas, and milo maize, while a small quantity of stalebread, riee, rape, millet, eanary, veteh, and sunflower seed may befed for variety. Canada peas are expensive, but see

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