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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT:
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The National Standard Squab Book
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ELMER C. RICE
Photograph by Purdy, Boston
The National Standard Squab Book —
By ELMER C. RICE
(Mail address, Post Office Box 175, Boston, Mass., U.S. A.)
A PRACTICAL. MANUAL GIVING COMPLETE AND PRECISE DIREC- TIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND MANAGEMENT OF A SUC- CESSFUL SQUAB PLANT. FACTS FROM EXPERIENCES OF MANY
HOW TO MAKE A PIGEON AND SQUAB BUSINESS PAY, DETAILS OF BUILDING, BUYING, HABITS OF BIRDS, MATING, WATERING, FEEDING, KILLING, COOL- ING, MARKETING, SHIPPING, CURING AILMENTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION |
Tilustrated with New Sketches and Half Tone Plates from Photographs Specially Made for this Work
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
1910
Copyright’ 1901, by Elmer C. Rice Copyright, 1902, by Elmer C. Rice Copyright, 19035, by Elmer C. Rice Copyright, 1904, by Elmer C. Rice Copyright, 1905, by Elmer C.-Rice Copyright, 1906, by Elmer CG. Rice
Copyright, 1907, by Elmer C. Rice-
Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice Copyright, 1909, by Elmer C. Rics Copyright, 1910, by Elmer C. Rice
All rights reserved.
A WELL-BUILT NEST.
Press of Murray and Emery Company Boston, Mass.
Preface
Chapter Ie Chapter II. Chapter III. Chapter IV. Chapter’ V: Chapter VI.
Chapter VII. Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX. Chapter = X= Chapter <i.
Chapter XII.
Supplement Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F
COIN I IB IN IES)
Squabs Pay
An Easy Start
The Unit House
Nest Bowls and Nests Water and Feed. Laying and Hatching Increase of Flock Killing and Cooling The Markets
Pigeons’ Ailments Getting Ahead Questions and Answers
Plymouth Rock Gariomes
Carneaux and Homers Not in Same Ben A Monthly Squab Magazine
More About How to Tell Sex
How to Keep Down an Excess of Cocks Squab Houses of Two and Three Stories Squabs Fed Artificially
Nests on the Floor : A Plan to Get Rid of Rats and Mice How to Make Perches
Pittsburg Market
Low Quotations
How to Kill Cats
Breeding True to Color
Sulphur and Iron Water
Pigeons that Fly Away
No Coal Ashes
Temporary Pen and Breeding Bee Twigs for Nesting Materials
Clamoring for Squabs in Washington State
Oklahoma and Indian Territory
Appendix G
wo) oe)
LA ie AV ORNs
Page Portrait of the Author [Frontispiece] ............ FAW Wella IS itil GN GStsc.stt erie ie tres eerie cries 8 Mhorough bredstrerri-c esac <a ta ons eneanceus 14 How a Back Yard may be Fixed for Pigeons. ..... 18 Cheap but Practical Nest Boxes................ 22 How City Dwellers without Land may Breed Squash. cc wiat heeeetaeal a hncae aeaekeeunabe 24 Unit Squab House (with Passageway) and Flying IP Gr Arava ajactne Sia ericain de Sones ae eee sare 26 Nest Boxes Built of Lumber.................... 28 Best Nest Box Construction.................0.- 30 Interior of Squab House Showing Perches........ 32 A Pretty Squab House and Flying Pen.......... 36 MUL GI Ole Wn iG OSES ecae 7 ecu c.sys-acoteuetere <<bcces-ayaai a 38 Interior of Multiple Unit House............... 40 Multiple Unit House, Ten Units, Built according GOs OUI IPIANS* sacha gametes ioerca ean es ese nals 42 Nest Bowl, Bath Pan, Drinking Fountain, etc. . 46 Berry Crate to Hold Ne ting Material 0s. 4. 2... 50 Scenes on the $200,000 Farm of One of Our USE OMELS vias a5 cc. e. hos sept, areca: Moustelenstes aucsravert 4s 58 Eggs in the Nest, Squabs Just Hatched......... 64 Squabs One Week Old, Squabs Two Weeks Old... 66 Squabs Three Weeks Old, Squabs Four Weeks Old. 68 The: Mating Coopisc's scvte stents octse:008 elie are ete oses) arene 70 Pigeons in ‘St. Mark’s Square, Venice............ 74 Killing Squabs with the Hands................. . 80 Killed Squabs Hung to Cool............--...--- 82 (three: Dressedssquabs., cess cect acer eiectiete are 86 Squab.House Built of Logs....:.......5-+20-+0+ 88 PaO ELOMers Billing isg is, << ase steve ee omens ewe 90 How Weiship: Pigeons. « <.c:ci22 sti: «c:cw.ss so ere otis 98 Self Weeder for Grains... cc.0.0< 2 eicieee:s 50 0 bare te 108 Machine for Killing Squabs...............----- 115 rary er ee chaste auhiteerscateitarsvo eisin mtaysetnaaaeaneesia anata 116 INGSEHBOXPSE. fc tyes se eoeassaierdeneeeee 118
Pigeons in Corner of Flying Pen Mating Coops in Mating Heuse................-- Interior of Mating House..............------66-
Part of South Side of One of Our Houses......... 146 Dowel System of Feeding and Watering from NUEVA Yr: ocxess wieverase aie oe are Sele e aretoe wee wicke wei 150 MettertromcA.: Sil g.tetorniesecrewie tisteersee cpeclea ances 188 Letter from W. R. McLaughlin................. 190 Letter‘from Heineman\ doi. .5 i500 eo 0c02 20 192 Extra Plymouth Rock Homers...........:..... 194 A Good-Looking Illinois Plant................-. 196 Showing Construction in Florida................ 198 Homer Hen Sitting on Eggs.................6-- 199 Lighted by Electricity and Heated by Steam..... 200 @nia. Pole‘at Top of Wlving Pens cee: seein 202 Cheapest Possible Construction..........2...... 204 MHS Sbabbaene s sccee cose shasta woes eee Seats oS See 206 Mis? CustOmMerscvise.cra chess a tceteererssstsneteeyenepo re ces 206 Beautiful Pairiof Splashes... <i... sc 0s ees yee 207 Plymouth Rock Blue Bars and Blue Checkers.... 208 Ona Running Board inyihe Sumy sere vieiers cis elene eaters 209
Page Interior of Massachusetts Customer’s House...... 210 Women Enjoy Squab Raising.................. 211 AtitheBack ofa Barna. -. c.ecscatare ni «free teins 212 Shipshape- Flying: Pem.,...........<0¢ 0s scsedeeee 213 Nest of Straw and Feathers................-.00 214 Different: SiZeSii.ikevcszpsnsie'n cuss Sate mentale sue ae eters AN .INEKPEDSIVE UAE, <0. 2st cche ove, «payeisjesafetenatere
A Rowiot Beauties: conse. 25.054 eeeeee cme Eating from His Hand. Ready to Kill........ Squabs 25 Days Old... Inthe Snowestmnccucnncemes Sodan nae sakes eae
Squabs: Three Weeks Olds vez eiacxeveytree cer cre ents 222 Squabs!PwelvesDaysiOldiicc ci jeere c1c8 ste sieves as 22a Squabs a Few Days Old..............----+-++- 224 Nestrot Tobaccoistemsenaccce s aane 2. aos cacceee 225 Raised from Plymouth Rock Extras............ 226 Garneau soe rceveda eee raat netted a-cet yee 227 Carneau Squab Compared with Homer Squab.... 236 Two and One-half Story Squab House........... 243 Plymouth Rock Extra Homer Male............. 250 Plymouth Rock Extra Homer Female........... 252 Flying Pen ofa Barn... 0.1.2.0 seca cenoresune 256 Three Squabs Hatched in One Nest.............. 257 Any- Old) Place Fixed! Over. <st<cies0 ones ete 259 Squab Plant in Pennsylvania Protected by Hillside 262 (A New: Jerseys Plants astes-ruiere ucla eine 264 Another View of New Jersey Plant.............- 265 An Attractive Minnesota Squab Plant........... 266 Hundreds of Squabs Eaten at One Banquet...... 268 Mississippi Squab House.............-.-:.-+00- 269 VAL Massaichusettsvelantecstatam eit eis euuineere ate 270 Another View of Massachusetts Plant............ 271 California; Squab House. ®: stare seue2 s'est i0)-1e oe scl 272 Small Openings under the Windows............ 273 A Pair of Squabs from Plymouth Rock Extras.... 274 Squab Building in British Columbia............. 276 AN Citye Squall, House iat. stz.ciises catele s etotactote ete eierare 278 AeParrof-Big\Squabs. .c:.2s-e5scesseneueee cc. 280 An Odd Squab Huse gs si eet Soe 282 Tobacco Stems....... 283 Lump of Rock Salt. . 284 Head of Sorghum Seed 285 Health Gritvcc sx cnccasaere- eoiawnetiw semen 286 Red Wheat, Canada Peas, Hempseed............ 287 Screws, Kaffir Corn, Sorghum Cane Seed......... 288 Whole ‘Corn, Coarse Cracked, Fine Cracked....... 289
White Wheat, Poor Red Wheat, Wheat Screenings aH Barley, Oats, Sunflower Seeds.............2+06- American Millet, Siberian Millet, Golden Millet. . 3p Rice Unhulled, Rice, Buckwheat. ........0...00: 293 Granite Grit, Quartz Grit, Same Crushed ........ 294 re Grit, Coarse Oyster Shell, Pigeon Oyster
Cll: Seibel ree eee Ses Se Rees
Mixed Grain (three samples)............--+00005 296 AsSouth: Carolinasblan ties o& cts yn ystecieleueplecloisrsatstcis 298 Ordinary Quarters necccppete svete ore ciereleiesoieleueteee 301 Home Made........++000% MSatariee Arersiatetahi alas oe 302
‘PREFACE.
This Manual or Handbook on Squabs is written to teach people, beginners mostly, not merely how to raise squabs, but how to conduct a squab and pigeon business successfully. We have found breeders of squabs who knew how to raise them fairly well and took pleasure in doing so, but were weak on the business end of the industry. The fancier, who raises animals because he likes their looks or their actions, or because he hopes to beat some other fancier at an exhibition, is not the man for whom we have written this book. We have developed Homer pigeons and the Homer pigeon industry solely because they are staples, and the squabs they produce are staples, salable in any market at a remunerative price. The success of squabs as we exploit them depends on their earning capacity. They are a matter of business. Our development of squabs is based on the fact that they are good eating, that people now are in the habit of asking for and eating them, that there is a large traffic in them which may be pushed to an enormous extent without weakening either the market or the price. If, as happens in this case, pigeons are a beautiful pet stock as well as money makers, so much the better, but we never would breed anything not useful, salable merely as pets. It is just as easy to pet a practical animal as an impractical animal, and much more satisfying.
This Manual is the latest and most comprehensive work we have done, giving the results of our experience as fully and accurately as we can present the subject. It is intended as an answer to the hundreds of letters we receive, and we have tried to cover every point which a beginner or an expert needs to know. It is a fault of writers of most guide books like this to leave out points which they think are too trivial, or “ which everybody ought to know.’’ It has been our experi- ence in handling this subject and bringing it home to people that the little points are the ones on which they most quickly go astray, and on which they wish the fullest information. After they have a fair start, they are able to think out their operations for themselves. Accordingly we have covered
11
12 “NATIONAL STANDAKD SOUAB UB COT
every point in this book in simple language and if the details in some places appear too commonplace, remember that we have erred on the side of plainness.
The customers to whom we have sold breeding stock have been of great help to us in arranging and presenting these facts. We asked them to tell us just the points they wished covered, or covered more fully, or just where our writings were weak. They replied in a most kindly way, nearly every letter thanking us heartily, and brimming over with enthus- iasm for the squab industry.
It has surprised a great many peopie to learn that Homer pigeons are such a staple and workable article. They have been handled by the old methods for years without their great utility being made plain. When we first learned about squabs, we were struck by the impressive fact that here was something which grew to market size in the incredible time of four weeks and then was marketed readily at a good profit. The spread of that knowledge will make money for you. Show your neighbors the birds you buy of us, tell them the facts, and perhaps give them a squab to eat, then you will find a quick call for all the live breeders you can supply.
The procedure which we advise in this National Standard Squab Book is safe and sound, demonstrated to be successful by hundreds of our customers, many of whom started with no knowledge except what we were able to give them by letter or word of mouth. We have abandoned all instruction which does not stand the test of time and locality, and give only facts of proven value, of real, practical experience.
ELMER C. RICE.
Boston, August, 1902.
POSTSCRIPT.
This work has met with so much favor during the past year, and has sold so largely in excess of expectations, that we wish to thank our friends everywhere for their cordial support. The Appendix A which appears at the back of this edition was added last February, and it is our intention to keep the work up to date by revisions and additions at least twice yearly, The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the
PREFACE 13
proof of these squab teachings is shown in the successes made by our thousands of customers with no other knowledge of squabs than this as a guide. Our correspondence, now having extended over a long period, shows conclusively that beginners find all questions answered in this book, and go forward confidently and surely to success.
‘ Bi Ce Re
Boston, August, 1903,
1907 EDITION.
The old plates of this book have been fairly worn out by much printing, so great has been the demand for it, especially during the past five years. The sales have been larger than for any other work on birds or animals ever written. For this 1907 edition, the whole book has been reset in new type, and new plates made.
The cutlook for the squab industry during 1907 and the years to come is of high promise. More people are eating squabs than ever before and more people are raising them. At no time within our memory has the market been over- stocked with squabs, and prices have kept up all along the line. Only yesterday we were visited by a gentleman and his niece from New York City who stated that they had priced squabs there December 31 and found them seven dollars and fifty cents a dozen. The dealers who offered them at this price had paid the breeders for them from four dollars to six _ dollars a dozen, according to their postal card quotations sent out in December.
We shall be pleased to hear from our friends after they have read this book, and welcome any suggestions for its improve- ment, or for the betterment of the squab industry. The author will gladly answer all such letters and advise fully as to location and construction of buildings, and management of breeding stock.
Be. Re
Boston, January, 1907,
THOROUGHBREDS.
14
Coreen le SQUABS PAY.
Experience of a Customer who Started in January, 1902, Erected a Plant Worth Three Thousand Dollars and Made Money Almost from the Start—Settlements of Squab Breeders in Iowa, Calijornia, New Jersey and Pennsylvanta— Large Incomes Made from rigeons—Squab Plants Known to be Making Money—The Hard-Working Farmer and the Easy-Working Squab Raiser—No Occupation for a Drone— No Exaggeration.
‘Will it pay me to raise squabs?”’ is the first question which the beginner asks. We take the case of a man who bought a Manual in January, 1902. His boys had kept a few pigeons but had never handled them in a commercial way, nor tried to make any money with them. The reading of the book gave him the first real light on the squab industry. Possibly he was more ready to believe because he knew from his own personal experience that a squab grows to market size in four weeks and is then readily marketable. He started at once to build a squab house according to the directions given. The ground was too hard for him to get a pickaxe into, so he laid the foundation timbers on bricks, rushed the work ahead with the help of good carpenters and sent on his order for breeding stock. In the course of a few weeks he ordered a second lot of breeders, followed by a third and a fourth, and he kept adding new buildings. When spring came and the ground softened, he jacked up his first squab house, took out the bricks at the four corners and put in cedar posts. By the middle of July he had five handsome squab houses and flying pens, all built by skilled labor in the best possible style at a cost of at least three hundred dollars apiece. With his buildings and their fittings and his birds, his plant repre- sented an expenditure of between two thousand and three thousand dollars.
This gentleman lives in a locality where he had to put up nice- looking buildings, or the neighbors would have complained. He spent probably three times more money on his buildings
15
16 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOOK
than the average beginner would spend. He is a superin- tendent of a large manufacturing plant, a man of push and energy, and he has four young boys in his family who have helped with the wife and grandfather to make the venture successful. It was a paying venture almost from the very start. Everything that we wrote about squabs as money makers came true in his case. One of the sons, a lad of nine- teen, came on to see us the first summer and told us the story of their success. He was after more breeding stock. He said he had many calls from peopvle who wished to buy stock of him, and he was unable to supply all of them, but he did not intend to have money offered him very long without being able to pass out the birds. In other words, they were going into squabs for all they were worth. They had not done any advertising, and had not sold live breeders to any extent, but figured their profits solely on the sale of squabs to com- mission houses, and they were getting for them just what we said the commission men would pay.
We have a great many visitors, some coming from remote points of the United States. One of our visitors in the summer of 1902 was Mr. A. L. Furlong, from a little town in Iowa. Mr. Furlong said to us: ‘“‘ lowa is quite a squab breeding State. There are plants in Ruthven, Osage, Wallake and Estherville. The owner of a plant in Ruthven I know very well. He showed me his account books; he was shipping from seven hundred to eight hundred dollars worth of squabs last month. He is making a profit of three thousand to five thousand dollars a year. He ships to the Chicago market, as do nearly all the Iowa breeders. He never gets less than , two dollars and fifty cents a dozen for his squabs. I am going to start raising squabs myself.’’
Mr. Furlong left an order for one of our Manuals, having given his first one to his friend. He said that his friend was breeding common pigeons and would like to know our methods. We discarded common pigeons some time ago. If our Iowa friends will use Homer pigeons instead of common ones, they. will produce a much better squab and make more money.
We had a curious confirmation of the above in August, 1902, when Mr. E. H. Grice, who lives in the northern part of Vermont, visited us. Mr. Grice had just returned from a visit to the West, and stopped for a while at Ruthven, Iowa, where
SQUABS PAY 17
he saw the plant above noted. The proprietor referred Mr. Grice to us and advised him to start with Homer pigeons, saying that, if he were to stock up again, it would be with Homer instead of the common pigeons. Before leaving, Mr. Grice gave us an order for one hundred pairs of our Homers.
The number of orders for breeding stock which we have received from Iowa is out of proportion to any State near it, showing that these squab plants are known throughout Iowa to be making money. The same is true of California. We visited many squab breeders in eastern States in June, 1902, noting the buildings and methods and finding out from them if they were satisfied with the financial returns. All were enthusiastic and said it was easy work, that squabs beat hens easily and were much less care. The methods of some of these breeders were extremely crude, the birds nesting in old boxes of all sizes nailed to the walls of the squab houses, and apparently never being cleaned. The Homers were small, not being able to raise squabs weighing over seven pounds to the dozen.
Somebody has said that a squab plant of one thousand pairs of birds will pay better than a farm. The contrast between the hard, grinding toil of the man who works a large farm and the “ standing around ”’ of the owner of a squab plant is indeed a striking one. However, we do not speak of this to give you the idea that money is going to flow into your lap just because you buy some squab breeders of us. It is no work for a drone or a “‘ get-rich-quick ’’ person whose enthusiasm runs riot for two weeks and then cools off. Our class of trade is men and women of experience and reliable common sense who have a knowledge of the world and understand that things come by work and not for the asking. The people who are able and willing to pay us from fifty to five hundred dollars for a breeding outfit, as hundreds do, are not caught by glittering promises, but have money laid by through exercise of the qualities of ability and shrewdness. The naturally careless, improvident person, who is generally in debt, should not start squab raising. It is a sensible industry for sensible people.
The profits to be made with squabs vary with the individual and with the management of the birds, exactly as with poul- try. It is important to have only mated or even pairs in the pens and all birds not producing should be kent in a separate
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18
SQUAIES JZ N4 : 19
pen and removed to breeding quarters only after they have gone to work. The chief difficulty with a beginner is the matter of sex. The male and the female pigeon have no marks to distinguish them, and the beginner must determine their sex by observation. He must study his birds and come to know them. Some beginners will not equip themselves by study and observation to make a success and may breed in a hap-hazard fashion for a year or more without knowing the sex of the birds they raise. Birds which you raise will go to work more quickly, look better and breed better than any birds - you can buy, because that is the temperament of the Homer, to be attached to his home, to love it, and to try to reach it if he can. Anybody who has doubts as to his ability to raise squabs should start with a small flock and breed up until he has acquired skill and experience.
As part of this Manual, in the supplement and appendices, we print many letters from customers who started with small flocks and won striking successes. It is not necessary to get a fancy price for the squabs to make the business a success. In confirmation of this we have in mind the work of two of our customers, young men named Lunn, who have received only two dollars to three dollars a dozen for their squabs, selling to dealers who retail them for four dollars to six dollars a dozen. These brothers have told their story in one of the poultry papers as follows:
“In February, 1905, we got the idea of going into the squab business. We spent some time looking around and in March, 1905, we bought what we thought was the best stock, namely, the Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. We bought twelve pairs. The birds arrived on March 22, 1905, and were as fine a looking lot of birds as we had seen anywhere. We now (December, 1906) have three hundred pairs. One hundred and fifty pairs are well mated and working. The other one hundred and fifty pairs are all young birds. We raised all our young birds up until September, 1906, and since then have been selling squabs weighing from nine and one-quarter to ten and one-half pounds and receive twenty-three and twenty-five cents each. We feed the best of grain, using cracked corn, kaffir corn, red wheat, buckwheat and peas and a little hemp. We also give a little rice once or twice a week. During the moulting season we added barley to regular
20. "NATIONAL STANDARD SCUASB BOCK
rations, which was a great help to the birds all that time. We use the self-feeder as described by Mr. Rice in his Manual and we find with it the grain is always clean. We have made the feeding question one of the most important of all and find that the best results are obtained by keeping plenty of grain and good clean drinking water before the birds at all times. The drinking fountains used are automatic and are scalded once each week. About once a week we give a teaspoonful of gentian to a gallon of water. We keep fresh water in the flying pens for bathing purpose at all times during the summer, and in the winter we allow our birds to bathe twice a week at noontime. One thing that is very essential with pigeons is to be kept clean. Our houses and nests are cleaned every week and we also spray the floors, nests and walk with a liquid disinfectant. We have never been troubled with lice, vermin or any disease of any kind. For nesting material we use tobacco stems, cutting them into pieces of about six inches, which we consider the best material for the purpose, and also a safeguard against lice. We feel satisfied with what our birds are doing and have done in the past, so well satisfied, in fact, that we have now under construction build- ings that will accommodate nearly one thousand pairs of birds. And the cost of keeping or feeding will not exceed one dollar a year per pair, so that squabs selling from two dollars to three dollars per dozen are sure to leave a good profit.”’
Looking at the financial showing of the Lunn boys, made in twenty-two months, we find that starting with twelve pairs, for which they paid us thirty dollars, they raised three hundred pairs, worth at the same rate seven hundred and fifty dollars. From this must be deducted the grain which they bought in that period. They start the new year with a fine plant capable of earning a big percentage of profit on its valuation.
GAGE ere olde
AN EASY START.
No Special Form of Building Necessary— Points to Remember —Shelter Adapted to the Climate— How to Use a Building which you Now Have—Squab House and Flying Pen— Lining the Squab House with Nests— Use of Egg Crates— How to Put up the Perches—Diufference between the Nest Box, Nest Pan and Nest— How to Tell How Many Pigeons can Occupy a Certain Building—A Large Flock of Pigeons 1s Easily Cared for when Split up into Small Flocks— How to Use Your Time to Best Advantage.
Do not get the idea that any special form of building is necessary to raise squabs. We will tell you how to put up a structure that will make your work easier for you, and enable you to handle a big flock fast and accurately, but pigeons will work in almost any place, if it is free from rats, darkness and the musty dampness which goes with darkness. Any building, whether a woodshed, a corn crib, a barn, an outhouse of any description, or even a hog pen, can be made a successful - home for pigeons with a little work.
The points to remember are these, first, that the building be on fairly level, sunny ground; second, that it be raised from the ground so that rats cannot breed under it out of sight and reach; third, that it ought to be fairly tight, so as to keep out rain and excessive cold. Pigeons ought to have sunlight and fresh air, like any other animal, and need protection from the elements.
In practice, therefore, most squab houses are found raised on posts a foot or two feet off the ground; they face the south (here in New England) because most of our bitter | weather comes from the north and east. If you live in a State, territory or foreign country where conditions are different, adapt your squab houses to those conditions. In some localities, the fierce weather comes from the south and west, in which case your squab house should face the north or east.
Here in New England we build a tight house to withstand
21
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CHEAP BUT PRACTICAL NEST BOXES.
These are empty egg cr | Each egg crate is two feet long, makes two nest boxes, each one foot square.
house. i ‘ partition in the middle
these nest boxes a wood nest bowl is placed.
wood nest bowls.
th no
ates piled one atop another from floor to roof of squab
one foot wide and one foot deep. The
The birds build their nests in ‘these
Into each of
ALINE IBSNS VCS IP AW IE 23
the cold winters, but in the South the buildings are more open. Be guided by what you see around you in the place where you live. If the houses used by your friends and neighbors for hens and chickens are tight and warm, make your squab house tight and warm. It would be foolish for you, for example, if you live in Texas, to build a strong, tight, close squab house, for in that latitude, in a henhouse built tight and close, vermin would swarm and harass the chicks, and they would harass the squabs just as fast.
Some of our customers write from places like Oregon and Idaho, where there is a wet and a dry season, and are puzzled to know what to do. In such cases we say, arrange your buildings as you see poultry houses arranged. The pigeons will do as well under the same conditions as hens and chickens.
Suppose you have a vacant building or shack of any kind in which you wish to raise squabs. We will take for granted that it has either a flat roof or a ridgepole with sloping roof, and that it is built in rectangular form. Never mind what the dimensions are; our advice will apply to either the large or the small structure.
First raise it off the pean or build a new floor off the ground, so that rats cannot breed out of your sight in the darkness and get up into the squab house. If there is an old floor, patch up all the holes in it. Now you need one door, to get yourself in and out of the squab house, and you need at least one window through which the pigeons can fly from the squab house into the flying pen and back from the flying pen into the house. You will shut this window on cold nights, or on cold winter days. You must cover the whole window with wire netting so that the birds cannot break the panes of glass by flying against them. If you have no wire netting over the window, some of the birds, when it is closed, will not figure out for themselves that the glass stops their progress, but will bang against the panes at full speed, sometimes hurting their heads and dazing them and at other times breaking the glass.
The flying pen which you will build on the window side of the squab house may be as small or as large as you have room. The idea of it is not to give the birds an opportunity for long flight, but simply to get them out into the open air and sun- light. They enjoy the sun very much, it does them good
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24
- HOW CITY DWELLERS WITHOUT LAND MAY BREED SQUABS.
Jal INC Sagal) WS) IAI I 20
and they court its direct rays all the time. Build the flying pen, if you choose, up over the roof, so the birds may sun themselves there. If that side of the roof which faces the flying pen is too steep for the pigeons to get a foothold, nail footholds along the roof, same as carpenters use when they are shingling a roof, and the pigeons will rest on these to sun themselves. For the flying pen you want the ordinary poultry netting, either of one-inch or two-inch mesh. The two-inch mesh is almost invariably used by squab raisers, because it 1s very much cheaper than the one-inch mesh. The one-inch mesh is used only by squab raisers who are afraid that small birds (the English sparrows here in New England) will steal through the large meshes of the two-inch netting and eat the grain which you have bought for the pigeons. You can buy this wire netting in rolls of any width from one foot up to six feet. If your flying pen is twelve feet high, you should use rolls of the six-foot wire. If it is ten feet high, rolls which are five feet wide are what you want. If your flying pen is to be eight feet high, buy rolls which are four feet wide. In joining one width of wire netting to its neighbor, in constructing your flying pen, do not cut small pieces of tie wire and tie them together, for that takes too much time and is a bungling job, but buy a coil of No. 18 or 20 iron wire and weave this from one selvage to another of your wire netting in and out of the meshes, and you have the best joint.
You can line the three walls of the interior of your squab house with nest boxes if you choose. The fourth wall is the one in which the window or windows are. On this fourth wall you should not have nest boxes, but perches. These perches, or roosts, should be tacked up about fifteen inches apart, so as to give the birds room without interfering with one another. The advantage of the V-shaped roost which we advise is that a bird perched on it cannot soil the bird under- neath. Do not buy the patent pigeon roosts which you see advertised, for a pigeon roosting on one will soil the pigeon roosting.on the one immediately below.
Please note particularly at this point the following terms which we use, and do not become confused. The nest box is something in which rests the nest bowl in which the nest is built. Do not speak or think of nests when you mean nest boxes.
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The nest boxes, when done, should look like the pigeon-holes of a desk, and should be about one foot high, one foot wide and one foot deep. A variation either way of an inch or two will not matter.
One way to get these pigeon-holes is to build them of nice pine lumber, in the form of boxing one-half or five-eighths of an inch thick. Another way is to use hemlock or spruce boards one inch thick. The third way (which we think is the best for the beginner who wishes to start most cheaply and quickly) is to use egg crates, or orange boxes. These egg crates are two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep, but they are divided in the middle by a partition, giving two spaces, each of a cubic foot,.and this is just what the squab raiser wants. They are procurable almost anywhere in the United States and Canada new for ten or fifteen cents each, and if you buy them after the egg shippers are through with them, you can get them for three to five cents apiece. Some grocers will be glad to have you carry them away and will charge you nothing for them. The crates are ‘built of thin, tough wood and usually are neat and solid. Take off the covers and throw the covers away,—you do not need them. Then put one egg crate on its side, open top out, place another egg crate on top of that, and so on until you have covered the three walls of your squab house from the floor to the roof. Do not use any nails, they are not necessary: the crates will keep in position by their weight. It is an advantage, also, to have them loose, for when you clean the nests, you can step up on a chair or box, take down the crates, commencing with the top, and clean each one with your feet on the floor. If you build a substantial set of nest boxes of boxing or hemlock lumber, you will have to stand on a chair and strain your arms in order to clean the top nest boxes, so you see there are’ points in the low-priced arrangement not possessed by the fancy kind. It is on the same principle by which a humble small boy with bent pin and worms and an old pole catches more fish than the city angler with a twenty- five dollar assortment of hooks, lines and artificial flies. It is the pigeons and the intelligence behind them which do the trick, every time. A fancy pigeon house with fancy trimmings cannot produce any better squabs than the home-made affair, provided the birds are the same in both cases,
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You should have a pair of nest boxes for a pair of pigeons. By a pair of pigeons we mean two pigeons, a male and a female. By a pair of nest boxes we mean two nest boxes. We find that the word pair has a different meaning to people in different parts of the country, perhaps on the same principle that a pair of scissors or a pair of suspenders is one object, while a pair of something else, as in this case, means two objects. <A pair of pigeons attend to a pair of squabs in one nest box, nevertheless for each pair of pigeons you need two nest boxes, for when the squabs are about two weeks old in one nest, the old birds will go to the adjoining nest box, or to a nest box in a distant part of the squab house, and begin housekeeping again, laying eggs and dividing their attention between the two families.
Count your nest boxes and you will know how many pigeons your house will accommodate. If your count shows ninety-six nest boxes (in other words, forty-eight pairs of nest boxes), you can accommodate (in theory) forty-eight pairs of pigeons. It is important to remember this: Never fill a house with pigeons to the uttermost limit of its capacity, as shown by count of nest boxes. If you have, for example, forty-eight pairs of nest boxes, do not put into that house more than thirty to forty pairs of pigeons. That will leave plenty of nest boxes for the birds to choose from. We have found by experience that thirty or thirty-five pairs in a ninety-six nest-box house will accomplish more than more pairs in the same space.
Do not write us and tell us that you have a house of a certain size and ask us to tell you how many pairs of pigeons it will accommodate. Put in your nest boxes as we have described and then count them, and you will know. Or you may figure it out for yourself on paper, allowing two nest boxes, each one cubic foot in size, for each pair of birds. To put it in another way, you should allow one cubic foot of nest box space for each breeding pigeon. Surely we have made this so plain now that you cannot go astray.
Perhaps your start will be made with so small a number of birds that you will not have to cover more than one wall of your squab house with nest boxes. Cover one wall, or two walls, or three walls, whichever the occasion demands. Have a lot of spare boxes, and let the breeding pairs choose where
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BEST NEST BOX CONSTRUCTION.
When the nest boxes are built of lumber (one-half an inch or five-eighths of an inch thick) the above construction should be employed. The bottoms are not nailed, but slide in on cleats. as shown. The result is a sliding shelf. This shelf may be pulled out at cleaning time and a better and quicker job of cleaning done.
The nest bowls may be screwed directly to the bottoms of the above nest boxes. If that is done, it will not be necessary to screw the nest bowls to blocks of wood, to give them stability.
The nest boxes should be from ten inches to twelve inches square.
JAIN 1B ZabS) VC SABRC IE 31
they will. An extra number of nest boxes may be useful to you to accommodate the young birds raised to breeding age from the old birds which you buy of us, if you intend to raise your squabs to breeding age.
An expenditure of not over five dollars, and a couple of days’ time, will transform the average old building into a habitation for squabs. Put on the finishing.touches and add to the expense to suit your fancy. You may cover the out- side of the building with building paper, and shingle or clap- board it. You may putaskylight in the roof for ventilation, Improve it all you wish. Use your own judgment.
To get at your pigeons in such a house, you walk in through the door and find yourself directly among them, the nest boxes all pointing at you. Go to the nest which you wish to investigate or from which you wish to take out the squabs and put your hand in the opening. The old birds will fly by your head, perhaps, and may strike you with their wings, but they will not fly into your face and eyes,—they are good dodgers. Don’t be afraid that if you enter the house when the housekeeping is going on you will frighten the birds so they never will come back to the eggs or the squabs. They will seem timid at first, but they will get accustomed to you.
In the course of a few weeks, only a few will make a great hustle to get away from you. Many of them will continue to sit contentedly on the eggs and if you put up your hand to them they will not fly off in fear but will slap you with their wings, telling you in their language not to bother them. Carry some hempseed in with you and you will teach the birds to come and eat it out of your hand. You can tame them and teach them to love you as any animal is taught. The pigeon, particularly the Homer, the king of them all, is a knowing bird.
Tack up a few perches where you have room on that wall or those walls of the squab house which have no nest boxes. You do not need a perch for every pigeon, because while some are on perches, others are in the nests, or out in the flying pen, or on the roof, or on the floor of the squab house. If you have forty-eight pigeons, twenty perches will be enough, and you can get along with a dozen. Make each perch of two pieces of board, one six inches square, the other six inches by five, and toe-nail the perch to the wall of the squab house
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INTERIOR OF SQUAB HOUSE, SHOWING PERCHES.
Jal INT IBIS VOCS IE VAIRIG 30
as shown in the illustration. You cannot have one long pole inside the squab house for a pigeon perch. If you had such a pole, and your pigeons were perched on it, or some of them were, a bully cock would saunter down the line and push off all the others.
In the centre of the squab house you place an empty crate or overturned box. The object of this is to break the force of the wind made by the pigeons’ wings as they fly in and out of the squab house. Otherwise the floor of the squab house would be swept clean by the force of the wind. It also forms a roosting-place for the birds, and, finally, it is a convenient resting-place for the straw, hay, grass or pine needles out of which the pigeons build their nests.
The floor of the squab house should be kept clean. We formerly advised that a layer of sand or sawdust half an inch thick be kept on the floor of the squab house, to absorb the droppings, but we have found a steady and profitable demand for pigeon manure, and this manure is worth scraping up and carefully saving, for its sale will pay from one-quarter to one-third of the grain bill. Use an ice chisel to scrape the droppings from the floor, and pack the manure away in barrels or bags. Clean the floor about once in three weeks, or oftener, depending on the size of your flock. Pigeon manure is in active demand all the time by tanneries. We send the manure from our pigeons by freight to tanneries in Lowell, Lynn, Peabody and Danvers, and are paid for it at the rate of sixty cents a bushel.
We have a building eighty feet long built especially for the drying and storing of the manure. During the years we have been in the squab business, we have sold enough pigeon manure to pay for nearly all the pigeon buildings on our farm. Some pigeon raisers with crude methods know nothing of the salue of the manure and lose this by-product. They either ruin it by putting sand or sawdust on the floor of the squab house, or else waste it on their gardens. The pure manure is too valuable for home use. To fertilize our flower and vegetable gardens, and hay field, we scrape up from the flying pens, outdoors, the gravel which has become saturated with manure. It is surprising what an increase in vegetation this manure-soaked gravel will cause. Fresh gravel is put down in the flying pens.
34 "NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB.BOOK
A peculiarity about pigeon manure is that it is not foul- smelling like hen manure, and when it is mixed with water you get a kind of crude soap. In washing the old-style earthenware nest bowls, no soap was necessary. We used warm water in washing them and the manure caked to them formed a cleansing soap in conjunction with the water. If you have a basket in which you have transported pigeons, and whose bottom is caked with the hard droppings, lay the basket face down and sprinkle water liberally on the under- side. The manure will drop off in large pieces from the inside and the basket will become perfectly clean.
In raising live-stock of any kind, arrange matters so the animals will look after themselves as much as possible. Aim to cut down the factor of personal drudgery, so as to leave your time clear to observe, plan, and execute intelligently. Beginners who load themselves dow. with a daily round of exacting duties soon lose heart, tl air patience gives out and they become disgusted. We have known breeders of rabbits to fail simply because they raised them in hutches. Each hutch had a door and two dishes, one for feed, the other for water. Every day, the door of the hutch had to be opened, the hutch cleaned, the dishes refilled (and often cleaned), and the door closed. It took fifteen or twenty motions to do this for each hutch. Multiply this by twenty to thirty (the number of the hutches), and the burden grew unbearable. It was not surprising that in three or four months the breeder’s patience was worn out. The factor of personal drudgery had become greater than the- rabbits. The thoughtful breeder would have turned his rabbits into two or three enclosures on the ground and let them shift for themselves. Then one set of motions in feeding would have answered for all, and there would have been no dirt to clean up. Infinite patience as well as skill is required to make a success of animals given individual attention. The aim of every breeder should be to make one minute of his time serve the greatest possible num- ber of animals. When you think and reason for yourself, you understand how much more practical it is to give sixty animals one minute of your time than one animal one minute. Time is money and if you are too particular, and too fussy, and thoughtless about these details, it is a clear case of the chances being sixty to one against you.
JAIN JBI SNA SIR GURAE 30
At the start, the problem of breeding squabs for market is in your favor, because one hundred pairs of breeding pigeons may be handled as easily and as rapidly as one pair. Try to keep this numerical advantage in your favor all the time. Discard every plan that cuts down the efficiency of your own labor, and adopt every device that will give you control in the same time over a greater number of pigeons.
It takes brains and skilled labor to run a poultry plant successfully. Every poultryman knows that he cannot entrust the regulation of temperatures of incubators and brooders to an ignorant hired man, but even a boy or girl, or under-the-average farm hand, knows enough to fill up the bath pans and feeding troughs for squab-breeders, leaving ‘the time of the owner free for correspondence and the more skilful work.
The primary object is to breed squabs for market as cheaply, as easily and as fast as possible, without the expenditure of a dollar for fanciful or impractical appurtenances.
Do not think it is necessary to heat your squab house. A squab house which has the chill of dampness taken off it by hot water or steam pipes will raise more squabs than a house not heated, but a flock of pigeons in a small house throw off considerable heat from their bodies and will breed in cold weather all right. After you have developed your plant and have a large business which you wish to keep at the highest state of efficiency, you may heat your squab house. The idea of heat in winter time is to keep the birds more contented and get more squabs out of them, and not at all to keep them alive. Do not be afraid that your pigeons will freeze to death. We have many customers in Canada. In coldest weather, the old birds hover the squabs more carefully.
City people can keep pigeons in the garret of a house, or the loft of a barn, without a foot of ground being needed. In such a case the flying pen, or place to which the pigeons go for sun and air, can be built out on a platform. The illus- tration (page °4) shows how to utilize a window of a garret. If you think that rats will trouble you in either a garret or barn loft, cover the floor inside, especially the corners, with fine wire netting through which it will be impossible for the rats to gnaw from below.
One of our customers in [llinois, a rich horse breeder having
36° NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
a barn some two hundred feet long, turned the whole upper story into a loft for pigeons. The flying pen takes in the whole back of the barn. There are windows and no doors
on this side of the barn, the horses using doors on the other side, so this leaves the upper story of the barn, ae its whole
back-yard, free for the pigeons.
A PRETTY SQUAB HOUSE AND FLYING PEN,
Cll agestaixe JGUl
THE, UNITE HOUSE.
Best Possible Construction for a Squab Plant— The Wind- Break Formation of Roof -— Dimensions of the Unit — Multiplying the Umit to Increase the Capacity of Your Plant — A Passageway behind the Nest Boxes — Number- ing the Nest Boxes, and the Ma agement of a Card Index to Correspond — Cost of the Unit Construction 1s from Three Dollars to Five Doilars a Running Foot — Working Drawings — The Nest Bowls.
If you have no building already standing which you can fix over for pigeons, you may erect a simple rectangular structure and line it with nest boxes as we have described in the last chapter. We will tell you in this chapter how to put up the finest kind of a pigeon structure. It is at the same time the most expensive. It is the best, the most workmanlike. In saying that it is expensive, we do not mean that money is thrown away on its construction, for that is not so. Itisa fit habitation for a money-making investment.
This best method of construction results in what we call the unit house. You can multiply this unit as many times as you please and get as large a house as you wish, or you may add a unit from time to time, just as you add unit bookcases to accommodate the growth of the modern library shelves. You can erect these units separately, or attach one unit to the other so that you have one long building.
The nest boxes are built of boxing and set 1n a vertical row at the back of the house, forming a wall between which and the north side of the house 1s a three-foot passageway. You can buy this boxing at a saw-mill all cut, ten by eleven inches, the dimensions of the nest, and if you get it in this shape you can put the boxes together with as much ease as a child builds a doll’s house. You will have no doubts as to the squareness and plumbness of the structure when you have it up. Take long lengths of boxing eleven inches wide for the shelving which should form the top and bottom of the nest boxes, then set the ten-inch by eleven-inch pieces the proper distance
37
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apart. The finished nest will be eleven inches from front to back, ten inches from top to bottom, and about ten inches from one partition to the other (or whatever distance the proper distribution of your nests in pairs permits).
We have found five-eighths-inch boxing to be the best suited. Build the nest boxes up from floor to roof perfectly plain, just as the pigeon-holes of a desk run.
The nest boxes should be perfectly plain, made of simple boxing in the manner described. Do not build up a piece of boxing at the front part of the nest to prevent the nest bowl from being pushed out. Early in our experience we built nests in this way, but soon changed them over to the simpler form, on account of the difficulty of keeping them clean. The droppings bank up at the front of such a nest box.
Pigeons, especially a new flock in a new home, breed best in a house which is somewhat dark, and not too glaring with light. If your window is situated so as to let in a flood of light, you will get better and quicker results by shading it so that the interior will be dim. Some breeders advocate that the nest boxes have fronts of wood (removable) so that the nest box will be darkened. The same result will be accom- plished if the window of the house is shaded so as to temper the light and prevent it from streaming into the nest boxes.
The dimensions of this unit squab house are as follows: Length, sixteen feet; width, twelve feet; length of flying pen from end of house to end of yard, twenty feet; distance from floor of squab house to ridgepole, twelve feet; two windows in south wall of squab house, each two feet two inches wide and three feet ten inches high. One window in north wall of squab house, two feet two inches wide and three feet ten inches high. There is a passageway on the north side of the squab house three feet wide, separating the north wall from the vertical row of nest boxes. The door of the squab house opens into this passageway so that you can enter the house without being seen by the birds, and without disturbing them.
If you wish, you can set up rows of nest boxes on the east and west walls of the squab house and accommodate more pairs. You cannot have a passageway behind these nest boxes on the east and west walls, but will approach them from the front by entering the interior of the squab house through a wire door which leads from the passageway.
INTERIOR OF MULTIPLE UNIT HOUSE.
This is one of our houses. The drinking fountains stand in the passageway and their fronts project through the wire netting under the first row of nest boxes. The nest boxes are empty egg crates. The feed troughs are inside of each pen. In other houses, we set the feed troughs alongside the drinkers in the alleyway and cut away the netting so the birds can feed from them. We like the last arrange- ment best because the troughs can be filled more quickly from the passageway, and the time of opening and closing doors and going into pens is saved.
JE ale: (OLINGEIRY TehO ORS Ta, 41
Build the first unit so that you can extend it either to the east or west (as your land lies) to increase your accommoda- tions. Your squab house will always remain sixteen feet from north to south, but it may be either twelve feet from east to west, for one unit, or twenty-four feet for two units, or thirty-six feet for three units, and so on. Of course you can build one long house sixteen feet wide and in length any multiple of twelve, and keep all the birds you wish in it, but we do not advise such an arrangement. You can keep track of your pairs better if you split a big flock up into unit flocks.
Fanciers breeding flying Homers from our birds, or squab- raisers who wish to keep track of every pair of birds, can provide a card index (the cards being perfectly blank and three by five inches in size), number the cards to corre- spond with the nest boxes, and on these cards keep a record of what the birds in the nest boxes do. These cards, which are blank except for the numbers they bear, can be kept in a tray such as the manufacturers of card indexes advertise in the back pages of the magazines and you can pick out any card you wish, or turn to it, at once. It is much better than keeping a record in a book, for you cannot tear out the leaves of a book, as you can throw away a card, nor can you shift one page from one location to another, as you can a card in a tray.
The floor of the squab house rests on cedar posts and is two feet from the ground. The floor is built of two thick- nesses of board, with: building paper between. The walls of the squab house are built of boards which are covered with building paper and shingled. The roof is shingled. You can use clapboards on the sides, or common boards.
The cost of such a squab house, complete with flying pen and all inside fittings, built in the best possible manner, will be from three dollars to five dollars a running foot. That is to say, a unit plant twelve feet long will cost from thirty-six to sixty dollars. A plant consisting of three units, thirty-six feet long, will cost from one hundred and eight to one hun- dred and fifty dollars. We publish and sell for ten centg working drawings showing just how to build a unit in every detail, On the same-.sheet are working drawings for building a simple squab house (without passageway) to cost from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. Also on the same sheet we give data showing how one of our friends built a
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squab house and pen capable of accommodating two hundred and twenty pairs of breeders at a cost of one hundred and thirty dollars. In ordering, simply say you wish plans and specifications for squab houses.
Some beginners with plenty of means and anxious for the best construction write us to ask if a cement floor is not better than a wood floor. A cement -floor is _ positively wrong, for this reason: when it is freshly laid, it is good, but the first winter causes the dirt foundation to shrink and swell, then come cracks in the cement. Rats and mice burrow in the dirt up to the cement and find their way through the cracks to the squabs. In a short time, they are a nuisance. We have seen a squab house built with cement floor which cracked as described and every time the owner and his dog took a walk down the alleyway, they found rats to kill. Finally the whole lot of cement had to be pounded to pieces, shoveled up and carted off. The way to stop rats and mice is to erect the building on posts as we have described. Rats and mice live in the dirt and they cannot get up into the squab house. Let your dog or cat every day under such a house, between the flooring and the ground, and they will keep down the vermin as fast as they show themselves, and your squabs never will be troubled.
In our early plans for the unit squab house, we provided for a building with a “‘ jog’”’ in the roof, making a long, low slope for the south side of the roof, and on this slope the birds would sun themselves and make love. This ‘ jog” construction is more expensive than 1s needed, and now we have a better way. We have an ordinary pitch roof, sloping equally from the ridgepole to both north and south. We run the flying pen out on the south side, not from the ridgepole, but from the eaves, and then out in the tiving pen we erect perches as shown in the picture. The fact that the birds rest easily on these perches (as the photograph in Appen- dix A shows) is proof that they are contented and pleased by such an arrangement. We have found, too, that they can hear the squeaks of their young for food better than if they are up on the roof, and better attention to the squabs is the result. It was formerly thought unsafe to erect perch- ing poles in the flying pen directly in front of the windows, the fear being that birds darting suddenly out of the windows
44 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB SOCK
would strike the perching poles and become injured. Such a fear goes on the assumption that a pigeon cannot take care of itself in flight. They are quick of eye and quick of wing, and are intelligent to a high degree, and we never knew a bird-to be injured by flying against horizontal perches in the flying pen. They never strike them but always fly between them or alight on them.
Please note particularly that if you erect one 'ong building which will be a multiple of units, you separate these units, both inside and outside of the squab house, not by board partitions, but by wire partitions. For instance, if you have a building one hundred feet long, ten units, you will separate the units by nine wire partitions, these partitions being erected both inside and outside the house.
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NEST BOWLS AND NESTS.
Do Not Use the Old-Fashioned Nest Pans—Obvious Faults of the Earthenware Nappy— The Wood-Fibre Nest Bowl —How the Pigeons Choose Nest Boxes—What to Use for Nesting Material— How the Birds Manage their Nests.
For nest pans, do not use the heavy, deep, red clay, unglazed dishes which you may see offered for sale as pigeon nests. They are a relic of the past.
In our early experience we used for a pigeon nest bowl the common kitchen yellow earthenware nappy. We em- ployed two sizes, the six-inch and the seven-inch, changing from the large one to the.small one when the squabs were two weeks old. These earthenware nappies filled the bill in being cheap and shallow, and the pigeons deposited their manure in a circle outside and not inside the nest, but they have faults which are obvious. They are flat and not round- ing on the bottom. When the female pigeon turns the eggs (as she does daily, same as a hen, in order to give the heat of her body to the whole shell and to give fresh albumen to the germ) the eggs are liable to roll apart, making it necessary for the bird to gather them together again, and after two or three mishaps like this she is liable to desert them. The earthenware is cold, breakable and can be kept clean only with water. The washing of the nappies becomes a tedious task and is often neglected. In winter weather, the earthen- ware dishes become so cold that one’s fingers are numbed by handling them—and the squabs which sit in them are numbed, even frozen.
Later we perfected a nest bowl made of wood which met every objection raised against earthenware. We sold thou- sands of them during the two years we had them on the market and they gave good satisfaction except when some were made of improperly seasoned lumber, in which case they would crack and split after a few months’ use. After study and experiment to remove this objection, we had expensive patterns and moulds made and began the manufacture of
45
OLD-STYLE NEST PAN. WATER DISH. LARGE NAPPY. SMALL NAPPY. Do not use either the old-style pigeon nest pan or open water dish.
THE WOOD-FIBRE NEST BOWL.
This is made in one size (nine inches diameter of bowl). To give stability, the bowl may be fastened to a base by one screw. The first picture shows the perspective view; the second picture shows one-half cut away. This is the most practical nest pan for squab raising and is having an enormous sale. The bowl may be screwed directly to the bottom of the nest box. (See page 48.)
BATH PAN AND DRINKER. HAND BASKET.
One bath pan to every twelve pairs of birds is necessary. The hand basket (price $3.50) is used in large plants to carry the squabs from the nests to the killing place. The squabs should not be killed in sight of the parent birds.
46
NES BOWES AND NESTS AZ
these bowls out of wood fibre. Their success was quickly demonstrated and now we sell nothing else. These wood- fibre nest bowls have all the advantages of the wood bowls and at the same time are practically indestructible, cannot warp or split. The wood fibre of which they are made is thick and exceedingly, tough, being solkdified under many. tons’ pressure. After making they are treated with an odorless, anti-moisture compound and then baked to flint- like hardness. We sell these wood fibre nest bowls in one size only, nine inches in diameter. Price, eight cents each, ninety-six cents per dozen, eleven dollars and fifty-two cents per gross. We make prompt shipment from Boston same day order is received, in any quantity. No order is filled for less than one dozen. We have the exclusive manufacture and sale of these goods and they cannot be obtained elsewhere.
The advantages of this nest pan are these: (1) The eggs roll to the centre and are always close together under the birds. (2) It is warmer than earthenware and eggs are not chilled. (3) It is cleaned without water by means of a trowel, and may then be whitewashed, if desired. (4) The claws of the old birds and squabs do not sprawl, and no cases of deformed legs in the squabs are found. (5) It is unbreakable. (6) When shipped either short or long distances, no packiig is necessary, they are lighter and the freight bill is smaller. (7) And finally the birds “‘ take’ to them more readily than to earthenware, getting to work more quickly and producing more squabs.
We make this wood fibre nest bowl in only one size as specified and illustrated (two sizes are not necessary because the feet of the squabs do not sprawl as in the case of the earthenware nappies). You will need one pair of nest bowls for every pair of pigeons (in other words, one nest bowl to every pigeon). If you order twenty-four pairs of breeders you will need forty-eight nest bowls.- If you order ninety-six pairs of breeders you will need one hundred and ninety-two nest bowls.
We know our birds will breed more successfully in these nest bowls than in earthenware, and to make it an object for you to buy them, you may deduct the freight charges on nest bowls from your order for birds. First order your nest bowls sent by freight, then when you order your breeders.
48 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
send us your freight receipt and count the amount as cash. Or you may order your birds at the same time you do the nest bowls (and other supplies) and when you get your freight receipt send it to us. Orders for one dozen to four dozen bowls should go by express with the birds (tied to the basket), unless it is desired to have the bowls go with grain, grit, shells, etc., by freight.
Place one nest bowl in each one of your nest boxes. Let the pairs choose to suit themselves. At the end of the month, when you take out the squabs, take out the nest bowl, clean it and put it back.
Many customers who do not use egg crates or orange boxes, but build their nest boxes of half-inch or five-eighths lumber, have written us that they used the construction which we illustrate on page 30, and which is good, because cleaning can be better done. The bottoms of the nest boxes are removable and rest on cleats, as the picture shows. The cleats are seven-eighths or one inch square and are nailed to the uprights. When this construction is employed, it is not necessary that you have a block or base screwed to our wood-fibre nest bowl. The nest bowl may be screwed directly onto this removable bottom. If you use egg crates or solid-built nest boxes, you will have to give the wood-fibre nest bowl stability by screwing it to a base of wood seven inches square and about three-quarters of an inch thick.
When the squab house is ready for the birds, each of the nest boxes has one of these nest bowls. The pigeons build their own nests in them, taking the nesting material and flying to the nest bowl with it. The average nest has from one to two inches of straw compactly and prettily laid by the birds. Some birds use more nesting material than others. After the squabs are hatched, they quickly show that Nature never intended them to have a dirty nest. When they wish to make manure, they back up to the edge of the nest and “‘shoot”’ outward and over the edge of the nest bowl into the nest box, which is just where the breeder wants to find it. In a week or two there will be a circle of solid manure in the nest box, but it is out of the nest, and off and away from the feet of the squabs. As the squabs grow older, their claws tread and throw out the straw on which they were hatched, and the nest bowl gets bare again as it was in the first place. The small
NESE BOWLS AND NESTS 49
amount of manure which then sticks to it is removed with a trowel.
The use of this wood-fibre nest bowl has lightened the work a great deal for they never have to be washed. They should not be washed, for water weakens them, particularly at the bottom, where the screw hole is. A washer should be put under the screw head to hold the bowl tight and to prevent its turning while being cleaned. We ship these washers and screws with the bowls.
The pigeons will not take with mathematical regularity pair by pair the nest boxes which you have provided. Some of them will take them in pairs, one adjoining the other. This makes it convenient for you in keeping track of them. Others will take one nest box in one part of the squab house but go to another part of the squab house for their second nest. Some will not take a nest box at all, but will build a rough nest on the floor of the squab house and rear their family there. Let them choose for themselves.
The nests are built by the birds of straw, grass, hay or pine needles. The birds fly to the pile, select what wisps they want, then fly to the nest boxes and arrange the wisps in a nest bowl to suit themselves. Tobacco stems are recom- mended for nesting material, because the odor from them will have a tendency to drive away lice, but they are not necessary if the nest bowls are used and ordinary cleanliness observed. The tanners do not want manure mixed with tobacco stems which have dropped down from the nests. The stems, when wet in the vat, stain the hides. When tobacco stems are used for nesting material, it is impossible to prevent many of them from dropping to the floor, where they are tramped by the birds into the manure. The tanners do not care if some straw and hay are in the manure. Before cleaning out the squab house, the loose straw and feathers should be swept out with a broom.
The best thing to keep the nesting material in is a berry crate. Fill it with straw and hay (use the fine oat, not rye straw, cut into six-inch lengths) and shut down the cover. Then when the birds want nesting material they will fly to the vertical openings in the sides of the berry crates, stick their bills in and make their selection. The cover of the berry crate prevents the birds from soiling the nesting material.
o0 TNATIONAL STANDARD SOUAL BOCK
They will not build nests with dirty nesting material. It must be first-class, clean, dry and sweet or they will not use it.
Some of our customers use pine needles successfully for nesting material. We have never tried them because they are not plentiful around our farm. Where they are in abun- dance, we recommend that they be tried. |
When a new lot of pigeons are placed in a squab house, they will cause annoyance, while they are learning their new home and getting ready to go to work, by making manure in the nest bowls, where they roost. This cannot be prevented. The remedy is, to clean once a week.
Fill this berry crate with nesting material (straw cut into six-inch lengths, and hay, mixed about equally) and place it in centre of squab house. The cover prevents the birds from fouling the nesting material, They stick their bills through the slats, select the wisps they want, and fly to nests,
GIGLAIE TIE WV,
WATER AND FEED.
Necessity of Pure Water and Plenty of 1t—The Kind of Drinking Dish to Use and the Kind Not to Use—Manage- ment of the Drinking Fountain and Bath Pan—The Feed Trough and Self-Feeder— Feeding Habits—What Grains to Use—How to Mix Red Wheat and Cracked Corn— Use of Grit, Oyster Shell and Salt—How to Feed the Dainties —Keep Feed before Your Flock All the Time.
Pure water and plenty of it is good for pigeons. When the weather is not too cold, it is the custom of pigeons to get into water, wherever it is. When they cannot bathe in it, they will stick their dirty feet into it. When they cannot get in their feet, they will douse their heads. They are after water all the time. When feeding the squabs, the old bird will fill up its crop with grain, then fly to the water and take a drink, then return and dole out to the squabs the watery and milky mixture on which they fatten.
The source of drinking water should be, separate from the bath pan. They will drink from the bath pan, to be sure, while the water remains comparatively clean, but after a few have bathed in it, it is unfit for any bird to drink, and inside of twenty minutes the pan is not only covered with a whitish, greasy scum, but is dyed greenish from the manure which has washed off their feet.
There should be drinking water inside the squab house, provided you have not a running stream or some such clean water device in the flying pen.
The kind of water dish you do not want in the squab house is the kind with the open top, into which the birds can wade, and which they can foul with their droppings. The best device we have found is the self-feeding fountain, such as we illus- ‘trate on page 46. This fountain is made either of crockery or galvanized steel, or iron. Galvanized iron or steel is better than crockery, because if water freezes in such a dish the dish will not be cracked. It will be seen by examination of the self-drinker that it is impossible for the pigeons to foul
51
52 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK
the water. The reservoir holds quite a supply of water, which feeds down as fast as it is drunk by the pigeons. We have seen beginners puzzled by these self-drinking dishes; they cannot imagine why the water does not all run out at once by the bottom hole. Itisa simple principle in hydraulics which you may demonstrate to your own satisfaction by fill ng an ordinary tumbler with water and then inverting it in a saucer of water. There is no way for the air to get to the inside of the tumbler except by passing under the rim at the points where it touches the saucer, consequently it does not flow down unless the water is removed from the saucer, and then it ceases as soon as the water in the saucer rises over the rim of the tumbler again. In fact, some self-drinkers for poultry are made of two pieces of pottery exactly on the principle of the tumbler and saucer. These fountains are not so practical as the fountain which we illustrate, because a pigeon can roost on the top of it and foul the saucer with its droppings. In the fountain which we picture it is impossible _ for droppings to reach the mouth containing the water, even if the pigeon is perched directly on top of the fountain. The barrel shape of the fountain makes it hard for more than one pigeon to perch at the same time on its top, but one pigeon usually is found there. He gets there, for the special purpose, it seems, of fouling the water, but the fountain beats him and he can’t doit. Neither can he put his feet into the water unless he is an extraordinary gymnast capable of holding his body out at an angle to the perpendicular. The result is, that in actual practice the water keeps clean, and there is a supply of it ready about all the time. A fountain of a gallon capacity will keep two or three dozen pairs of breeders supplied all day. The fountain is filled by turning it on end and pouring water down into the opening. If you fill the fountain at the same time you fill the bath pan in the morning, you will have done your duty by the pigeons for the day.
Cleanse these fountains at least once every two weeks with scalding hot water containing squab-fe-nol (pigeon disinfectant; see our price-list for description).
The best place for the bath pan is out in the yard of the flying pen. A pan fifteen inches in diameter is right for a flock up to twelve pairs of birds. The pan should be from four to six inches deep, not over six inches, for a pigeon will
WATER AND FEED 53
not bathe in water where it would be likely to drown if pushed or sat on by its mates. Having the bath pan in position on the ground of the flying pen, you take to it once each day, in the morning, a bucket of water, and pour the water into the pan Then you can go away to business, if you wish. The pigeons will fly to the pan from the interior of the house, or from the roof, wherever they happen to be. Some will splash right in. Others will perch on the rim and drink before they bathe. When the water gets dirty, they know enough not to drink, unless they are very sorely pressed indeed for water. The water gets quite dirty from the bath- ing. A thick, greasy, white scum forms. The pigeons do not rustle in the dirt, as a hen does, but rely on the water to keep them clean and dainty. They flap their wings in the water and enjoy it thoroughly. A pigeon will never run away from water, as you will discover if when you are water- ing your lawn you turn the hose on them.
Let the dirty water stand in the bath pan all day if you choose, or you may go to it an hour or two after you have filled the pan, and empty the water. One bath a day is enough.
If there is a stream of water running through your property handy to your squab house, build your flying pen out over it and you need never trouble with bath pans or drinking water. If it is a deep stream, you will have to contrive a shallow bath tub at the shore, or divert part of the stream into a shallow run. The squab raiser with a stream of water handy should by all means make use of it and save himself the work of carrying water in pails.
The bath pan may rest in a basin, if you choose, and the overflow caused by the splashing of the wings may be con- ducted to a sewer and drained away. You may conduct water in pipes and have a faucet opening out over the bath pan, which faucet you may control either directly or from a central station. An easy home-made arrangement to be used in conjunction with the bath pan consists of a wet sink in which the bath pan sits, and out of which the splashed water runs. In the winter it may be advisable to give your pigeons their bath in the squab house instead of in the yard of the flying pen, in which case you should have some device on the wet-sink principle to prevent the floor of the squab house from getting damp.
54... NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK
In northern latitudes it is not necessary nor desirable for the pigeons to bathe on cold winter days. Wait until a warm and sunny day comes. It will do the birds no harm to go for weeks in the winter without bathing. Many of our customers write us that they allow their birds to bathe in the winter seldom or not at all.
Feed may be given to pigeons in a less guarded way, for ‘they do not soil the feed dish so freely as they do the drinking dishes. You may put the feed in open troughs (or on a flat board with a rim around it) in the squab house. If you observe them when eating, you will notice that they stand up to the feed in a somewhat orderly manner and peck at its contents. They do not sit in the dish and roll around in the feed as they do in the water. But they have one fault when eating and that is, to scatter the grains. They will push in their bills and toss them around in a search after tidbits, and scatter out on the floor kernel after kernel, and it will make your bump of economy ache to see this grain scattered around. There do not seem to be any neat, saving pigeons which go to the floor in the wake of their prodigal brethren and eat the crumbs. They all have a fancy for the first table and they get right at it and scatter the grain like the rest of their fellows, and apparently the pigeon who scatters the most grain is the one which struts around with the biggest front. The way to fool them is to provide in the squab house a covered trough, that is, covered except at the slit or points where they stick in their bills for food. With a little ingenuity you can cover an ordinary v-shaped trough so that it will be hard for the pigeons to waste the grain. You may have a self-feeder made as big or as small as you choose and in which the grain will drop down as it is eaten.
We will try to present the-matter of feed as clearly and fully as it seems to us to be possible. A woman in Santa Cruz, California, said she would like to raise squabs, and would begin by ordering her feed of us, exactly as we recom- mended, to be sent to her by. freight from Boston via the Southern Pacific. A man in Cleveland ordered a quantity of red wheat and cracked corn to be sent by freight from us, when there were thousands of bushels of both staples in elevators in his city, in fact most of the Boston supply had passed through his city. We did not like to run the chance of
WATER AND FEED 55
losing the order for breeding stock either of the woman in Santa Cruz or of the gentleman in Cleveland, but we wrote to both that they ought not to go into the squab-raising business if they were to be dependent on us for grain, that it was too far to send and that if they would look around home they could get what they wanted.
Here in New England we feed to pigeons cracked corn, red wheat, hemp-seed, Canada peas, kaffir corn, — the foregoing as a rule, and sometimes, when cheap, buckwheat, millet and barley.
It was formerly thought that whole corn was not a good food for pigeons, on the theory that the old pigeons would eat the large kernels and then, perhaps, feed them to squabs, choking them. In practice, not one case in one hundred like that will be found. Whole corn is much relished by pigeons. They will eat it before they will eat anything else, except hempseed, and there is no danger in using it. In many sections of the country, we find, good cracked corn is not so easy to procure as good whole corn. The grain dealers take their poor whole corn, sometimes, and work it over into cracked corn. Good whole corn speaks for itself and when you buy it there is no doubt about it.
All the time people write to us and say they never heard of red wheat. More write and say they don’t know what kaffir corn is. Others are puzzled by hemp-seed, they have never seen any. That is surprising to us here in New England, but no doubt we would be just as surprised if we were in our _ customers’ places.
Let us see if we cannot level up the whole country on this question of feed for pigeons. As a rule, we say, feed the grains which are nearest you. This country hasits corn belt, its wheat belt, its section where millet is raised. Buckwheat is plentiful in another section. For your leading grain, your staple, feed corn. The point to remember is to feed a variety of grains. Keep this word variety in your mind all the time in dealing with your pigeons. Their appetites do not grow keen on a monotonous diet, they will not lay the eggs they should, and their health will not be good on it. Vary the: diet.
In order to find out what grains are convenient to you, go to your nearest grain dealer or country general store. The
n6: NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAE BOOK
dealer in nime cases out of ten knows nothing about pigeons and their feed and if you give him the name of a strange grain, he will be liable to shy and say he never heard of it. The trouble with him is that he sells horse feed and is accustomed to handling only the grains which horses need. He can get the grains you wish by writing to his nearest port or railroad junction. There is nothing odd or out of the way about the grains. They are going from one point to another all the time. ‘Sometimes they are scarce at certain periods of the year. For instance, nearly every fall there is no kaffir corn at a reasonable price obtainable in Boston, so we do not feed it to our pigeons then, but cut it out altogether in favor of the grains selling at a lower price. Most of the kaffir corn which we get in Boston comes from Kansas. It 1s a splendid feed for pigeons. Itis small and comparatively soft, and their crops make easy work of it. It is nourishing and they like it. Maybe your grain man sells a mixture for pigeons. If you will look in this mixture you will find probably kaffir corn, as well as buckwheat (in black kernels), also red wheat and Canada peas.
A liberal supply of Canada peas and hemp-seed is necessary for a good egg production.
Do not feed a great excess of corn, in the summer time. (By corn, we mean common Indian corn, not kaffir corn. Kaffir corn is harmless, even when forced on the birds.) The effect of corn is to heat the blood. This is what you want in the winter time, but not in the summer.
Red wheat is better than white wheat to feed to pigeons because it is not so likely to cause diarrhcea, (See supple- ment of this book.)
Beware of feeding too much wheat. Pigeons fed on an excess of wheat are constantly out of condition with continual diarrhoea and will lay no eggs while in that state. We recall vividly cases of pigeons doing poorly caused by the owner’s stupidity in feeding too much wheat. One customer in Kansas fed nothing but wheat and got his birds so weak that they could not fly off the ground. Another in California with a flock of over one hundred pairs had not been able in six months’ time to get more than one quarter of his birds at work. He complained bitterly that his birds were ‘‘ not mated,”’ were all cocks, and so on, but after further correspondence
WATER AND FEED 57
disclosed that he was feeding nothing but wheat, with the exception of a handful of peas in the middle of the week and a handful of hemp-seed on Sunday !
A properly balanced ration is necessary to egg production in the case of pigeons, same as poultry.
Wheat is a good regulator for pigeons but corn is the great fattener and the main staple.
When anybody fails with pigeons, if you pick up and handle the birds you will find in nine cases out of ten that they have sharp breastbones, which means that they are improperly nourished, out of condition, and of course cannot produce eggs because they have not the blood and fat to do it.
All the grains which you feed should be old, hard, dry and sweet. If they smell sour or taste bad to your own tongue, don’t feed them to your pigeons. Above all, keep your grain dry. If you have the grain stored in bins which are damp from ground water, or which catch the drippings from the eaves, or through holes in the roof, first you will get sour grain and then some of the grain will sprout, and this sprouted grain will derange the bowels of your birds and bring on dysentery. Do not let rank little growths spring up in a dirty squab house or in the yard of your flying pen. Pigeons will peck at green leaves and grass and will not be harmed, but do not give them a chance to peck up sprouted grain and eat the sprout, grain and all, for if they do they will have diarrhcea. A pigeon in good condition and busy with a nest ordinarily will not touch a nasty little green sprout, but in the moulting season, when pigeons are in the dumps generally, and feeling like having a stimulant, they will experiment with these sprouts. Keep the floor of your squab house clean and the yard of the flying pen raked up and you need not worfy about this matter.
Ground oyster shell should be placed in a box handy for the pigeons to get at. The purpose of this oyster shell is to provide the constituents of the eggshell. The female pigeon needs it in order to form the egg.
Grit is needed by the pigeons to enable them to reduce to powder the feed which they take into their crops The muscles of the crop work the grit on the grains and reduce the grains so that they mix with the digestive fluids. Cart two or three bushels of gravel or sharp sand into your flying pen and cover the ground with it. It is not necessary to
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cover the whole space of the ground of the flying pen. For fuller discussion of shells and grit, see supplement.
' It is poor policy to mix anything but wheat and - corn together. If you make a mixture of peas and hemp- seed with cracked corn and wheat, you will. find that the pigeons will dig down after the peas and hemp-seed and toss the other grain around and waste it. The only mixture, therefore, which we feed is a mixture of wheat and corn. Fill the self-feeder with whole corn and wheat, in the propor- tion of three parts of the corn to one of wheat.
We call the wheat and corn staples, because with us in New England they form the major part of the diet, and are the cheapest. The hemp-seed, buckwheat, Canada peas, kaffir corn, millet and barley we call dainties. We do not feed much millet, because we have the other grains, which are cheapest, but some of our customers in the millet sections of the country feed a good deal of millet. In such cases they look on millet as one of their staples, and the hard-to-get grains are classed by them as dainties. The staple grains of which you will feed the most to your pigeons are the ones which are the cheapest for you. The more expensive grains will be classed by you as dainties. :
A good way to feed the dainties is to throw them out on the floor of the squab house by hand. You will see the pigeons make a rush for them and eat them with as much relish as a child eats candy. You should feed the dainties about three times a week, throwing handfuls on the floor until you see that the pigeons are satisfied and do not care for any more.
Do not throw any feed on the ground of the flying pen, for the earth is liable to be damp, and this dampness will sour the grain, especially cracked corn, and if the pigeons eat it, they will get sour crops, and the fluids from the sour crops of the parent pigeons will make the squabs sick and perhaps kill them. Do all your feeding in the squab house and your pigeons will not have sour crops.
Do not lay in a big stock of cracked corn at a time, for cracked corn exposed to sudden changes of the weather is liable to take up dampness, and sour. Smell and taste it once a week or so and determine to your own satisfaction that it is not sour,
60 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
Some squab breeders feed twice a day, as much as the birds will eat up clean, but we do not believe in that system of feeding. Our own success, and the success of our customers in squab raising, is based largely on the fact that we insist on a continuous supply of food for the pigeons, when they are breeding. Use the self-feeder only with birds that are pro- ducing squabs. A new flock should be fed by hand twice daily what they will eat up clean in ten minutes. Keep them eager, active and racy. Do not let them get too fat, for if you do they will not start laying. Some beginners will use up weeks trying to get their birds started, others get all their pairs going in a few days. It is a matter of skillful feeding, exactly as in the case of hens. The best of mated pairs will not produce eggs unless nourished, because the act of copula- tion, as in the case of hens and roosters, has nothing to do with the volume of egg production, but only with the fertility of eggs.
Food should be at hand in the self-feeder for birds which are breeding. They do not gorge, as a horse will if an un- limited supply of food is set before him. They are not gluttons, like pigs. They do not lose their racy shape. A squab when hungry will squeak loudly to inform its parents of that fact and if you observe a squab house where the two meals a day are in vogue, you will note quite a chorus of squeaks. In a house where there is feed always at hand, you will not hear many hungry squeaks. It is greatly to your interest that the crops of your young birds be filled with food. The more their crops are stuffed with food, the quicker they will fatten and the fatter they will get. The parent birds should at all times be able to fill up their crops with feed and water and then fly to the nest to disgorge for the benefit of the squabs.
Squab breeders differ concerning self-feeders, same as mothers differ about ways of bringing up babies. Each squab breeder thinks his method of feeding is the best. We speak not wholly from our own experience, but the experiences of thousands of customers extending over many years. There was formerly the same prejudice against self-feeders for poultry, until a man in Ohio, raising poultry with striking success by the aid of self-feeders, made his brethren sit up and take notice. In our stories of success printed at the back of
WATER VAN D-TE ED 61
this book and elsewhere, are many cases of small flocks increased enormously, and the writers take pains to state that they are using the self-feeder. That is talk that. means something. The loudest advocate of no self-feeder is the man who is trying hard to sell his Homers by some kind of a story different from what we tell. It does not matter to him what he says, so long as he combats us. It is the game of such chaps to contradict all others and pose as the only real, simon-pure know-it-alls on pigeons.
Some small parent Homers are such good feeders, such good fathers and mothers, that they stuff their squabs with grain and bring them up to a surprising fatness. We have had pairs of squabs which actually at four weeks of age were bigger than their parents. This is not surprising when you think that the squabs sit in their nest hour after hour doing nothing but accumulate fat, and taking no exercise to train off this fat. The old birds are flying around and do not have much fat on them; they are trim and muscular, and hard fleshed. You can tell an old pigeon after it is cooked when you put your teeth into it, just as you can tell an old fowl.
Provide salt for your pigeons to keep them strong and healthy. The safest kind of salt for you to use is rock salt, such as is sold for horses. Put a couple of big lumps of it in the squab house and let the pigeons peck at it when they wish. Put two more lumps out in the flying pen. When rain comes the water will wash some salt off the lumps into the gravel. (Empty the bath pans upon the lumps of salt.) The pigeons will eat this salt-impregnated gravel all around the lumps for an inch or so down into the ground.
-Do not feed powdered salt, for if you do the birds may eat too much of it and it will kill them. Coarse ground salt may be used, but the rock salt is best.
Some green stuff is much relished by pigeons. It is good for them and will increase the egg, and, consequently, squab production. They are very fond of cabbage now and then, which should be chopped fine before being fed. (We mean raw, not cooked, cabbage.) When vines grow over the flying pen, they will be seen pecking at the green leaves. Green clover may be cut up and fed to them in conjunction with grain. It should be remembered that green stuff, as enu- merated in this paragraph, is fed only as a relish.
62. NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK
Table scraps, or what is commonly known as swill, should not be fed to pigeons.
Rice may be fed, if plentiful and cheap. It has a tendency to correct diarrhoea caused by too much wheat.
Some of our customers have been influenced by adverse criticism of our self-feeder to abandon it and feed in open troughs, but they have gone back to the self-feeder. One of these customers was Mr. Tyson, who started with several hundred pairs of our birds three years ago and now (1907) has the largest and best plant in the State of New Hampshire. His wife and son, with himself, have attained a high degree of skill and proficiency in the handling of their pigeons. The squabs they are breeding weigh at least nine pounds to the dozen. They ship to New York City, where they get very high prices. Mr. Tyson started by using the self-feeder for grain, as we advise, but being influenced by something seen in print, abandoned it and gave the open-trough method of feed- ing, twice or three times a day, a thorough trial. Immediately the birds began to fall off in production, and the squabs fell off in weight, some lots getting so skinny as to lose nearly two pounds to the dozen. That experience was enough. The Tysons went back to the self-feeder and now their squabs are plump, as they were in the first place, the old birds are in better condition, and breeding better.
Do not put into the self-feeder a great lot of grain, but only enough to last about two days. A great quantity is liable to take up moisture in a spell of rainy weather and go stale, and is not relished by the birds as if it were supplied fresh every two or three days.
OTIAIPINIOIN Wks
LAYING AND HATCHING.
Laying an Egg 1s under the Control of the Pigeon’s. Mind— Fertile and Infertile Eggs— How the Cock Drives the Her — One Day between Eggs— Hatch after Seventeen Days —How Squabs are Fed by the Paren' Birds—Mating Males and Females— Use of the Mating Coop—Determina- tion of Sex—Color of Feathers Has No Effect on Color of Flesh— Pigeons Left to Themselves Will Not Inbreed— No Inbreeding Necessary even 1f you Start wi’h a Small Flock.
The hen pigeon builds the nest. When the nest is built, the cock begins to “ drive’’ the hen around the house and pen. In a flock of breeding pigeons you always will see one or two cocks “ driving’”’ their mates, pecking at them and nagging them with the purpose of forcing them onto the nest to lay the eggs. The cock seems to take more interest in the coming family than the hen.
The hen lays one egg in the nest, then skips a day and lays the second egg on the third day. Seventeen days after being laid the eggs hatch. The egg first laid hatches a day before the second, sometimes, but usually the parents do not sit close on the first egg, but stand over it, and do not incubate it. Sometimes one squab may get more than its share of food, and the younger one will weaken and die.. This seldom happens but if you see one squab considerably larger than the other, the thing to do is to exchange with a squab from another nest that is nearer the size of the remaining squab. The old birds will not notice the change but will continue feeding the foster squab.
The process of laying an egg is a mental operation. We mean by this that it is not a process which goes on regularly in spite of all conditions. The hen forms the egg in her body and lays it when she is in condition to, and when she wants to, not when she is forced to. In other words, the hen lays when conditions are satisfactory to her. That she forms the egg at will is proven by many things, principally by the fact that she allows one day to come in between the first. and
63
THE QUICK GROWTH OF SQUABS FROM EGGS TO KILLING AGE IN FOUR WEEKS IS ILLUSTRATED .ON THIS PAGE, PAGE 66 AND PAGE 68.
EGGS IN THE NEST,
SQUABS JUST HATCHED.
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IE NOUSG A INID Je WG ISON: 65
the second eggs. No doubt, after she has laid the first egg, she hurries the other along and lays it as soon after the first as she can, and it takes forty-eight hours for the egg, complete in its wonderful construction, to form. Hen pigeons in a ship- ping crate or close coop do not lay eggs, because they know that there are no facilities there for raising young. Once in a while you will find an egg in a shipping crate when the birds are taken out, but it is a comparatively rare occurrence.
Of course, in order to lay a fertile egg, the hen pigeon must have received the attention of the cock bird. It is common for a hen pigeon at five months, and sometimes four, to lay an egg, but as a rule those first eggs from a young hen are not fertile because she has not yet mated with the cock bird. You can tell by holding the egg up to the light after it is five or six days old. If no embryo shows, the egg may be destroyed. In starting a flock, always purchase the adult, mature breeders. We formerly repeated the state- ment from hearsay that the male pigeon may lose vitality when from six to ten years old, but this is not so, as we know now from experience that customers to whom we sold six to eight years ago are breeding at the same rate the same pigeons with which they started, and they were from one to two years old when sold.
From the day of its hatching to market time the squab is fed by its parents. The first food is a liquid secreted in the crop of both cock and hen, and called pigeons’ milk. The parent pigeons open their bills and the squabs thrust their bills within to get sustenance. This supply of pigeons’ milk lasts from five to six days. It gradually grows thicker and in a week is found to be mixed with corn and wheat in small particles. When about ten days old, the squabs are eating hard grain from the crops of the mature cock and hen. They fill up at the trough, then take a drink of water and fly to the nest to minister to the little ones. You see how im- portant it is to have food available at all times.
In fourteen, fifteen or sixteen days after the first pair of squabs have been hatched, the cock begins ‘“‘ driving ”’ the hen again. This shows the necessity of a second nest for the pair. In this second nest the hen lays two more eggs, and the care of the first pair of squabs, now between two and three weeks old, devolves upon the cock. When this pair is four
OLD.
K
KE WEE
QUABS ON
8
S OLD.
SQUABS TWO WEEK
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ILA WALING AUSID Tele IEL ONG 67
weeks old, it is taken out of the nest and killed and both the mature birds are concerned then only with the new hatch. This sequence of eggs and hatches goes on all the time.
If there are not two nests, the two new eggs will be laid in the nest where are the growing squabs. The parents in their eagerness to sit on the new eggs will push the squabs out of the nest and they will die for lack of sustenance.
The hen lays the eggs about four o’clock in the afternoon. The cock and hen take turns at covering the eggs, the hen sitting during the night until about ten o’clock in the morning, when the cock relieves her, remaining on until the latter part of the afternoon.
When the squabs are taken out for market at the end of four weeks, the nest bowl and nest box should be cleaned. If this cleaning is done once a week, no trouble from parasites will result. In the summer it is well to add a little carbolic acid to the whitewash as an extra precaution. Sprinkle unslaked lime on the floor of the squab house and in the nest boxes, and spray squab-fe-nol freely.
One way of mating or pairing pigeons is to turn males and females in equal number into the same pen. They will seek their own mates and settle down to steady reproduction. Another method is to place the male and female which you wish to pairin a mating coop or hutch. In the course of a few days they will mate or pair and then you may turn them loose in the big pen with the others. The latter method 1s necessary when improving your flock by the addition of new blood, or when keeping a positive record of the ancestry of each pair. By studying your matings, you may improve the efficiency of your flock.
In the case of a new flock of pigeons shipped to a new home, all do not go to work at the same time. Those pairs which get to work first are bothered by the slower pairs. To judge from the advertisements of some breeders, anxious to claim everything for their birds and their wonderful matings, the beginner would think that all the birds he buys from them will go to work immediately when released in their new home. This is far from the truth. The pairs will go to work to suit themselves as to time. Some will be quick, others slow. As fast as each pair goes to work, it should be caught and placed in the breeding pen. The first pen, into which the birds
SQUABS THREE WEEKS OLD.
SQUABS FOUR WEEKS OLD. Ready to be killed for Market.
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IEA YAUINIG! INTO) Jalal IEC 1a LINK E: 69
were put on arrival, then can be used for the rearing pen for youngsters raised in the breeding pen.
In case a pigeon loses its mate by death or accident, the sex of the dead one must be ascertained. The live one should be removed from the pen and placed in the mating coop with a pigeon of the opposite sex.
The mating coop should have a partition of lattice work or wire. Place the cock in one side, the hen in the other, and leave them thus for two or three days to flirt and tease each other, then remove the central lattice work or wire and they usually will pair, or mate. If they show no disposition to pair but on the contrary fight, replace the partition and try them for two or three days longer. If they refuse to pair after two or three thorough trials, do not experiment any more with them, but select other mates.
The determination of the sex of pigeons is difficult. The -bones at the vent of a female are as a rule wider apart than of a male. If you hold the beak of a pigeon in one hand and the feet in the other, stretching them out, the male bird usually will hug his tail close to its body —the female will throw her tail. The best way to determine the sex is to watch the birds. The male is. more lively than the female, and does more cooing, and in flirting with her usually turns around several times, while the female seldom turns more than half way around. The male may be seen pecking at the female and driving her to nest. When one pigeon is seen chasing another inside and outside the squab house, the driven one is the female and the driver her mate.
Neither the squab breeder nor the flying-Homer breeder is much concerned about the color of feathers. There are blue checkers, red checkers, black checkers, silver, blue, brown, red, in fact about all the colors of the rainbow. Color has no relation to the ability of a pair to breed a large pair of squabs. We wish specially to emphasize the fact that the color of the feathers has no influence on the color of the skin of the squab. A white feathered bird does not mean a white- skinned squab. The feed affects the color of the meat a ittle. A corn-fed pigeon will be vellower than one fed on a mixture. Squabs with dark skins (almost black in some cases) are the product of blood matings. The trouble with a dark-colored squab is in the blood and the only remedy is to get rid of them
THE MATING COOP.
One way of mating squab breeders is to turn cocks and hens in equal numbers into the same pen. The mating coon is used when the breeder wishes to pair a certain male with a certain female. The above mating coop is divided by a partition. The cock is placed on one side of the partition, the hen on the other, as pictured. They are left thus for a day or two to tease each other. Then raise the partition, or take it out, and allow them to approach each other when they vsually will be found to have formed an attachment. This being the case, they may be put into the large pen with the other birds, where they will find a nest box and go to house- keeping. If they fight when the partition is removed, try again, or try other mates. ‘The coop pictured above is two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep.
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A al NG AACN ED) ew G ale NiG 71
either by killing the parents or by remating. Usually the trouble comes from one parent bird, which you find by turning up the feathers and examining the skin. Having found the bird which is at fault, kill it. This point has come up con- tinually in our correspondence. The erroneous belief that white-feathered birds produce the whitest-skinned squabs seems to be widespread and we are asked sometimes for a flock of breeders “‘ all white.’’ Our experience with all white Homers is that they are smaller and have less stamina than the colored ones. The marketmen will take two cr three pairs of dark-skinned squabs in a bunch without comment, but an excess of dark ones will provoke a cut in price. Breeders who are shipping only the undressed squabs should pluck feathers now and then to see just what color of squabs they are getting. The dark-colored squabs are just as good eating as the light-colored ones, but buyers for the hotels and clubs, and those who visit the stalls, generally pick out the plump white-skinned squabs in preference to the plump dark-skinned ones. As a rule, squabs from Homer pigeons are white- skinned—the dark-colored squab is an exception.
Many beginners wish to know if it will be all right for them to buy a flock and keep it in one house for six months or a year, paying no attention to the mating or pairing of the young birds, but leaving that to themselves, so as to get without much trouble a large flock before the killing of the squabs for market begins. Certainly, you may do this, providing extra nest boxes from time to time until your squab house has been filled with nests; then you will have to provide overflow quarters. We are asked if the flock will not become weakened by inbreeding, that is, a brother bird mating up to a sister, by chance. According to the law of chances, such matings would take place not very often. Pigeons in a wild state, on the face of a cliff, or in an abandoned building, would pair by natural selection. The stronger bird gets the object of its affection, the weaker one is killed off or gets a weaker mate, whose young are shorter-lived, so the inevitable result is more strength and larger size. Nature works slowly, if surely. A lot of pigeons in one pen mating or pairing as they please when old enough is the natural way, and if you follow this, you cannot go very far wrong. We advocate matings by the breeder because it hurries Nature
7. NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOOK
along the path which makes most money for the breeder, We all know how Darwin studied natural and forced selection of pigeons. He took one pigeon with a certain peculiarity, say a full breast, and mated it to another pigeon with a full breast. The squabs from these birds, when grown, had breasts fuller than their parents. Then these in turn were mated to full-breasted pigeons from other parents, and the grandchildren had even larger breasts. Darwin’s experi- ments covered a period of over twenty years and in this time he © developed Ir:tle faults and peculiarities to an amazing degree. Every intelligent, careful pigeon breeder is striving by his forced matings to push along the path of progress the peculiar- ity in pigeons which is his specialty. The breeder who selects most carefully and keeps at it the longest wins over the others. By selecting from your best and most prolific breeders the biggest and fattest squabs, keeping them for breeders and mating so as to get something larger and plumper, you are all the time getting bigger squabs. Every breeder of squabs has it in his power to increase the efficiency of his flock by studying his matings. There is commerical satis- faction in breeding for size and plumpness because it pays at once, and at the same time the breeder has the satisfaction of increasing the stamina and variety of pigeons.
To be master of the matings, the breeder should band his squabs. As soon as they are weaned (that is, as soon as the breeder sees them flying to the feed and eating it) they should be taken and put into one of the rearing pens. When about six months old, the breeder should begin mating them by selection, using the mating coop, then when they are mated turn the pair into a working pen with other adult birds. By looking at the number on the band of each bird, then on your record card, you know how to avoid mating up brother and sister.
When the young birds are just over four weeks old, or between four and six weeks, they are able to fly a little, and if they do not hop out of the nest (or are not pushed out by the parents) you may push them out yourself. They are now able to feed themselves. If these young birds are left in the squab house, they will bother the old birds by begging for food, and this infantile nagging will hinder the regular breeders in their next hatch, so the very best thing to do is
ILA VAIL G BUND. aU ING Jali SKE 73
to put the young birds by themselves into a rearing pen, where they cannot bother anybody.
Of course there is likely to be a little inbreeding when you ‘eave the birds to choose for themselves, but not much. If the breeder has not the time to make forced matings, then he may not care to make them. Remember in mating that "ke begets like. The parent bird that feeds its young the most, and most often, will raise the biggest squab. Some- times a parent bird will have fine nursing abilities and will stuff its offspring with food. These good-feeding qualities are transmitted from one generation to another and are as much under the control of the breeder as size and flesh-color. Your biggest squabs will be found to have an extra-attentive father or mother, or both. A pigeon with a dark skin, if mated to a white-skinned bird will produce a mulatto-like squab. It is the large, fat, white-fleshed squab which you are after. Disregard the color of the feathers when mating. If when plucking your squabs you come across a “nigger,” that is, a squab with a dark skin, find out what pair of breeders it came from and whether the cock or the hen is at fault, and get rid of the faulty one. It is important to start with adult birds that are not related, then you will not begin inbreeding. That is why we make a special effort with our adult birds to have them unrelated.
some letters from customers make plain to us that a clear knowledge of what inbreeding means is not possessed by everybody. Several have written to this effect: “If I buy two or three dozen pairs from you to start, how can I increase the size of my flock without inbreeding?’ When (l)a brother is mated to sister or (2) a father to a daughter, or (3) a mother to a son, or (4) a grandson to his grandmother, etc. that is inbreeding. We know it is forbidden by law for human beings to mate in that manner, because (a) God in the Scriptures has forbidden it, and (b) because the State does not wish to have to care for the puny, weak-minded offspring that would result from such unions. We all know that the marriages of cousins often result in demented, diseased chil- dren. Now suppose you buy two dozen pairs of pigeons of us, and number them pairs one to twenty-four. If you mate the offspring of pair two (or any other pair)to the offspring of — pair one (or any other pair) that is outbreeding or cross-
14. - NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAE BOOK
breeding. What you do not do, and what you try to prevent, is the mating of the offspring of pair number one (or any other pair) to each other. So, you see, if you have a dozen or two pairs, you need never inbreed, for there is an infinite variety of matings possible. Breeders of animals sometimes inbreed purposely in order to get better color. of fur or plumage, or finer bones, etc. There are no brothers and sisters in the flocks we sell. If you buy one dozen or twenty dozen pairs of breeders of us, the pairs will be unrelated, and you need never inbreed. We never heard a real pigeon breeder worry much about inbreeding, because the likelihood of it in a flock of even a dozen pairs 1s extremely remote, as we have demon- strated above.
PIGEONS IN ST. MARK’S SQUARE, VENICE.
Get acquainted with the pigeons which you buy of us, and let them get ac- quainted with you. They will work all the better for being tame and docile. These pigeons in Venice are fed by tourists on corn only. A peddler selling whole corn for two cents a package sits all day long on the steps at the base of the monument. Several photographers in the square make a specialty of taking pictures of tourists feeding the pigeons; snap shots by amateurs are constantly being made. In this city of canals, these pigeons get no grit, in fact nothing but the corn, and they would die if obliged to pick up a living for themselves. They are healthy, proving the incorrectness of the assertion that a feed of nothing but corn will cause canker. They are small, however, of stunted growth. They are so tame that they will perch on your hand and eat grains of corn held in your lips.
Coe TER Ville
INCREASE OF FLOCK.
It 1s Possible to Breed One Pair of Squabs Each Month, but in Actual Practice this 1s Seldom Attained—The Squab Raiser with Pure Thoroughbred Homers should Count on Six to Nine Pairs of Squabs a Year—The Common Pigeon Breeds Only Four or Five Pairs of Squabs a Year, but Eats as Much or More than the Homer—Dufferences between the Homer and the Common Pigeon—Good Homers Scarce and the Market for them Firm and Steady.
It is theoretically possible for a pair of pigeons to breed twelve pairs of squabs a year, for it takes only seventeen days for the eggs to hatch, and the hen goes to laying again when the hatch is only two weeks old. So, if you start with twelve pairs of Homer pigeons, and they should breed one pair of squabs a month, at the end of the first month you would have twenty-four squabs; at the end of the second month, forty-eight squabs; at the end of the third month, seventy-two squabs; at the end of the fourth month, ninety- six squabs; at the end of the fifth month, one hundred and twenty squabs. Now the first lot of squabs which your birds hatched will be ready to mate and lay eggs, so at the end of the sixth month you should have one hundred and sixty- eight squabs; at the end of the seventh month, two hundred and forty squabs; at the end of the eighth month, three hundred and thirty-six squabs; at the end of the ninth month, four hundred and fifty-six squabs; at the end of the tenth month, six hundred squabs; at the end of the eleventh month, seven hundred and sixty-eight squabs, and at the end of the twelfth month, nine hundred and sixty squabs. Such figures are purely theoretical and are seldom attained in actual practice. You will have some pairs in your flock which will raise ten and eleven pairs of squabs a year, but the average will be seven to nine pairs of squabs a year. If you get less, your flock is not pure thoroughbred Homers, or your feeding and nesting arrangements are wrong. In our visit to squab breeders in 1902, we asked every one with whom
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10“ NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK
we talked how many pairs a year he was getting from his birds, and about all of them said seven to nine. This expe- rience corresponds with ours. We remember particularly an old gentleman, Preacher Hubbell, in Vineland, who had been in the squab business for years but was just going out of it, having sold his place, pigeons and all, to a Swede farmer. He told us he had always made squabs pay him and that his birds, of which he kept a careful record, raised him nine pairs to the year right along.
It is a well-known fact that the common pigeon will breed only four or five pairs of squabs a year, and if handlers of big flocks of common pigeons, like Johnson of California, can make a net profit of one dollar per pair a year from such low breeders, we think anybody of no experience is justified in believing our statement that our Homers are capable of earning a net profit of from two to three dollars per pair a year, taking into account not only their fast breeding qualities, but the superior size of the squabs. Here in New England we consider the common pigeons inconstant and happy-go-lucky breeders. They are not in the same class at all with the Homer pigeon.
The common pigeon, the pigeon which flies the streets of our cities and towns, is a mixture of all kinds of pigeons, and it partakes of the faults of each, and not of the virtues. Its outward appearance is large, but it is an effect of feathers and not of flesh. Its feathers are loose and fluffy and its muscles soft and flabby. Its head is smaller than that of a Homer, the deficiency being marked in the curve of the skull which covers the brain. The Homer has a white flesh ring around the eye, but the common pigeon has none. The Homer has the largest brain of any variety of pigeon, and discloses this fact by its behavior. It has more sense and behaves with more intelligence. Its wonderful homing instinct marks it above and beyond all classes of pigeons and it is this quality which gives it a commercial value all over the world. The feathers of the Homer are laid close like a woman’s glove and the muscles under it feel as hard and firm as a piece of wood. Its breast is firm and well protected, with just the right amount of fullness. Its chest is large, indicating good lung power and staying qualities. Its wings are trim and shapely, in flight the poetry of motion. The poise of its body and head reminds one of a race-horse listening for the signal to speed over the
JUN CIRIDASIS, (O12 TIO 17
course. The lines from the neck to the body descend in a long, graceful sweep. Put a thoroughbred Homer into a flock of common pigeons and even a novice, if told to pick out the bird which would fly the fastest and furthest, would pick out the Homer. The Homer has a long bill (but not so long as the Dragoon pigeon). The bill of the common pigeon is short. Its bill is more hooked and is sharper pointed. Its head is shorter and more rounding on top.
The common pigeon is seldom bred in captivity, because it does not pay for the grain which it consumes. If bred in a wild state, it picks up a living in the neighborhood, the owner not keeping it wired in. It is the cheapest kind of a pigeon, and thousands of pairs are used by trap shooters. Under- takers sometimes buy the white common pigeons in order to liberate them at graves, to signify the ascent of the soul to heaven. Common pigeons will live anywhere, do not get attached to any home, but a Homer never forgets the place where it was bred and will search out its home in long flights. Common pigeons will alight on any building and will drink from different springs and wells, fouling them and making themselves a nuisance in a neighborhood. The Homer will alight only on its own squab house and drink only at its own home. Common pigeons sell for fifty cents a pair and are frequently offered as Homers. Do not start with common pigeons and think to learn the habits of squab breeders with them. If you cross a common with a Homer pigeon you will take away the good qualities of the Homer and add nothing. There is not one element in a common pigeon which if added to a Homer would improve the offspring. It is hard to convince some people that there is any difference in pigeons whose feathers are the same color. The result is they buy the cheapest they can get. After feeding them for a time and getting no profitable results, they are compelled to sell them to the first trap shooter who comes along, and they go among their townspeople declaring that the pigeon business is no good. Remember this point, that if you are going to buy grain and feed it to anything so as to get a profit, it is the best policy to feed it to that grade of animal which will show the largest profit. Very few people are satisfied with shoddy suits nowadays, even if they look almost as well as the all- wool garments. It is the wear which the customer is after.
78 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS SOCK
Beware of shoddy pigeons. Buy the best Homers you can get, they will wear best and give you the most pride. Ex- perienced poultrymen do not go here and there looking for fowls at cut prices. They buy breeding stock of a reliable breeder which is reliable and sold at a price which will enable the seller to deliver a high quality article. We can tell when ' an order for our breeding stock comes from an old poultry- man, for they all write: ‘‘ I want the best stock you can give me
Good Homers do not glut the markets. They are always fairly scarce, and the price for them has always been well kept up. Beware of cheap Homers for sale at cut prices. There is always something the matter with such birds. They have been worked too long and are played out, or if a flock is offered ‘‘ at a bargain,”’ the birds do not produce the large, plump, No. 1 squab, but only culls. If a squab breeder is going to quit the business and offers you his flock of birds on the bargain counter, make him give a good reason to you for selling. If he has been unable to make the flock pay, you may be sure that you will be unable to make them pay. If he offers them to you without a good reason for selling, the chances are that it is a poor flock and he has got tired of buying grain for them, and wishes to saddle the burden upon you. We are always selling breeders and it is very much to our interest to protect our reputation by sending out only good Homers that will make money for their owners. This is what we do, and our large business has been built up by square dealing, and knowing the business thoroughly.
A pair of Homers capable of earning a pair of squabs in one month which will sell for at least fifty cents is worth more than one dollar or one dollar and twenty-five cents a pair. A pair of birds capable of earning only a ten-cent or twenty-cent pair of squabs once in two or three months is worth only fifty cents a pair. Jersey cows are worth more than common cows because they earn more. Good Homer pigeons, bred skilfully, are worth more than poor Homers because they earn more. 5
CEVA IPGIR WAU
KILLING AND COOLING.
Kill the Squabs in the Morning when their Crops are Empty — Not Necessary to Use a Knife, their Necks may be Tweaked — Drive the Animal Heat out of their Bodies by Hanging them from Natls —The Ideal Squab when Shipped has an Empty Crop, tts. Feet have been Washed Clean, and No Blood Shows — Sorting Squabs so as to Get the Highest Price from the Dealer.
- The time to kill the squabs is in the morning, when the crops are empty. In killing them it is not necessary to use a knife. Hold each squab in the manner shown in the illustration and break the neck with a sudden pull and push. Do not pull too hard or you will sever the neck from the body. Some of our customers have hard work to get this knack of tweaking the necks and prefer to wring the necks, or to use a knife. To wring the neck, hold the squab by the head in the right hand and throw the body around in a complete circle, this act twisting and breaking the neck.
After the squabs are killed they must be cooled. In other words the animal heat must be driven out of their bodies. Provide a piece of board or studding eight or ten feet long and every four inches along this studding drive a couple of nine penny wire finish nails close together, but not so close that you cannot squeeze in the legs of the squabs. A finish wire nail has no large head like an ordinary wire nail. Suspend the studding from the ceiling by means of wire adjusted at both ends of the studding. This method of hanging it up is to prevent rats and cats from climbing up onto the studding, walking along it and eating the squabs. Place the feet of the squabs between the wire nails and let them hang down- wards over night. In the morning the heat will be all out of their bodies and you can pack and ship them. If you are delivering plucked squabs to market, you do not need such an arrangement, but will throw the bodies into a tub of ice water (or cold spring water) after you have plucked them.
When plucking the feathers from the killed squabs, the
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INCORRECT POSITION OF HANDS.
CORRECT POSITION OF HANDS.
A squab is killed for market when it is plump and well feathered, usually when four weeks old, although many are ready for market when a day or two over three weeks old. Hold the hands close together on the neck, as shown in the bottcm picture and break the spine of the bird by pulling firmly and then pushing back. Do not put so much strength into the operation that you pull the head from the body. This method of killing is faster and neater than using a knife.
KILLING AND COOLING 8]
operator should moisten his thumb and forefinger in a basin of water, to give him a grip on the feathers. They come off easily and an experienced picker will work very rapidly. A sharp pen-knife, or knife such as shoemakers use, is necessary to remove some of the pin feathers. They should be shaved off.
Ignorance of how to cool the killed squabs properly has discouraged many a squab raiser. If you throw the squabs in a pile on the floor after you have tweaked their necks, you will have a fermenting mass and the following morning, when you are ready to ship, many of the bodies will be dark- colored at the place of contact with the floor, or with other squabs, and decay will start from such discolored places. Hang the bodies from the studding, as we have described, and you wll cool them just right and you will be surprised that this part of the business ever could have discouraged anybody.
If you number the nails which you have driven into the studding you will know just how many squabs you hang up, and you will not have to handle the squabs a second time to count them.
The ideal squab which brings the highest price in the market is not only large and plump, but has a clean crop, so that no food will be left in it to sour. No blood shows anywhere on the body and its feet are clean. Ship in small quantities, especially in the summer. Do not pack in an enormous box, or the bottom layers will suffer.
A squab should be killed, as we have stated, when from three to four weeks old, most generally at four weeks. Do not wait until it is five or six weeks old, when it may have left the nest. As soon as a squab is old enough to get out of the nest and walk around on the floor of the squab. house, it quickly trains off its fat and grows lean and slender. Its flesh also loses its pure white coor and takes on a darker shade. You do not want either of these two conditions.
If you tie up your killed squabs by the feet when shipping to market, do not tie a lean with a fat squab, for if you do the dealer probably will give you the price of the lean one. Put the fat squabs in one bunch and the lean squabs in another bunch. If you are shipping to two dealers, you can very often get the top price from both by giving one your best squabs and the other your second best.
KILLED SQUABS HUNG TO COOL.
After the squabs have been killed they should be hung as this picture shows to cool. The wooden scantling or studding is several feet long and is suspended from the ceiling at its ends by wire, so that cats and rats cannot climb to the squabs. A pair of nails are driven in four inches apart and the squabs’ legs set in between them
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CIBLEUL INDIR: IDX
THE MARKETS.
Squabs with the Feathers on Taken by the Boston and Some Other City Markets—The New York Market Wants Them Plucked and Pays the Highest Price of Any Northern City —Inter pretation of Quotations of Squabs as Seen in the News- papers—Whute-Fleshed Squabs are Wanted, Not Dark- Fleshed.
The Boston market, and the markets in some other cities, will take squabs with feathers on. It is only necessary for you to tweak the necks of the squabs and send them to the train, after they have cooled over night. Some shippers do not take the trouble to box the killed squabs, but tie their legs together with string and send them along to market. In the baggage cars of the trains running into Boston you will sometimes see strings of squabs going in to the dealers in this way.
The New York market demands squabs plucked. The squab breeders who have large plants and who ship to the New York market employ pluckers and pay them by the piece. A skillful plucker will strip feathers from squabs at the rate of ten to twenty squabs an hour. The proper time to pluck the killed squab is immediately after killing. When picked clean, throw the squab into cold water and leave it there over night to plump out and harden the flesh. In the summer use ice water.
The squab puts on more feathers than flesh during the last few days of its growth and if you see squabs which are only three weeks old, but which are of good size, you may save a week on feed by killing the squab at that age and plucking it. When the feathers are off of it, it looks like the four weeks squabs which have not matured so rapidly.
If you are shipping to the New York market, you should . pack your squabs in a neat white wood box, printed if you please. Do not use a pine box for if you do the odor of the pine will penetrate the squabs.
The New York market for squabs is the best in the North.
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84 NATIONAL. STANDARD SQUAS BOOK
Squabs delivered by our customers there invariably bring from one to one dollar and fifty per dozen more than the Boston market. This is because there are more rich people in New York than there are in Boston, and they are more free with their money in providing luxuries for their table than Boston folks. We do not mean to disparage the Boston market for squabs, which is always good, averaging three dollars a dozen, but we wish to emphasize the fact that the New York market is a phenomenal one. Anybody living near New York can make a fortune raising squabs. Our largest orders have come from customers who are shipping to New York.
Not all the New York newspapers print market quotation of squabs. The New York Evening Sun is an exception. All through the winter squabs are quoted in the Evening Sun at five dollars a dozen. This means that a squab breeder shipping to New York should have got six dollars and seven dollars for a choice product, from private customers.
A correspondent in New York State sends a clipping from the New York Tribune’s market columns and asks for an interpretation. We quote from it as follows:
‘““ Pigeons, 20c.; squabs, prime, large, white, per doz., $3.50 and $3.75: ditto, mixed, $2/75 and $3° ditto, dark “$175 and $2.”
The quotation, ‘‘ Pigeons, 20 cents,’ means twenty cents a pair for common old killed pigeons. These tough old birds are occasionally found in the markets and are worth only ten or fifteen cents apiece. They are neither squabs nor the old Homer pigeons, but are common pigeons such as fly in the streets. A small boy might get a pair of these street pigeons and kill them and give them to a butcher who would pay him fifteen or twenty cents a pair. These cheap pigeons come into the eastern markets largely from the West in barrels and are sold to Boston commission men for five cents apiece, or fifty cents a dozen. They are retailed at from one dollar to one dollar and twenty cents a dozen. They are in the Chicago market masquerading as squabs. They have been killed with guns and have shot in their bodies. If you ask for pigeon pie at one of the cheap Boston restaurants, you will get a shot or two against your teeth with mouthfuls. After every trap-shooting contest some skulker goes over the
ble |
TEE VIPACOTKGE TS) 85
field and gathers up all the killed and mained birds he can find, and sells them for two and three cents apiece, or for anything he can get, and these find their way into the markets. The cruel practice of pigeon shooting by miscalled ‘‘sports- men ”’ on Long Island is quite common, and the presence of these birds in the New York butcher shops accounts for the above quotation in the Tribune. It is unnecessary to add that such birds do not compete with squabs. They can be made palatable only by stewing for hours in a pie, which takes out a little of their toughness. There is now a law in New York forbidding pigeon shooting.
As to squabs, the quotation, “‘ Prime, large, white, per dozen $3.50 and $3.75,” is for the kind of squabs that are raised from our Homers, namely, No. 1 grade.
By the quotation, ‘“‘ Mixed, $2.75 and $3.00,” is meant that these amounts are paid for lots of birds composed of No. 1 and No. 2 grades, mixed. If you sort up your birds care- fully you will be able to get the No.1 prices for all. Some people do not know how to sort them, and they have to be satisfied with the price of a mixed lot.
By the quotation, ‘“‘ Dark, $1.75 and $2.00,” is meant the dark-fleshed squabs, as you have learned by reading our Manual. Squabs whose flesh is dark do not sell for as much as the white-fleshed squabs.
Pigeons are of all colors, 7. e., as you see their feathers, and the squabs likewise, but when you pluck the feathers off the flesh is either a pure white with a tinge of yellow, or dark like a negro’s skin.
, Quotations for squabs as found in the market reports in the newspapers are always lower than they really are. The writers of the market columns in the daily papers see only the commission men and cater only to them; they smoke the commission men’s cigars and believe what the commission men tell them. They do not see the producer at all. The object of the commission men is to get the squabs as cheaply as they can. When you are breeding squabs make up your mind to get froma twenty-five cents to one dollar or more per dozen than you see quoted in the market reports. The only way to find out the truth about the squab markets is to go into them and offer to buy squabs, not to sell them. Then you will learn the true prices.
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36
TREES MIEAIOKGE TS: 87
At the same time the report quoted above was printed in the New York Tribune a breeder in Mauricetown, N. J., was getting from four dollars and twenty-five cents to four dollars and fifty cents a dozen for his squabs. (This was the last week in January, 1902.) You see, it does not pay to trust wholly to the market reports in the newspapers. The motive of the city men is to get their goods as cheaply as they can. It is your motive to get as much as you can, and don’t be fooled by second-hand information. Go direct to headquarters yourself in person and learn the truth. If the middleman _ tries to hold down the price to you, go to a consumer and make your bargain with him at top prices.
A breeder in New Jersey writes that there are several squab breeders in his town, all of whom give their regular time to other businesses. He continues: ‘I am now (Feb- ruary, 1902), getting thirty-two cents each as they run, no sorting, for what few squabs I am now raising, and they are sold to a man who calls every Tuesday for them. When I have enough, I ship direct to New York by express. They sort them in New York.”
This is doing extremely well for unsorted squabs. It is only another bit of evidence which proves the money-making condition of the New York market. (The above correspon- - dent’s breeders are not first-class, he admits, saying he has been breeding for seven years and his flock has run down.)
The Kansas City market does not yet know what a fat squab is. The only things obtainable there are the squabs of common pigeons, which are quoted low, as they are all over the country. A correspondent in Atchison writes: ‘‘ I wrote to the Kansas City dealer again, telling him I thought his prices were pretty low for Homer squabs. He replied that they had so few Homers offered that they did not quote them, and they would be worth from two dollars to two dollars and fifty cents per dozen. He quoted common pigeon squabs at one dollar and twenty-five cents to one dollar and seventy-five per dozen, as I wrote you before. That is better, and I want to try raising them as soon as I can get into a place where I can handle them.”
Fact is, the squabs that bring from three to five dollars a dozen east of the Mississippi will bring that (and more) as soon as the wealthy trade of Kansas City gets a taste of them,
88 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
Find out for yourself whether your market wants squabs with the feathers on or off. We do not know such details about the squab market in every city in the country and can- not advise you accurately on this point if you write to us from a distant town or city.
The best way to find out the facts concerning the squab market is to go from place to place, or to write, offering not to sell squabs but to buy them. The squab sellers are much more interested in a possible buyer than a possible seller. They receive letters from many inquirers about markets but as a tule pay scant attention to them unless the writer is really producing squabs and has them for sale.
SQUAB HOUSE BUILT OF LOGS
GIGMIP I TBARS XG.
PIGEONS’, AILMENTS.
Canker a Filth Disease which Makes tts Appearance in Nasty, Cramped and Crowded Quarters — It is a Captivity Disease and a Sure Cure for tt 1s to Turn the Bird Loose to Get a Change of Food and Plenty of Exercise — A Flock Supplied with Pure Food and Clean Water Never will be Sick — Canker 1s Not Epidemic —It does Not Pay to Dose a Sick Pigeon, Better Turn 1t Out to Get Well.
The principal ailment met with by the squab breeder is canker. This ailment is a puzzle to some breeders and they are alarmed when it makes an appearance in their flock, as it does if the feed is poor or sour, the water dirty, or the squab house filthy. The advice which they give when they find a cankered bird is, ‘‘Kill it.” That is the advice we used to give at first, but now we know better. First, what is canker? It is a disease of which you know the cause (filth, poor feed or dirty water) and whose symptoms you see in the form of a cheesy-like deposit in the mouth of the pigeon, and breaking out around the bill. Catch the pigeon, hold it in your lap and force open its bill and you will see a yellowish patch or patches in the mouth, and the mouth will usually be filled with a yellowish deposit which smells bad. The disease is not serious. The trouble lies with the feed and the filth and that is what spreads the same symptoms from one pigeon to another. A case of canker in your flock should be a warning to you that the feed or water is wrong, or that you have a filthy house. Do not get alarmed and kill the bird. Catch the affected pigeon, carry it out of your flying pen and squab house and throw it into the air. The bird may fly away and lose itself, and if it does you are out one pigeon just as if you had killed it. The chances are, however, as in the case of any sick animal, that it will linger around home. Now you will be surprised to see how quickly that pigeon’s health will improve. Not having a steady supply of food before it, it will have to hustle for a living, and this exercise and the change of living, and the scanty living, will effect the
89
PAIR OF HOMERS BILLING.
This illustration is made from a photograph of a pair of our pigeons caught in the act of billing. or kissing. The pigeon on the left is the male and on the right the female. Billing is one of the acts of love making. Mounting and treading generally follow immediately after billing.
90
IZUGIFO INS: ZAG ENA ID, IN) IES) Qt
cure. It will get more fresh air, and a great deal more exercise, and more sun, than it would get if lett in company with the other birds. In about a week you will notice that it will hold its bill tighter, and if there is a sore on the outside of the bill you will see this sore dry up. In two weeks the chances are that the yellowish deposit on the interior of the mouth will be entirely gone. The pigeon will hover around the other pigeons. It will fly to the outside of the netting and look at its fellows. Place a dish on the ground now and then with a little feed and you will attract it. Catch it when you have a favorable opportunity either with a net on the end of a pole, or with a broom, pinning it into a corner. You may have to try several times, but you will get it after a while. Its eye will be brighter and signs of disease will be gone, and you can put it back into the squab house with the others. The exer- cise, sunlight, change of food, and scanty food, have made the cure. There are few pigeons so bad with canker that they cannot be cured in this way. For that reason we have not much hesitation in saying that canker is a captivity disease, caused by lack of exercise as well as unavoidable filth and too much of the wrong kind of feed. We have observed wild pigeons in the streets and we never saw a case of canker among them. You may say to -yourself that it is quite a risk to throw out into the open air a pigeon which has cost you from seventy-five cents to a dollar, but it is better to do this than to take the advice of all other breeders and books and kill it.
If you do not wish to throw a sick pigeon out into the air to get well, construct a box with wire netting over the front, and put the pigeon in there for special feeding and watering until it gets well.
Powdered alum sprinkled in the drinking water now and then will tend to ward off canker from a flock.
It does not pay to dose sick pigeons, because a cure seldom is obtained by dosing, and you are out your time.
The squab breeder who follows the advice as to feed and water, and cleanliness of squab house, given in this Manual, will not have any sick pigeons. It is so very easy to keep a pigeon in perfect health that the fear of disease is a bugbear not worth taking into account. The element of disease is a constant source of worry to the chicken breeder, and a source of heavy loss to the best of them. We wish to assure all who
02 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUABALOOK
contemplate starting in the squab breeding business that the pigeon naturally is a healthier and more rugged bird than the domestic hen and that positively you will not be fussing with remedies and cure-alls, in handling them.
“Going light,” or wasting away, is an ailment of pigeons occasionally met with. The cause of it is an absence of grit and salt. If your staples of feed are provided as we tell, and you give a variety of feed, and you provide grit and oyster shells, you will have no cases of “ going light.’ The disease is known by a steady wasting away of the pigeon. Catch it and you feel a prominent breastbone, and scanty flesh, showing that some element in the feed is lacking.
GIs AIA I IR XG.
GETTING AHEAD.
Make your Birds Pay for themselves as they Go Along, unless you Wish to Wait Patiently until a Small Flock Increases to a Large One — Better to Take the Money Made jrom Sale of Squabs and Buy More Adult Birds than to Raise the Squabs, Because it is a Long Jump from Four Weeks (the Killing Age) to Six Months, at which Age the Birds Begin Breeding — Shipping Points.
It is the birds and not the buildings which count in squab raising and if you have fifty dollars to start, put thirty-five dollars or forty dollars into your birds and the balance into your building. We have had customers start with a hundred- dollar building and put a ten-dollar lot of birds into it, con- tinuing to buy ten-dollar lots of us about once a month until they had their flock to a good size, but we believe it is best to let the buildings follow the birds, and not the birds the buildings. In other words, let your birds earn buildings as they go along. It is quite a drag on a small flock to weigh it down with an expensive building much too large for it.
Put this down in your mind solid, where you will not forget it: Make your pigeons pay for themselves as they go.
We sell to a great many poultrymen, and we like to get their orders, for they have been through the mill of raising feathered animals and are practical, and they are quick to see the money in squabs, and when their order for breeding stock comes along, it is in nine cases out of ten a large order, even if they have had no previous experience. They know that in order to sell squabs they have got to have birds enough to breed _ squabs and it is just as easy for them to spend fifty dollars or one hundred dollars at the start as it is for them to spend ten dollars or fifteen dollars and use up one hundred dollars’ worth of time while waiting a year to begin selling squabs.
Many beginners are so skeptical that they do not believe squabs grow to market size in one month, or they have no confidence in their ability to feed the mature birds so as to _ keep them alive. They wish to make a start with a few pairs 93
94 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
and actually convince themselves. We do not believe in untried hands plunging into something of which they know nothing, and we commend the caution of the beginner with squabs who wishes to feel his way and “ make haste slowly ” as the saying is, nevertheless we know it to be a fact that our customers who started with large flocks are making splendid successes, and we are not so cautious as we were in former books in advising a small purchase, at the start. The rules for breeding we have given have stood the test of time; we have not had it said to us that they are misleading or erroneous; on the contrary, our customers write and tell us that their experience corresponds with ours, that the books are all right, and our business has increased right along. When a customer orders two hundred dollars’ worth of breeding stock of us and two months later two hundred dollars’ worth more (we sell to some customers month after month steadily, as their means or their inclination permit them to buy) we are given a large measure of confidence, first, that people (many of whom we never see and who are not experts) can start with our writings and our breeding stock and make a success; second, that all we have advised about the industry is of general and con- vincing application; and third, that 1t does not take extraor- dinary skill to make a success with squabs.
There are failures with squabs, even by college professors, because some beginners are unsuited to the business. Many are lured into it by get-rich-quick stories. It would amaze you to read the letters that some beginners-write. You never can tell a man’s pigeon and poultry ability by his orthography and grammar. Letters in crude spelling and crooked writing frequently come from the most successful squab raisers. The knack of caring for animals successfully cannot be acquired by some. Given two women, with cooking materials and the same cook books, one cooks splendidly, and the other mis- erably. Why? Well, it is the same with pigeons. Some can and some can’t. However, the failures at squab or poultry raising seldom blame themselves.
There are many of the naturally careless, improvident persons who have turned to squabs to help them out of finan- cial holes, and they have made a failure of squab raising. Many of us remember the furore over raising chicken broilers for market, which started a score of years ago. The fact that
GETTING AHEAD 95
some were making money at it started a burning hen fever in hundreds of young and old people anxious to make a lot of money quick. Clerks and society women from New York moved into the suburbs on small farms and began to try to make realities of their dreams. Not accustomed to manual labor, they made a sorry mess of it. Writers of that period tell of chicken gentlemen and ladies who went about their daily round of duties with their delicate hands carefully pro- tected by kid gloves. It did not take long for the end for such _ experimenters to arrive. They returned to the great city sadder, but wiser. The squab industry has suffered also the past five years from such treatment. Many have played with it as a child would with a new toy, giving up their pigeons in a few months at the slightest discouragement.
The past six years are strewn with the wrecks of imitation squab advertisers and their guarantees. Every spring, when demand for breeders is greatest, some of these come to life again, or new ones crop up, and they get what harvest they can, many of them selling what they can pick up in the way of culls, such as we ourselves sell to Faneuil Hall marketmen to be killed. These advertisers start advertising in January and by June they have quit.
The following, from the pen of an old poultry writer, appeared in a farm periodical of large circulation in January, 1907: ‘‘ So far, every attempt made in this country to estab- lish a large poultry (chicken) farm has been met by failure. The extensive and successful plants of today are the outcome of a small beginning and a gradual growth. True, the main cause for failure has been the lack of experience; men have undertaken work for which they were not qualified.”
So it is the rule with squab and poultry failures, especially women, to blame everybody but themselves. Such persons learn bitterly that experience is indeed a factor.
The place and flock of the one who fails with squabs tell their own story. The drinking fountains are seldom washed, the pen is seldom cleaned and the place has a run-down look generally, sometimes being positively filthy. The grain is bought and fed on the catch-as-catch-can principle with no provision for variety. The cheapest grain is bought, or it is ignorantly bought, and may be full of weevils, or sour. The owner of such a place generally matches the place.
96 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
Some advertisers selling breeding stock try to give the impression in their advertising that they control the matings and love affairs of the pigeons they sell, to the uttermost degree. ‘‘ We are the ones who can start you right,” they say, ‘‘with our guaranteed mated pairs.”’ Their pigeons, how- ever, behave just the same as all pigeons. You have just as much control over the minds of your pigeons as anybody. We have the finest equipment for mating in America, as it is the largest, a thousand mating coops being in constant use. One of the buildings is heated by a hot-water plant so as to get quick results in mating in the winter. It is natural for pigeons to breed, same as all animals. Do not believe that the man who offers to sell you pigeons has it in his power to control them after they have left his hands. The control of your pigeons is in your hands absolutely. If you raise an excess of cocks, or if you have an excess of either sex, for any reason, you should procure enough of the opposite sex to match up evenly. You should have some mating coops (ordinary boxes with wire fronts will do) and in them you should pair up birds to suit yourself as to color of plumage, or size, or special characteristics, as you raise them.
We fill all orders, large or small, with equal care and thoroughness, for it is just as much to our interest to please the customer and get more orders in the one case as in the other.
There is not much choice as to what time of year a start in squab breeding should be made. Our customers who start in the winter have been exceptionally successful because then prices for squabs are at the top notch, and it takes only a few sales to make a new breeder thoroughly convinced to go ahead to success. We ship breeders all the year round. A pigeon will not break down under either stifling heat or bitter cold, being different from other animals.
We fill orders in rotation and treat customers alike, and ship promptly. Frequently we get orders to ship by first returning express, and it is very difficult to do this. One customer in Chicago planned to start for Alaska with twelve pairs of our birds, but he held back his letter so that we got it with only two hours to fill crates and get birds to him before his departure. We filled his order as a matter of accommoda- tion.
GEL INUING AulguS AID 97
In ordering supplies to be sent by freight, remember that it takes a freight shipment some time to get to destination, especially when traffic is congested in the spring or in the harvest season. Give us your order for nest bowls and supplies before your house is ready.
The live breeders are shipped by us either in specially made pine crates or wicker coops. The wicker coops remain our property and are returned to us at our expense by the express companies after the customer has released the pigeons. These baskets are expensive and are fitted with large tin feed and water dishes. It is impossible to break them open with the roughest handling. The birds have plenty of room in them and arrive at their destination in fine condition.
The usual fault of inexperienced shippers is that the box or crate is too high, and too large, giving an opportunity for one bird to pass another by flying over its head. If there is too much room between the top and bottom of the crate feathers will be rumpled and pulled out, and the birds by crowding will suffocate one or two. A large, heavy crate also adds enormously to the express charges. It is not pleasant to buy pigeons and receive them in a cumbrous box weighing from twenty-five to seventy-five pounds, on which the express charges are more than double what they would be were the birds crated properly.
If the birds are going to a point only a day or a day anda night distant, they need no feed nor water. For a long journey, a bag of grain should be tied to the crate. It is the duty of the express messengers to feed and water the birds en route, and they are so instructed by their companies.
Do you know that pigeons are transported by the express companies at the rate charged for ordinary merchandise under the classification in force for 1907 on? The rate is found in every express book (ask your agent to show it to you if there is any dispute over charges) now as follows: “ Pigeons, homing, merchandise rate.” Tell the agent to look in the P’s for Pigeons and he will find it there.
For carrying most live-stock short distances, the animal rate (which is double the merchandise rate) is charged. This is a peculiar rule when it was formerly applied to pigeons, and it worked so that the buyer at a remote point got his ship- ment cheaper than the buyer nearer us. For instance, we
HOW WE SHIP PIGEONS.
Care and skill exercised in shipping live pigeons are large factors in satisfying customers. It is not a pleasant experience to send money away for pigeons and have them reach you in a home-made box, generally of enormous weight, and bearing enormous express charges.
We originated the above style of shipping and have two thousand shipping baskets in use. They are expensive but by their use we are able to guarantee safe arrival. The customer receives his shipment in faultless condition.
The small bag of grain on top of the basket, tied to it, is for the use of the express- man in feeding the birds en route. The tin water dish is at the end of the basket, outside, where it ought to be, not inside.
These shipping baskets remain our property and are returned to us empty at our expense after the customer has released his birds,
GETTHEN Ga ACE AD) 99
could ship a crate of pigeons to Chicago from Boston cheaper than we could to Buffalo. All the express companies doing business in the United States and Canada have the same rule, which is, that between points where the single or merchandise rate is two dollars or more per hundred pounds, live animals, ‘boxed, crated or caged, are charged for transportation at the single or merchandise rate. Between points where the single or merchandise rate is less than two dollars per hundred pounds, live animals are charged the animal rate (which is double the merchandise rate). Poultry (not pigeons) are charged the one and one-half rate when the rate per one hun- dred pounds is less than two dollars.
In order to obtain the lowest rate of transportation, the value of each pigeon must be stated by the shipper at five dollars or less.
We have seen breeders who have been shipping live-stock for years and they never heard of the above rule of the express companies, and also we have seen scores of express agents who did not know of their own rule, but always charged the animal rate on animal shipments. But the rule is found in every graduated charge book of every express company and the experienced expressmen and experienced shippers know all about it. If the agent in your town is ignorant of the rule, ask him for his graduated charge book. Many express agents at local points seldom handle a pigeon ship- ment and do not know how to charge for it.
A live animal contract release, to be signed both by shipper and express agent, is needed in all cases where the value of each pigeon is more than five dollars. If pigeons which we ship are killed in a smash-up, we can recover from the com- pany. We have no hesitation, therefore, in guaranteeing the safe delivery of our pigeons to customers. Our respon- sibility does not end when we have given them to the express- man. Our guarantee follows them as long as they are in the hands of the express company. We will put them into your hands safe and sound.
Once in a while you will read of live-stock and breeding associations getting together and complaining about the “exorbitant rates’ charged by the express companies. The trouble is not with the rates of the express companies, but lies wholly in the ignorance of the breeders who meet to complain.
L00; “NATIONAL STANDARD SCUAB S00
They simply do not know how to ship and how to talk to the express agents.
We never read the above advice as to shipping live-stock in any book or paper. It is the product of our own experience and the information cost us at least one hundred dollars in excess charges before we learned how to get the low rate. It is worth dollars to our customers, and that is why we have given it here in detail.
Killed squabs go to market at the rate charged for ordinary merchandise, no matter what the distance. Breeders having special customers who wish the squabs plucked should pack them in a clean white wood box (with ice in the summer) and nail the box up tight. Such shipments go through in splendid condition and if the breeder has a choice article, with his trade mark stamped on the box, he gets the fancy price. Squabs which reach the Boston market from jobbers in Philadelphia and New York are plucked and packed with ice in barrels. Breeders around Boston who reach the Boston market with undressed squabs send them in wicker hampers or baskets on the morning of the day after they are killed.
No express agent anywhere has a right to make any extra charges whatever on our pigeon shipments.
There is no duty on our pigeons to Canada, Cuba or Porto Rico, when we send with the pigeons and also to the customer, as we do, a certificate of purity of breed, declaring that the pigeons are for breeding, and not to be killed for market.
GIGINIE IIBIRG OOUE.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Women and Squab Breeding — Attentions of the Male to the Female Pigeon — Equal Number of Males and Females — Birds Flying Wild— Sale of Birds for Flyers — Variation im Size of Nest Boxes— How Squabs are Artificially Fattened — Shipping to England — Training Flyers — A Remarkable Service for Messages between Islands.
Question. I am a woman who knows absolutely nothing of squab raising. Do you think I can make a success of it? Answer. Our books are written and printed for the purpose of telling an absolutely ignorant person just how to proceed. If you will study this Manual, until you get the general plan and method of procedure in your mind, there is no reason why you cannot make a success of it. A woman is quick enough to puzzle out a new pattern of embroidery or a blind cooking recipe the terms of which are expressed in language utterly incomprehensible toa man. We find that our women customers are just as quick to comprehend pigeons as soon as they get started. It is necessary to have confidence, first, that the birds can make money, and second, that you are able to handle them right. Women succeed with hens quite as well as men. They “ take’’ to animals fully as well as men. The fact that you, our customer, are a woman, ought to encourage rather than depress you, in the squab business.
Question. I have an old poultry house fifteen by twenty feet in size, ten feet high. How many pairs of pigeons can I accommodate? Answer. We have this question asked us many times, and our reply to all is the same. Sometimes the customer varies it by asking, How large a house do I need to accommodate one hundred pairs of breeders? Sometimes they say they propose remodeling a barn loft which is thirty by twenty feet in size. The dimensions of the building vary with the customer. You can always accommodate in theory as many pairs of breeders as you can make room for pairs of nest boxes. Fix up your building to suit yourself and put in
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102 “NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS 300K
as many nest boxes as you wish. Then count your nest boxes and you will know how many birds you can accommo- date. You must have two nest boxes for every pair of birds. Always allow more nest boxes than there are pigeons, and do not crowd the birds, as we have explained on page 29.
Question. How does the male bird impregnate the female bird? They do not seem to me to act as roosters and hens do. Answer. The human eye is not sharp and quick enough to follow the actions of the male bird. He mounts the female in a manner which is called “ treading.”’ A female occasion- ally will ‘‘ tread’ the male bird, exactly as a female animal when in excessive heat sometimes will mount the male, or another female. Customers who had what they thought was a doubtful pair sometimes have written us saying that each would tread the other, and that of course both were males. After a while the same customer would write and say that the pair fooled him and that he had two eggs from them. The actions are in nine cases out of ten, of course, a positive guide, but there are exceptions to every rule.
Question. (1) The legs of the pigeon you sent me are red; are they inflamed? (2) The droppings are soft and | mushy; I am afraid they have diarrhoea. What shall I do? (3) Most of my pigeons have a warty-like substance on their bills, varying in size with the pigeon; how shall I get rid of it? Answer. (1) The red color which you see is perfectly natural. The legs of all Homer pigeons are red. (2) The natural droppings of the pigeon are soft and somewhat loose. When they have diarrhoea the droppings are extremely watery and the tail feathers are soiled. Your pigeons are all right and have no diarrhoea. (3) The growth of which you speak is perfectly natural. It varies in size with the pigeon, sometimes covering the base of the bill, in other cases clinging closely to it.
Question. Can I figure with certainty that of each pair of squabs which my birds hatch, one is a male and the other a female? Answer. Not with absolute certainty, but as a rule. It is Nature’s way to provide for an equal number of males and females, for that is the way the species mates and is reproduced.
Question. Enclosed find ten dollars, for which please send me settings of pigeon eggs to that value, and send me the balance due, if any. Answer. We do not sell pigeon eggs.
OWE SIAILOUINS. BIND BON SIVAIIKS, 103
It is impossible to use an incubator and raise pigeons success- fully, because there is no way of feeding the young squabs when they are hatched. The life of squabs is nourished and prolonged from day to day by the parent birds, which feed them. To raise squabs, you must start by buying the adult breeders. You cannot start with the eggs.
Question. It seems to me that if each pair of squabs hatched consists of male and female, that this couple is hkely to pair when grown, being well acquainted with each other. This would be inbreeding and would weaken my flock. What shall Ido? Answer. It is not the plan of the species to mate and inbreed like this. If brother and sister mated as you describe, the species would be extinct after a while. They will look for new mates as soon as they get out of the nest and are of breeding age.
Question. When are the young pigeons old enough to mate? Answer. At from four to six months.
Question. My birds do not know enough to go in from the roof of the squab house when it rains. How shall I get them in? Answer. Let them stay on the roof in the rain if they wish. The rain will do them no harm.
Question. Must I heat the squab house in the winter time? Answer. No. The heat from a flock of pigeons in a well- built house is considerable. You will get more squabs from _ your pigeons in the winter time if you do heat your house slightly, not enough to cause much expense, but just enough to take the chill off. Do not let your birds out of the squab house on bitter cold days.
Question. I live in Texas and I think in this climate your squab house would be too warm and stuffy. Answer. You are right. Adapt the construction to your locality. The poultry houses in Texas as compared to those in the North are much less expensive and more open to the air, and your squab house should be built on the same principle.
Question. Suppose I cool the squabs as you direct and pack them into a box for shipment, shall I useice? Is there any danger that the meat will be discolored when they arrive at market? Answer. Ice is not necessary in the fall, winter and spring. In the summer time you should use ice, although if the shipment 1s for a short distance, ice may not be necessary. In hot weather the squabs should not be killed until the night
104 NATIONAL STANDARD SOQUAS BOOK
before shipping. In the cool months. you may keep them at home longer. If the squabs are cooled by hanging them from studding as we describe, there is no danger that the meat will be discolored. The object of hanging them from studding is to cool the carcasses properly so that the meat will not be discolored by contact.
Question. How shall I pack the killed squabs when I send them to market? Answer. Lay them in the box layer on layer, in an orderly fashion. Do not throw them in helter skelter.
Question. Can I hang the squabs to cool from studding suspended in the barn, in the summer time? Answer. It is better to use the cellar of the house, or the coolest room in the house.
Question. I do not like your idea of keeping the birds wiredin. They are free by nature and it strikes me that they should have a chance to get exercise by long flights. Answer. You must keep them wired in, or they may leave you. Re- member that the Homer is attached to the place where it is bred, that is the Homer instinct. If you buy birds of us and on opening the crate let them fly anywhere they choose, trusting to luck to have them come back to you, you may be disappointed and lose some of the birds. You must keep them wired in all the time.
Question. You say your Homers are fine flyers. What is the use of my buying them of you to fly in races or to sell again as flyers, if they may desert me when I let them out into the open air? Answer. The squabs which you breed from our birds will know no home but yours, and they will not fly away from you. You can send them away, when they are old enough, and time their flight back to your house, their home. When you sell these trained flyers to others, you do not expect that they will try to fly them, but that they will use them for breeders.
Question. How large are the mating coops? Answer. A convenient size is two feet long, two feet wide and two feet high.
Question. My birds seem timid and I am afraid to catch them. How shall I go about it? Answer. Do not be afraid of hurting them. Take a broom and drive one where you will, finally pinning it against the side of the squab house, or
QUESTIONS AND-A NSWERS 105
in acorner. Grasp it and hold its wings firmly and it will not struggle. Or you may make a net on the end of a pole, like an ordinary fish landing net, and scoop the bird into it as it flies through the air.
Question. Suppose I have several squab houses, as you describe, but let all the birds together in one large flying pen, where they can bathe from one large fountain. Answer. This is all right if you do not wish to keep close track of your birds. If the birds can roam from one house to another, there is nothing to prevent a pair from building one nest on one house and then going to another house to build the second nest.
Question. I believe I will put a strip of wire or piece of wood across the front of each nest box so as to keep each pair more secluded, and to keep the nests from dropping out. Answer. Don’t do it. Don’t worry about the nests falling out. Build the pigeon-holes perfectly plain.
Question. How many squabs shall I pack in one box when sending to market? Answer. Having picked out the size of the box you wish, fill it up close with squabs, so they will move shwclk... "As tothe size of the box, make it as*-bis: or. little as you please, but do not make it any bigger than one expressman can handle easily. <A good size is two feet square and one foot deep.
Question. Send me two males and ten females. Answer. You must buy your birds in pairs. They pair off in this way, namely, one male to one female. One male does not have two or three females. We have heard pigeon breeders talk of having one cock which would attend two hens, but never had a case in our experience.
Question. After plucking the squab, and before sending it to market, do you remove the entrails? Answer. No.
Question. In order to avoid the trouble of using the mating coop, may I put an equal number of cocks and hens im the same pen? Amswer. Yes.
Question. Can I discover the male and female organs by examination of the birds with a magnifying glass? Answer. No. You can discover them by dissecting the dead bird.
Question. Suppose I build the nest boxes larger, so as to give a Shelf on which the birds can alight? Answer. Don’t doit. The bird will fly directly into the nest, or onto the nest
106: NATIONAL STANDARD SOCAB BOOK
box in front of the nest. You do not need an alighting place.
Question. Seems to me that if I start with forty-eight pairs of birds, I ought to have ninety-six perches. Answer. The birds do not all perch at the same time. While some are perching, others are on the nests, or walking on the floor, or are outside in the flying pen, or on the roof. Put up a few perches where you have room and let it go at that.
Question. I live in England; can you ship me twenty-four pairs of your breeders? . Answer. Yes; the transportation charges will be four dollars. In addition you will have to pay the butcher or steward of the boat ten shillings for feeding and watering the birds. Send us six dollars and fifty cents in addition to the regular price of the birds and we will ship to you all charges prepaid. In shipping to Cuba and remote points in the United States and Canada, we do not have to pay anything extra for the feeding and watering of the birds; the express charges include the feeding and watering.
Question. What is a Runt pigeon? Please quote prices on a dozen pairs of Runts. Answer. A Runt pigeon is a special breed of pigeon, remarkable for its large size. They come all colors, as a Homer does. The white Runts are an exceptionally beautiful bird and command large prices, as high as six dollars to fifteen dollars a pair. The squabs which Runts breed weigh from eighteen ounces to one and one-half pounds at four weeks. If Runts bred as fast as Homers, they would be just the bird for squab breeders, but they are fatally slow in breeding, as a rule. The Homers raise two pairs of squabs to the Runts’ one. Therefore it is of course more profitable to raise Homers. We do not sell Runts and do not advocate their use either as a separate breed, or crossed up with Homers. The large, plump, thoroughbred Homer is the best.
Question. What is the difference between the Homer and Antwerp breeds of pigeons? Answer. No difference. The name is used interchangeably to apply to the same breed of pigeon. In New England we speak of them mostly as Homers. In some places they are called more often Antwerps.
Question. Can I feed some of my squabs by hand if nec- essary? Answer. Yes. Mix up a mushy, soft handful of grain, hold the squab in the left hand, close to your body, and with the thumb and first finger of your right hand force the
OVE STONS AND AUN SWE RS: 107
mixture into the bill. The squab will swallow and fill its crop. A backward squab may be forced in this manner.
Question. Can you sell me twelve pairs of young Homers, about eight weeks old? Answer. No. It is impossible to tell the sex of pigeons of that age. Any breeder who under- takes to furnish squabs several weeks old in equal males and females cannot do so and is imposing on you.
Question. Please give recipes for. cooking squabs. An- swer. See the cook books. Squabs are generally served broiled. They should be drawn, singed and washed. Cut off the heads, split into two parts, season, put on a lump of butter and broil over a hot fire. Place close to the fire at first so as to brown the outside and retain the juices, then hold further away from the fire to complete the cooking. If roasted, leave them in a hot oven for thirty minutes. For roasting, squabs may be stuffed with cranberries or currants. Baste every ten minutes with spoonfuls of hot water and butter.
Question. How shall I train the young birds raised from your Homers to fly? Answer. There is a large business in flying Homers and if you have a pen or two of trained birds you can sell them at fancy prices. There are homing clubs all over the country which have contests and it is worth while for a breeder to work for a reputation of breeding and selling fast flyers. The young Homers when five months old are strong enough to be trained to fly. Take them in a basket (having omitted to feed them) a mile or two away, and liberate them one by one. They will circle in the air, then choose the correct course. You should have left grain for them as a reward for their safe arrival home, and an induce- ment for their next experience in flying. Two or three days later take or send them away five miles and repeat. Next try ten miles, and so work on by easy stages up to seventy- five or one hundred miles. If you have a friend in another city, you may send your birds in a basket to him with instruc- tions to liberate certain ones at certain hours, or you may send the basket by, train to any express agent, along with a letter telling him to liberate the birds at a certain hour and send the basket back to you. If you wish to have the birds carry a message, write it on a piece of cigarette paper (or any strong tissue), wrap the paper around the leg of the bird and
SELF-FEEDING GRAIN TROUGH. It is quite difficult to de- vise a grain trough from which the pigeons cannot throw grain out, as they poke around in search o tid-bits. The trough illustrated at the top of this page is a good one. The grain falls down in each compartment as fast asit is eaten. The pigeons when eating stand in the front part of the trough and if they pull out any grain, 2 Nea this is not scattered on Ny Se eee the floor of the squab- \ = house but on the board front, from which it may be swept up as erate ee nee : tern of trough was de- cianeds by DE. Ey VD: SELF-FEEDER FOR GRAIN Clum. One sketch ; . shows the box without cover and the other with cover in its proper place, protecting the entire box and contents from droppings of the birds. The dimensions do not mat- ter. A good size would be about four feet long and two feet wide. This would allow for feed compartments about five inches wide, nine in number. J
The trough for grain illustrated at the bottom of this page is for use when feeding by hand twice a day. It was devised by Charles W. Brown. It is simple and open, still the birds cannot foul the grain in it. The size shown in the pic- ture is four inches wide and two inches deep inside, thirty-six inches long outside. Twenty birds can feed at once at this size. The ends are four inches high inside to centre of pivot. These pivots are the feature of the trough and give it its novelty. The birds cannot get into the box and foul the feed be- cause the bar is in the wav. As the bar is pivoted and_ turns when they alight on it, Top View they cannot roost on it. The pivoted wood bar is of one-inch square stock. The box
also is of one-inch
| = a = | stock, so as to be heavy
and strong. The box
is deck eueuee pre-
. vent birds from throw-
OPEN TROUGH WITH REVOLVING BAR jpcicaihaler inkahen
enough for twenty
birds for one meal is in it. There is space between the edge of box and the bar ample
for the birds to feed, but not enough space for them to get into the feeder. The fact
that the bar is pivoted does not prevent the birds from alighting on it but, being pivoted,
the bar turns as soon as they alight on it and off they go. They soon learn to keep off
it. The illustrations and descriptions of both these troughs are taken by permission from the National Squab Magazine.
108
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 109
tie with thread, or fasten with glue or a stamp; or, you may tie the tissue around one of the tail feathers. A thin alu- minum tube containing the message may be fastened to a leg, or to a tail feather. A trap window should be constructed to time the arrival home of birds. This is an aperture about six inches square closed by wires hanging from a piece of wood at the top of the aperture and swinging inward, but held close to the aperture by its own weight. The pigeon cannot fly out but on its return home (if you have sprinkled grain on the inside of the house, next the wires) the bird will push the wire door and goin. It takes only a day or two for the pigeon to become accustomed to the trap. If you connect the trap with a simple make-and-break electric circuit, the pigeon on its arrival home from its flight will ring a bell in any part of your house or barn. When you have a record of the flyers, you will have a guide for mating. The majority of fanciers recommend a medium-sized Homer. A large hen should be mated to a small cock, or a large cock to a small hen. What is perhaps the best pigeon service in the world has been in use for several years between Newton Roads, Auckland, New Zealand, and the Great Barrier and Maro Tiro Islands, some seventy-five miles distant. A boy of sixteen years worked up the service and makes a large income from it. About twenty messages an hour are carried back and forth by the Homers. A year ago the government declared its intention of laying a cable from Auckland to Great Barrier. The project was abandoned, however, as the residents of the little island decided that they were well pleased with the pigeons, and that a cable would not be patronized. The government offered to buy the whole pigeon outfit from the boy owner, but he refused. There are from four hundred to five hundred pairs of pigeons in the service.
Question. In the case of young birds mated up for the first time at five or six months of age, is it best to destroy the first eggs, or let them go ahead and hatch in the regular way? Answer. Let them go ahead and hatch and learn to feed their young. It will improve them for the next hatch.
Question. Please describe the self-feeder more fully and explain its operation. Answer. The hopper of the feeder is V-shaped so that the grain will fall by its own weight to the centre at the bottom, which is cut away as shown in the
NO NATIONAL STANDARD SOU Ab BOOK
illustration so that as the birds peck up the grain, more falls from the hopper. The slit where the birds eat should be about an inch and a half in width, just enough to prevent the grain from running out faster than it is eaten. If the grain is pulled out on the floor, tack a strip of wood, like a lath, so as partly to block the holes.
Question. Should I cover the yard of the flying pen with your grit? Answer. No. Providea box and keep our grit in the box. When the pigeons want grit, they will go to the box and get it.
Question. Are the carrier (flying) pigeons the same breed as your Homers? Answer. Yes. A flying or carrier Homer is a Homer that has been trained to fly a long distance.
Question. What are artificially fattened squabs? An- swer. An artificially fattened squab is a squab which has been stuffed by hand. Takea syringe and fill it with fattening mixture of gruel-like consistency, open the mouth of the squab and force the contents of the syringe into the crop of the squab. Very few breeders take this trouble to bring their squabs to an extraordinary size.
Question. I wish you had shipped my breeders in one large crate, then the express charges would not have been so much as for the two crates which you used. Answer. You are mistaken. An express shipment goes by weight and not by number of packages. The express clerks put all the crates going to one customer on the scales together and weigh them all at once and on the total weight the charge is based. They prefer to handle a large shipment in small packages, rather than in one large package.
Question. Can I use the upper part of my henhouse for pigeons, and if so will the pigeons interfere in the flying pen with the hens? Answer. You may use the upper part of your henhouse and the pigeons will not be harmed by the hens, nor the hens by the pigeons. It is best to build the flying pen in two stories so that the pigeons cannot fly into the henhouse to try to nest.
Question. To save room, I would like to build my pigeon house in two stories. Answer. That is all right. Build the top flying pen out over and extending beyond the bottom - flying pen if you wish to separate the flocks on the ground floor from the flocks upstairs.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 111
Question. What are the bands for pigeons’ legs and how are they applied? Answer. The seamless band is a ring of aluminum three-eighths of an inch in diameter and from three-sixteenths to one-quarter of an inch in width. You cannot apply it to an old pigeon. It is put on either leg of a squab when the squab is four or five days old, by squeezing the toes of the squab through the band. As the leg of the squab grows, it becomes impossible to remove the band except by cutting it off. On the band, before putting it on the leg of the squab, you may stamp year of birth and your initials, or anything you choose. We sell an outfit consisting _of aluminum tubing, dies, etc., by which the squab breeder may make his own bands at a cost of two or three for a cent.
Question. Since I bought twelve pairs of you, I have kept a careful account of the feed, and find as you state that five cents a month for a pair of breeders is right. Grain has been much higher than usual this summer and it strikes me that under normal conditions of the grain market the cost of a pair of squab breeders would be less than five cents a month, or sixty cents a year. Answer. Our figures of cost were ascertained not by ‘“‘ skimping ”’ the birds, but feeding them liberally, and an estimate of five cents a month for a pair is based on a low cost of grain, and on selling the manure.
Question. What pattern of trowel do you recommend for cleaning the nest bowls and nest boxes? Answer. The common trowel such as bricklayers use is too pointed. The best pattern has a square point and a stout blade with strong handle. With such a trowel you can clean out the nest bowls and nest boxes very effectively.
Question. Can pigeons be raised on the sea-coast as well as inland? Answer. Yes; the Homer pigeon is descended from a variety of pigeon which first bred among the cliffs bordering the sea-shore.
Question. Do the squabs fly out of the nest before they are four weeks old? Answer. No; they look old enough to fly at four weeks, and their wings seem all ready for use, but they stay in the nest and are fed by the parent birds, and when you wish to kill them you find both in the nest ready for you.
Question. Your book states that pigeons sometimes lay their eggs on the floor. But it does not say anything about taking the eggs and putting them in a nest bowl. Would the
112 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
birds follow their eggs and accept change of nest from floor to nest bowl? Answer. No; you must leave the eggs where they lay them. You can handle a nest and change eggs from one nest bowl to another, if you wish, but you cannot move eggs from one place in the squab house to another and expect the birds to find them and go on with their laying.
Question. Do all squab breeders heat their houses in the winter time; I mean those who do a large business like your- self. Answer. No; some breeders of many years’ experience believe that a warm house is detrimental to the health of the birds, on account of the sudden change of temperature from a warm house to a cold flying pen. The object should be merely to take the damp winter chill off the air. If you have a warm, tight squab house which you will close when night comes, you will need no heat.
Question. In the case of a long house, say four units long, should there be wire netting partitions between the units, so as to separate the birds into four flocks? Answer. Such an arrangement is more practical than one long house. It is better to keep track of four small flocks than one large flock. You can keep account of the birds both on paper, and with your eyes, with more precision.
Question. How would a cement floor for the squab house do? Answer. Do not use cement. See page 43 again.
Question. How is salt cat made? Answer. Take sixteen quarts of sand, eight quarts of slaked lime, four quarts of ground oyster shells, one pint of salt, one pint of caraway seeds and mix with water into a stiff mud. Form into bricks and set away to dry. The water with which you mix should have a tablespoonful of sulphate of iron and a tablespoonful of sulphuric acid for tonic and disinfectant. The birds peck at this mixture and it is believed to have a tonic and strength- ening effect on them.
Question. Shall I crowd one of the units with nest boxes, or would it be better to have a smaller number of nest boxes and build another unit to accommodate the new birds which I am going to buy? Answer. Better enlarge your squab house. In case of doubt, you will be on the safer side if you do not crowd the birds.
(See following pages for points which may occur to you and which are not covered in these questions and answers.)
SUPPLEMENT
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK By ExLmMer C. RICE
Every year shows a healthy growth in the squab industry and in our business, which has become the largest and most successful in the world in the pigeon or poultry line, and is expanding steadily, requiring every little while new buildings, larger business offices, more help—and the growth is going steadily on, with every prospect of a like increase the coming year.
On April 1, 1904, to get more room for the Boston office, we were obliged to move from No. 9 Friend Street, and are now located at 287 Atlantic avenue, Boston, where in a new modern building and with our quarters fitted with every convenience for the rapid and accurate handling of business, we have the largest space in New England devoted to the pigeon or poultry or kindred trade.
Our Manual, the National Standard Squab Book, is the best-selling work on breeding or farm-life ever published in any country, and has been carried in the mails to every part of the civilized world.
We do not speak of these matters to magnify what we have done, but because they are an assurance to new customers that we are entitled to their confidence and patronage. Weare grateful to the men and women who have havered us so bountifully with their trade, and intend to merit further con-
ence.
We have an extremely modern equipment in our Boston office for handling correspondence, including a $200 system of business phonographs, Edison patents. Mr. Rice handles the important part of the large correspondence, dictating personal replies to phonograph cylinders which are taken by young women and transcribed on typewriters. By the use of this phono- graph system, easy, full and correct replies for all letters are possible.
Our business is too much a matter of pride with us, too large, and too successful, to permit of a single patron being dissatisfied. We have spent over $100,000 to put our trade on a firm and successful footing and we cannot afford to run the risk of displeasing a customer. If resources, skill and experience count for anything, and we think they do, we intend to keep on furnishing the best Homer pigeons possible, and patrons can rest assured that they are getting for their money the greatest possible value. Moreover, we have one price to all; the customer in California can buy of us as cheaply as our next-door neighbors. Our farm is always open to inspection and customers may make their own selection of breeding stock, if they desire.
Our general advertising in the high-class magazines and other periodicals not only induces the breeding of squabs but also leads people to eat squabs. For every one who sees our advertising and writes for particulars and starts breeding, there are a score of men and women who inquire of their butchers or marketmen for squabs in order to eat them. Squab dealers in every section of the United States and Canada are reporting an increased demand with which the supply cannot begin to keep pace.
We take some pride in the squab industry. We were the pioneers in it _ and we put it on a commercial basis. We have fostered it on correct lines and according to sound business principles, and the growth has not been a
113
114 NATIONAL. STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
‘boom,’ as some other things in the past have been boomed, but has been steady and sure and successful. We paint no extravagant picture as to the profits of squab raising, and we show proofs every step of the way—stories of success of our customers who started green and are making money.
That there are occasional failures is to be expected. We give no recipe and sell no machinery for transforming an incompetent person who fails at many tasks into a success. But the history of this industry and of cur business demonstrates with a power that cannot be denied that squab raising is right.
No business climbs up the hill of profit steadily for any length of time unless it is absolutely fair, advertised by true statements, and giving a true money’s worth. When we began to tell the country about squabs, people would come to our office and say, ‘‘Well, it reads pretty good, but is it true?” We did not have much evidence ready then, but we have now. Our answer is the present condition of the squab industry, forging ahead with giant strides to its place alongside of eggs and poultry, millions of dollars in value, and the unsolicited letters from our customers which we print, showing the most remarkable and convincing progress of this breeding.
We have already printed a great many of these letters in years past, and we print more in this Supplement. We have room here to show only a small part of such testimony. For every letter printed here we have scores just as convincing. These communications have come to us unsolicited, day by day, as the business brought them, and more are coming every day, and they are our answer to doubters. They are the proof that what we say about the business and what we teach in the Manual, is true, and is being worked out successfully. We do not print the names and addresses of the writers of these letters because many of them are regular buyers of our birds, and moreover, we cannot advertise other breeders free of charge. These letters and the testimony they give are valueless if they are not genuine. Each and every one is genuine, and moreover, we guarantee their genuineness, and will produce the originals at any time to satisfy anybody. In these days when many “‘testimonials’” are unblushingly “worked up’ without a shadow of foundation, there are skeptics, and to such who cannot come to Boston and see us, we recommend that they send one of the commercial agency men to make the inquiry and handle the evidence. We have never yet had the genuineness of our letters from customers questioned, for they ‘“‘ring true’”’ and are in the simple language of facts which cannot be counterfeited, but we are ready at any time for any doubter.
What others have done and are doing with our birds, you can do.
clearly. The neck of the squab is placed
KILLING MACHINE. To kill squabs with i between the movable arm (or lever) and the
extreme rapidity we have made a machine
with which the operator can work with much ease and satisfaction. The method of tweak- ing the necks which we describe and illustrate in the Manual is slow when compared with the work of this machine, and is repugnant to many, especially women.
The illustration shows the construction
lower arm, and the lever is brought down upon the neck, breaking the bones, crushing the spinal cord and killing the squab instantly. The operation produces no blood, nor does it break the flesh. The two edges of the upper and lower arms, where they come to- gether against the neck of the squab, should
S U2 PVARIVUE IN IE
not be sharp so as to cut the flesh, but should be rounding, and slightly flat at the points of contact. :
The base-board is made of three-quarters or one-inch lumber, twenty inches long and seven inches wide. ‘The upper arm (or lever) is of half-inch stock, one and three-quarters
fi Wh i]
inches wide and fifteen inches long. The lower arm is of half-inch stock one and three- quarters inches wide and eight and one-half inches long. The two upright pieces in front, nearest the hand of the operator, are each of seven-eighths or inch stock, one and three-quarters inches wide and three and three-quarters inches high. The two upright pieces in back, furthest from the hand of the operator, are each of seven-eighths or inch stock, two and one-half inches wide and three and three-quarters inches high.
The pin at the back of the machine on which the lever turns is of one-quarter inch brass or iron rod two and one-quarter inches iong.
The upper arm (or lever) is bevelled or cut off at an angle on lower corner (behind the uprights, and consequently invisible In the picture) so that the lever can be raised to an angle of forty-five degrees, thus per- mitting the neck of the squab to be inserted between the arms at a point just back of the farther uprights. When the upper lever is at rest upon the lower arm, there should be no space ‘between the two; they should butt flush together.
The whole machine is built of wood with the exception of the metal pivot and the screws which hold the parts together. It is not necessary to mortise the uprights into the base-board. The screws which fasten the uprights are started underneath from the back side of the base-board and go through the base-board. Nails may be used instead of screws to hold the parts together, but the job will not be so strong. The base-board should be nailed or screwed to a bench or table so as to give firmness and solidity in operation. Carry the squabs in a basket to the machine and kill them there; do not take the machine into the pens and kill the squabs in sight of the other birds.
We do not sell this squab killer. It should be built by you or your carpenter.
Customers with large plants have told us that this tool is a handy article, and we
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have found it indispensable. The squabs can be killed as fast as you can work the lever. The pressure is considerable and the cords are crushed at once. The squab is not strangled but is paralyzed, and made lifeless at once. é
For those who do not care to build a wood squab-killing machine as described above, we sell pincers, to accomplish the same purpose in the same way; see our catalogue. These pincers should be oiled at the joint, and the joint worked so that they will open and close freely. When first purchased the joint is tight, and works hard.
For dealers who wish squabs bled, use the knife which we describe in our catalogue.
WEANING THE YOUNG BIRDS. If you are starting with a small flock with the expectation of raising your own breeders, do not take the young birds away from their parents out of the breeding pen until they are weaned. They are not thoroughly weaned until they are six or seven weeks old. It is true that many of them hop or fly or are pushed out of the nests when they are from four to five weeks old, but they con- tinue to cry for food when they are hungry, and the old cock bird of the pair which hatched them will be seen feeding them on the floor. The youngsters at this time are feeding themselves, but to keep them strong and rugged they need the crumbs of parental food which they get as described, and for which they cry, or squeak. These crumbs have been moistened by the parent bird and consequently digest quicker and better.
When the youngsters are weaned, take them out of the breeding pen and put them in the rearing pen. (The rearing pen is fitted with nest-boxes, etc., exactly the same as a breeding pen.) You can tell by their jooks when they are old enough to remove, even if you have not kept track of their age. The substance (called the cere) at the base of the bill of an old pigeon which is white will be a dark brown on a squab or young bird. A squab in the nest is so fat as often to be bigger than either of his parents, but after he has got out of the nest and hustled around on the floor he trains off that fat and becomes thin and rangy and can generally be told from an old bird, if in no other way, because he is smaller.
A poor beginner will sometimes be heard to say: ‘Many of my young birds are dying.’”’ When he says that, you may be sure that the trouble, every time, is with him, and not with his birds, provided, of course, his parent stock is rugged and hand- some. Itmay be deduced, without asking any further questions, that he is taking his young birds away from the breeding pen before they have the strength to support themselves. The precarious period of all animal life is the weaning age. Some beginners who have had no difficulty in raising squabs to market
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age have had losses because they supposed that a full-fledged youngster was able to take care of itself, but we never knew a case of this which we could not straighten out simply by recommending the breeder to keep his young birds longer in the breeding pen.
NEED OF HEALTH GRIT. It has been our experience in dealing not only with many thousands of beginners in the squab business, but also with a great many breeders of considerable experience, that comparatively few have a proper appreciation of the value of grit. Pigeons have no teeth and must have grit to take the place of teeth, otherwise they cannot prepare their food for their stomachs properly, and will not do well. We have had customers take the most extraormlinary care with regard to the grain, but supply absolutely no grit, and then they complained because their birds were not breeding properly, and that the squabs were not plump.
Grit is not oyster shell, nor is oyster shell grit. You must have both. The grit is needed, as stated, to grind the grain, while the oyster shell is needed to supply the constituents out of which the female pigeon forms the egg.
The yard of the flying pen must be gravelled not grassed, and out of this gravel the birds get considerable grit. If you watch them, you will see them pecking at this gravel in the flying pen constantly. Beach sand, or sand of any kind, may be used in the flying pen instead of gravel. The flying-pen yard should be renewed with fresh sand or gravel every six weeks, for although it may look the same to you, you must remember that it does not look the same to the birds, for they have been going over it constantly picking out the particles which they liked. In the winter time when the flying pen may be covered with snow, it is well to keep a pro- tected box filled with gravel or sand in the squab-house. By a protected box, we mean a box which the birds cannot foul, but which allows the grit to fall down as fast as eaten.
In a protected box in the squab-house there should also be fed the Heaith Grit which we sell. We have used all kinds of grits, and the grit we are now using and selling to the exclusion of everything else, is the only grit which pigeons will eat greedily (thus showing that it is good for them). It contains salt, and no salt need be. provided in lump form if this grit is supplied. The grits commonly manufactured and sold for poultry, made out of granite, etc., are useless for pigeons, and it is a waste of money to buy them, for common gravel or sand would be fully as good, and cost nothing. at
flock of pigeons under any conditions and in any part of the country will do better when our Health Grit is fed. The squabs will be ready for market a few days earlier, they will be plumper, and both they and the old
NATIONAL. STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
birds will be in rugged health, and will keep so. We keep this grit before our own pigeons constantly, and consume and sell more tons of it every year than of any grit in the market. It is used by practically every large squab breeder of our acquaintance. We recommend it in the highest terms, knowing in our own experience that it pays for itself many times over.
We charge two dollars per 100 pounds for this grit. We do not sell less than fifty - pounds. Price of fifty pounds, one dollar. We ship it in bags and it goes at a low freight rate. A hundred-pound bag will last a small flock formonths. Itisas good for hens as for pigeons. This grit should be kept in and fed from a wood box. Do not put it in a tin or galvanized iron box.
OYSTER SHELL. A great deal of oyster shell on the market is unfit for pigeons, not being ground fine enough. It is quite difficult in some sections of the West and South to get oyster shell, which has to be transported from the seaboard. The oyster shell which we supply our trade is put up in one-hundred-pound bags. Price 75 cents per 100 .pounds. No order filled for less than fifty pounds; price of fifty pounds, forty cents. It is ground fine and is just right for pigeons. It should be fed to the pigs from a protected box in the squab-
ouse.
INSECT SPRAYER. Pigeons have a long feather louse which is not harmful. The mite which causes the only trouble is small, about the size of a pin-head, called the red mite, because after it has sucked the blood of the pigeon it is colored red. We have gone a whole season without seeing any of these mites in our breeding houses. If lice of this kind, or any kind, are discovered, the insect sprayer which we illustrate here will be found useful. The barrel is filled with kerosene (or water in which squab-fe-nol has been poured) and a fine spray driven against the nest-boxes and nest-bowls, or even against the birds.
These insect sprayers are well made of heavy tin. We sell them for fifty cents
ANNNS
each. They cannot be mailed, but should be sent by express, or with other goods by freight.
Birds which are lousy may be dusted under the feathers, next the skin, with any good lice powder, or with tobacco dust. The best time for such treatment is at night, when the birds may be readily caught and
SUP PE EM ENT
handled. It is also a good idea to throw a pinch of tobacco dust in the nest, on and around the squabs, about once a month during the summer.
Lice are the terror of chicken raisers, but we never knew asquab raiser, if intelligent, to be troubled very much or very long with lice.
Once free of lice, the birds almost in- variably keep themselves clean. It is only the loft where cleaning is badly neglected which is troubled with lice.
There is a light-colored grub which some- times forms in the manure on the bottom of the nest-box, but no trouble comes from it and it does not get on the bird.
RED AND WHITE WHEAT. It is im- possible for us to tell what is the -difference between red and white wheat. We do not know the chemical constituents which color one kernel red and another variety white. This question is asked us by inquirers who have never heard of red wheat, yet it is a common and staple variety of wheat quoted daily in the Chicago and other grain markets. If you cannot get red wheat where you live, feed white wheat, which is fed regularly by nine-tenths of our customers. As we say in the Manual, we feed red wheat instead of white wheat because it is not so much of a laxative. When we cannot get red wheat, which happens at some periods of some years, we feed white wheat.
The effect of wheat is to keep the bowels of the birds open and regular. There is not much fattening substance in wheat. That function is performed by corn.
Birds fed on wheat and nothing else get so weak that they do no breeding. We have found this out by the experience of customers. Now and then a customer buys birds without thinking that they must eat to live. After he has got them he suddenly recalls that they must be fed and starts out to find something. We recall vividly one Kansas customer of this kind who was induced by some grain man to buy a lot of wheat and nothing else. After feeding his birds nothing but wheat for two weeks, he wrote us that they were dumpy and showing no inclination to build nests.. “They are all the time on the floor,’’ he wrote, ‘‘and cannot fly.”” He had made them so weak by feeding the wheat that they could not fly to their nest-boxes, to say nothing of building nests.
USE OF LEG BAND OUTFIT. The aluminum which we sell with our leg band outfit is seamless tubing and by the use of the outfit you produce a band which | is seamless and which can be applied only to a squab, because, of course, the feet of an old pigeon are too large to be squeezed through the band as a squab’s can be squeezed. To make an open band (which can be applied to the leg of a full-grown pigeon) out of the closed band, you simply make a_saw-cut lengthwise the band, then open the band
IT
with your fingers, put it around the leg of the pigeon, then close the band again. If any one has old pigeons which he wishes to band, he will find this band outfit quite as serviceable as if used only for banding squabs. We have sold thousands of these band out- fits, and customers like them first-rate. We can furnish open bands (to be applied to the legs of full-grown pigeons) made of aluminum, V-shaped joint, each band numbered, a first-class band in every way, for two cents each, or two dollars for one hundred, postage paid.
MANAGEMENT OF BATH PANS. The sixteen-inch bath pan which we recommend and sell is better than a larger size, no matter what the capacity of your plant. It is easier emptied of water, there is less strain on the arms, and it is kept clean easier.
There should be one bath pan for every twelve pairs of birds. If you have about 48 pairs of birds in each unit, you should have four bath pans in that unit, outside in the flying pen. You can get along very well with one drinking fountain to a unit with that number of birds, or a less number of birds, but if you do not have bath pans enough the bathing water will get dirtier than it should and the birds should not be given an opportunity to drink this dirty water.
In the winter, when the birds are shut up in the squab-house frequently for days at a time, it is not necessary to bathe them every day. Bathe them once each week, taking the bath pans into the squab-house and letting the pans stand before them for about an hour. If you let the water stand in the bath pans in the squab-house in the winter time all day, they will splash toa much out onto the floor, and the house will get damp.
If your plant is a small one, the best way for you to manage is this: At evening (sunset, sometimes before) your birds will all leave the flying pen for their nests and perches inside. Then fill the bath pans with water. When the following day dawns, and before you are up, the pigeons will fly out and take a bath. When you get up, go to your pigeons and empty the bath pans, turning them bottom side up and leaving them that way all day.
The price of these sixteen-inch bath pans is forty cents, crated ready for shipment.
KILLING WITH A KNIFE. Some dealers in squabs wish them to be killed with a knife as this gets out the blood and makes the flesh somewhat whiter. Find out whether or not the man to whom you are going to sell the squabs wants them bled. The way to kill them with a knife is to insert the knife inside the bill and cut the jugular vein. Then hang up the squab bill downward and let the blood drain out. By using the knife on the inside of the throat you do not make
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a wound which is visible to the eye of the consumer. Use a knife with a long, narrow, sharp blade. We sell them for forty-five cents each, postage paid.
CONCERNING NEST BOXES. Many customers who do not use egg-crates or orange boxes, but build their nest-boxes of half-inch or five-eighths lumber. have written us that they have used the construction which we illustrate herewith and which is good, because cleaning can be better done.
The bottoms of the nest-boxes are re- movable and rest on cleats, as the picture shows. The cleats are seven-eighths or one inch square and are nailed to the uprights.
When this construction is employed, it is not necessary that you have a block or base screwed to our nappy or_ nest-bowl. The nappy or nest-bowl may be screwed directly onto this removable nest-box bottom.
It is not necessary to nail a strip of wood across the fronts of the nest-boxes, to prevent the squabs from falling out. ;
The squabs stay in the nest until they _are ready to leave it, and it is very rare to find one on the floor. It will be noticed that in the cities, the street pigeons’ nests in many cases will be found on the open
cornices of high buildings, and if squabs
stay in such nests until they are able to fly, the beginner with squabs ought not to be worried about his birds’ nests which are only a few feet from the floor.
SQUABS IN CHICAGO. The following article is taken from the Chicago American: Squab Farming is a new Chicago Industry.
Little Capital is Required and Persons of good
Judgment and Care can Realize Good
Profits from Pigeon Culture.
If all the birds in all the pies were suddenly to lift their voices in song like those in the nursery rhyme, the chorus would be loud and long, for raising of squabs for food is a , constantly growing and lucrative industry, and withal very fascinating,
NATIONAL SITANDAKD SOUAS BOOK
A number of farms, each sheltering several hundred birds, are being conducted within easy reach of the Chicago market.
Such clubs as the Union League and Athletic are always ready buyers. Plump birds are readily sold for a dollar apiece for breeding purposes, and their squabs at $4 a dozen for food. As in any field of labor, the best results come from studied and carefully planned effort. Utmost cleanliness in food and in the little compartments to which each bird comes with unerring instinct to nest enters largely into success.
Eggs of clear black or white birds are difficult to hatch because the birds of those colors are very restless and nervous, not caring for their eggs; sometimes only one in a dozen being matured.
In four weeks the young bird is ready for the market. Many of the squab farms are side issues of those employed at other voca- tions during the day, and bid fair to attract the attention of those seeking quick returns from a small outlay.
Attention to recognized habits of the birds, sanitary conditions and good breeds for parent birds are all that is necessary to success,
ACTUAL TESTS CONVINCED THEM. In Appendix A in our Manual, we tell of a sale of our Homers which we made in February, 1903, to a_ship captain, who intended to sail from Boston around Cape Horn to the Pacific coast, with stops, the whole voyage to be made in about a year, the pigeons to furnish fresh squab meat for the long journey. The ship went to Florida, from Boston, thence to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, safely, and sailed from there October 1, 1903. Under date of June 22, 1904, the Captain wrote us as follows from New York City: “The birds proved all you claim for them, and even more. I put them in a small house I built, four by eight, and four by four flying pen, on March 7, 1903, (This was on the deck of the ship.) They all hatched before April 6, and up to June 5, 1904, every bird had hatched twelve times, and one pair thirteen times. I saved one pair of the first hatches, that were born about April 6, and in October they hatched their first pair, and up to June 5 had six hatchings, which J think was pretty good. I am satisfied that if the birds are taken care of there is big money in them, and just as soon as I can get a location in New jersey, near New York City, I will send to you for two or three hundred pairs. Ihave an option on a place now and will know tomorrow. I am pretty sure I shall get it and by next Monday I am in hopes to begin my houses. As soon as I get them ready, I will send you a draft for what birds I want. As my houses are built I will order and fill them and I hope you will try and give me a good lot of birds. I shall build for one thousand pairs this summer and increase next year if the birds are as good as those
SUPPLEMENT
you gave me. In two weeks you may expect to get an order for two hundred pairs, so you can begin to get them paired off. Any sug- gestion you can give me about the houses will be very acceptable, as I am going to begin to build at once.
Since the above was written, he has built his first house and we have shipped him the first large lot of birds. His experience is certainly convincing. Any one who has doubts can start with a small purchase of birds and find out the facts for himself, just as this customer did.
We are continually filling large orders for customers who started with a small purchase and did well. Why don’t you start with two dozen or so pairs and have the experience of this Michigan customer whose order we received this summer: ‘‘A short time ago I received twenty-five pairs of your Homers. They are all doing finely, every bird being lively and full of vim. They are almost all at work now,nest-building, and I am more than satisfied with results thus far obtained. I am about to build two houses, each house to. accommodate two hundred and fifty pairs, divided into five flocks of fifty pairs. Enclosed find New York draft to pay for four hundred and fifty pairs Extra Homers.’
Under date of July 1, 1904, a customer writes us from an Ohio town: “The Homers I purchased of you two years ago this month have been doing very well, in short, their increase has been marvelous, averaging nine and one-half (9%) pairs per year for the two years I have had them. I now have quite a flock, bred exclusively from the three pairs of mated birds purchased from you, but think it is about time to get some new blood in the flock; therefore will you kindly quote me your prices for birds from one to three or four months old, equal parts cocks and hens, so that I may turn them in with my young birds to prevent as much inbreeding as possible in that way. I want to say that I at first had some doubts as to the profits of the business, but must confess that they are even more than you have ever claimed.”
Some of our most successful customers are women. One writes us this summer as follows: ‘‘Enclosed find post-office money order for $7.08, payment for the following order: three dozen wood nappies, three bath pans, four galvanized iron drinkers. Ship by freight or express as is cheaper. Some- thing over a year ago I bought twelve pairs of pigeons of you. Imperative duties have prevented my giving them as much attention as I would wish, but they have increased and prospered with but trifling loss. There are now more than forty pairs nesting, and altogether a flock of something over one hundred and fifty. I have sold none, not having had time even to sort them out and send them to market. I hope soon to get into the lofts and put things in first-class shape and weed out all the culls. I
ig
am _ very well satisfied with my experiment. 2.
A customer in New York writes: ‘‘There have been two pigeon fanciers here this week who say they have no such fine stock as ours, nor have they seen anything like them.’
BOSTON PRICES. The squab market is improving every year, and breeders every- where are getting better prices, even right here in Boston, the centre of the section where our business is done, and where the interest in squabs is very great. The follow- ing quotations from the Boston Daily Globe cover a period of over five years, and, as will
be seen, prices are firmly maintained, New York prices are better than these:
March 28, 1903......$4.00 and $5.00 a dozen Apr. 25, 1903....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen May 23, 1903....... 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen June 27, 1903....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen fey Te QOS eee eee 1s oe Onardozen Nels BR) WYO oe aaa 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen Depts O pl9OS eae 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Oct. 24, 1903........ 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen Nov. 14, 1903....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Dec. 5, 1908......... 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen Jan. 30, 1904....... 5.00 and 6.00 a dozen Feb. 20, 1904............... 4.50 a dozen Mar. 12, 1904........ 5.00 and 5.50 a dozen Apr. 30, 1904........ 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen May 28, 1904........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen June 11, 1904....... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen July 23, 1904........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Aug. 13, 1904....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Aug 20, 1904........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Sept. 10, 1904....... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Oct.8,1904......... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen Nov. 5, 1904... .3.00, 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen Dec. 31, 1904....... 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen Jan. 7,1905......... 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen Mar. 25,1905........ 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen Apr. 1,1905......... 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen May 27, 1905........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen June 3, 1905........ 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen July 8, 1905......... 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen nosy UW IQS sas coos 6 . 4,50 a dozen Septs23n1905n ae 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen Oct. 21, 1905........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen Dec. 16, 1905........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen Jane20s W906. joe no 400 ardozen Mar. 31, 1906....... 4.25 and 4.75 a dozen Apr. 7, 1906.. ....... 4,00 and 5.00 a dozen May 26, IQ OBR eee ONE Sees 3.50 a dozen June 16, 1906.....:. 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen July 28, OO GR beeen ceo oOhardozen' ge 2 pol OO G aera isricen eo Ola dozen Octe 2 OMIOG ee aa ae eee oD Olavdozen ifanied, LOOM ters oe te . 5.00 a dozen Jan. 19, 1907........ 3.50 and 5.00 a dozen Mar. 9, 1907........ 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen Mar. 23, 1907....... 3.50 and 5.00 a dozen Apr. 6, 1907......... 4.00 and 5.00 a dozen June 29, 1907....... 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen Sept. 28, 1907........ . 4.00 a dozen Noy. 23, 1907....... 3.00 and 4.50 a dozen Dec. 14, 1907........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen Jan. 18, 1908,............02++ 0.00 a dozen
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Jan. 25, 1908........$4.00 and $5.00 a dozen Feb. 8, 1908......... 4.00 and 5.00 a dozen Mar. 2, 1908........ 3.50 and 5.00 a dozen Mar. 21,1908........ 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen Apr. 11, 1908........ 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen May 9, 1908......... 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen June 6, 1908........ 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen July 3, 1908......... 3.00 and 4.00 a-dozen July 18, 1908..... 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen
(This edition of this Manual went to press in August, 1908. If you write us in 1909 or later for Boston quotations we will give them to you by letter.)
Sometimes different newspapers published in the same city will give varying quotations for squabs, as it depends largely on the reporter who writes them. For example, in the Boston Globe for Feb. 8, 1908, squabs were quoted at $4 and $5 a dozen. In the Boston Herald of that same day is the follow- ing quotation: ‘“‘Squabs are high at $5 and $6 a dozen.’”? On March 14, 1908, the Boston Globe quoted squabs at $3.50 and $4 a dozen, while the Boston Herald quoted them at $5 and $6 a dozen.
In every large city are published trade bulletins known as ‘Price Current,’ ‘‘Boston Prices,’’ ‘“Market Bulletin,” “Smith & Jones Price Current,’’ etc. In some large cities one printer will furnish a great many middle- men with the-same printed sheet, putting at the head of each the name of a dealer or firm. The prices given in these trade sheets are never the true prices, but are what these middlemen would like to pay to get the farm products quoted. This is quite an important subject to farm people but we do not remem- ber ever having seen the attention of poultry and produce raisers called to this matter before. For example, these price current sheets in New York will quote squabs at $2.50 a dozen when the leading squab buyers in that city, suchas Messrs. Silz, McLaughlin, and Knapp & Van Nostrand are paying from $4 to $6 a dozen to squab breeders and reselling to their New York retail trade at $5 to $8 a dozen. These trade sheets and the trade columns in the daily newspapers (which are supplied with quotations by the dealers) not only quote squabs at prices which they would like to pay, but poultry and everything in the nature of farm produce. Their object, of course, is to get farm produce as cheap as they can. If a producer objects to the small price they offer him, they will send him their printed price quotation sheet and write, ‘‘You will find the market prices enclosed.” The producer not only of squabs but of all kinds of farm produce should inform himself of the true market and the only way to do so is to go into that market by letter, telephone or in person and offer to BUY, not to sell. When you have found out, for example, that the dealer wants $6 a dozen for squabs which he has for sale, you can go to that man with your squabs and get $4 a dozen. Don’t let him take more than his fair share of the profits, Some of the poultry
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUADS BOCK
and produce buyers are not reliable. The Rural New Yorker is a farm paper which keeps its readers posted on unreliable and irresponsible middlemen in New York State. Assure yourself that the man or firm which is going to buy your squabs is not only prepared to pay you good prices but is able to give you cash returns promptly.
The best way to sell scuabs is direct to the private trade at about double what the middlemen pay. A customer of ours in Illinois who is a printer gets at the private trade by the use of a handsome circular giving photographs of squabs and _ telling what they are, prices, etc. He circularizes the rich residents and also sends out the circular in reply to newspaper advertise- ments. His plan works well and gets him the top prices. We have told many of our customers of the plan and we tell it again here so that you may get up such a circular if you wish and go after the private trade.
It will be noticed, in the above table of prices, that although the supply of squabs has greatly increased during the past five years, the demand for squabs created by our advertising has more than kept pace with it. Prices at this writing (1908) are as high or higher than we have ever known them.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. Not a few breeders raise squabs by the hundred and are successful in every detail of the manage- ment of their plant except selling the product. Some beginners seem to think they will be perfectly helpless without the co-operation of some dealer.
It is a shame to raise fine squabs and then sell them to some commission man or other dealer who immediately resells them, in most cases for double what he pays you for them. It is the steady practice of the dealers in Chicago, for instance, to pay from~$2 to $3 per dozen and resell them for $3 to $6 per dozen. If you don’t believe this is true, drop your role of a squab seller and go into these markets to buy and you will see how much profit is being made off your goods.
The squab dealers and commission men do not advertise for customers. The squabs are just as salable in your hands as in theirs. Many people would prefer to buy of the producer, being surer of a fresher and more satisfactory product.
£ you are producing squabs, by all means sell them to the consumer and get the price which the middleman is getting. It is essential, however, if you are going to do this, that you make it known in some way that you have goodsquabsto sell. Think of the rich people, the well-to-do people, the good diners around you or nearest you, and figure out for yourself a way of getting to them the information that you are selling something which they want and will buy steadily. Perhaps a neatly printed circular sent by mail will do it. Or an advertisement in the
SIZ IZIE JONG D IN| 1 121
newspaper in your territory which will produce results. Or you might pick out two or three likely families and make them a present of a squab or two to get them started.
The products of the plants of hundreds of our small customers are spoken for ahead of capacity all the time by a neighborhood trade, and this is what you should aim at. This is the way the finest butter and eggs and poultry are sold, and also squabs, and the plants of our customers who are selling squabs direct to the consumer are paying better than the plants of other customers whose product is marketed with poor judg- ment.
Don’t be too fast to sell to a hotel. Some
farmers and breeders get the idea that if only ©
they can find a hotel to take all their goods, their fortune is made. In every city there are one or more first-class hotels which want the best of everything and pay accordingly. On the other hand, there are many hotels which do not care for the best. For example, few hotels care for the best ducks, because a single dinner order is half a duck, and half of the big, first-class, expensive ducks is more than a diner wants, so the hotel keeper of course prevents waste by buying a small duck. Same with squabs. The hotel buyers are sharp bargainers, and if they think that their trade will be satisfied with a seven or eight-pound squab, they will take such a bird rather than pay more for a ten or twelve- pound squab. The average squab breeder, like the average farmer and gardener, is content to sell to the middleman, and if you make the acquaintance of a good one, of course you avoid some bother, yet it has been our experience that it is just as easy to sell squabs to the consumer as to anybody else, in fact, after you have started with him he will come after you and pay you a great deal more than anybody else, still he is paying just what he always has paid, and he is better satisfied. Squabs are phenomenal sellers and it is well to take advantage of this condition, which is not always true of poultry.
MR. McGREW CALLS. The following is from the pen of Mr. T. F. McGrew, associate editor of the Feather, poultry editor of the Country Gentleman, also a_ widely quoted writer for the government’s bureau of animal industry, and a lecturer for the New York State Board of Agriculture. He is one of the best known judges of poultry and pigeons in the United States. The visit to our farm of
which he speaks was made in November,
1903; since then our stock of Homers has been increased. :
“Tt was our pleasure within the last two weeks to visit the home plant of the Plymouth Rock Squab Co., at Melrose, Mass. We were beautifully entertained by Mr. Elmer C. Rice and his family. The buildings at the home plant are by far the best that we have ever seen for squab growing. Each building is
constructed for the best possible light, air, and. sanitary conditions. Those who may be interested in squab growing will find it to their profit to communicate with Mr. Rice at Boston for the printed matter which gives a full description of his plant and methods of doing business.
“We saw at this plant 12,000 full-grown, well-matured Homing Pigeons ready for dis- tribution for growing squabs. In all our experience we have never seen a better lot than these. They are large, vigorous, full- breasted, broad-shouldered specimens such as one would select for producing squabs of the best character. There are Blues, Blue Checks, Silvers, Reds, and mixed colors such as would naturally be produced through the cross mating of any of these varieties. While we were there Mr. Rice shipped from the plant between five and six hundred birds, all of which are sent out in large roomy baskets, the baskets returnable at the shipper’s expense. So far as we can calculate, we are un- der the impression that Mr. Rice is doing a very large business. In addition to this we carefully perused a number of letters received by Mr. Rice from localities as far west as San Francisco, as far south as Florida, all of these communications speaking in the highest tems of the shipments made to them by Mr.
ice.
RUNTS NOT DESIRABLE. From the Farm Journal—‘‘Our remarks in the October issue respecting the relative merits of large and small birds were put in a way to be easily misunderstood.
“By large birds we meant Runts and that class, usually found only in the hands of fanciers and experts in pigeon breeding. They are not at all desirable for squab breeding.
“Common pigeons are not hardy and prolific in proportion to their smallness. The largest of these should be selected for breeding always.
“There is a great difference in the size and quality of what are called common birds. Where they are chosen as the basis of a squab breeder’s business a careful selection should be made.
“Of all the pure-bred types, we know of nothing superior or equal to the Homers for breeding squabs. They are hardy and prolific and rear large, meaty squabs. There is also room for selection in Homers, some being much larger than others.
“When a breeder already has a flock of common pigeons he can greatly improve it by the infusion of Homer blood.”
USEFUL MESSENGERS. We have quite a call for our birds from physicians having a country practice. They leave two or three birds at a patient’s house to be let loose when the doctor’s services are needed. In cases of expected confinement at a distance of several miles from the doctor’s home, our
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birds are extremely useful. We earnestly advise country physicians with a wide ter- ritory to cover to look into this matter and communicate with us. It will be money in their pockets.
DEMAND IN COLORADO. We have had the same experience with the Western trade as the following writer in the Western Poultry World, of course excepting California, which is one of the best squab markets in the country. What he says is conservative and sensible and bears out what we have always maintained, that wherever there are men and women who are good eaters, there squabs will be eaten. If you live in a town where a squab never was seen, but where there are people who set a good table, to them you certainly can sell squabs:
“Having been asked by your editor to write an article on pigeons or squab raising and also having said I would, 1 commence by stating a few facts which I have gained from both practical experience and inquiries from Eastern breeders. In the first place, I want to say that little is known of this industry in the West, and in fact it has not been known in the East until about ten years ago, when they began to take it up about the same as the Western people are doing now. Many got discouraged at finding it was not a get-rich-quick scheme.
“Tam constantly having letters from different parts of the country asking me if squab raising pays, and saying that from inquiries they have made at meat markets and of commission merchants, they are told that there is no demand for them. Of course _ there is not at the present time, for if there was they could not get them. No man can sell what he has not got. I once went to a gentleman and told him my plan of starting a squab farm, and he in turn went to his market man and asked him what he thought of it, and he said I was either lazy or crazy. Now this man knew absolutely nothing of squabs, and never had any in his store, and, consequently, never had any calls for them. I dare say that if one were to go to every market in the city they would tell you the same thing, and nine out of every ten people would tell you they had never eaten a squab in their lives; still I have .people—come right to my door—who come a good distance out of their way and want to buy squabs of me. The reason hotels and restaurants do not continually have them on their bill of fare is because they cannot be supplied at all times. Today they can get perhaps a dozen and tomorrow, if they wish any, they cannot get them, and even then they are obliged to take common squabs and not Homers. As to the demand, I want to say right here, that I know one concern that will contract to take 400 dozen a week at good, fair prices. Two parties that I know of right here in this city are constantly in receipt of letters from hotels and clubs in Denver wanting to buy squabs,
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
In the East, where there are ten squab farms to one in the West, the prices are higher than here. It is because of the demand.”’
ELEGANT PROFIT. The following is from Vick’s Magazine, an article on squab raising by a practical breeder:
“Of recent years the demand for the toothsome squab has been so great that the supply does not come up to the demand. Where years ago they were used only for invalids, now they are on the bill of fare in almost all restaurants and hotels. They command good prices at all seasons and an elegant profit is derived from them by the taisers. It used to be that pigeons could not thrive when housed up, but now the former obstacles have been overcome and _ better success is made where they are confined than where they have their freedom.
“The squab business if conducted properly will bring in a large percentage of profit considering the first capital invested. Only a few hundred dollars are required to’ start where such a sum would be nothing to com- mence in such a business as stock keeping, etc., and yet with a few hundred pairs of pigeons any one with a little judgment can make a living for himself and family. Many farmers’ sons could make nice yearly incomes by stocking a part of their barn (not used for anything else) with pigeons. The risks are not so great as with chickens, but the birds must be attended to and not neglected.
“With chickens one must not only feed the old, but must also give the little ones their meals, but not so with pigeon breeding. You feed the old birds, and they feed their young. One person can feed a thousand pairs of birds in about a quarter hour, the rest is left for the old ones to do. The little birds are fed from pre-digested food from the crops of their parents, who by a sort of pumping force the food into the squab’s mouths. It talzes no longer time for a person to feed a lot of birds with young than it does without young.
“After the squabs are four to five weeks old they are ready for market. It costs but one and one-half cents per pair for feeding birds a week and their young also, so with the prices received for the squabs, which is forty cents per pair in summer to eighty cents per pair in the winter, one can imagine the percentage of profit.
“Squabs of the largest size demand the highest market prices, so it pays to commence right by buying only good large stock. The amount of labor required is almost nothing, in fact unless very large numbers are kept, one will have only a few hours’ work daily. The writer has nearly 2,000, and it takes only fifteen minutes to feed and half an hour to give fresh water. Of course it takes a dav or two a week for killing young ones, and a day or two each month for cleaning buildings, then the work is about done. One person can attend 1,000 pairs nicely and have ample
SUPPLEMENT
time to do other work around a place. The writer finds it a snap to other occupations and one is his own boss and can go or come when he pleases. It is the business for a young man; he can advance as he saves money. There are some who commenced on a few dollars and by careful saving now operate plants of thousands of pairs of birds.
“The larger the pigeon, the larger the squab, the higher the price. The breeding houses need not be heated artificially in winter as the birds can withstand any tem- perature and in cold weather sit upon their young until they are feathered sufficiently to stand the cold.”*
ENLARGED HIS PLANT WITH PROFITS. Experience of a Breeder who Made it Pay from the Beginning. In Country Life, a monthly magazine, one of the handsomest and highest-toned publications, the experience of a gentleman in squab raising gives the following facts: ‘‘Six years ago I did not have-a bird, but I invested fifty dollars in purchasing twenty-five pairs of extra-choice Homer pigeons, remodelling a poultry house for their accommodation. I had kept pigeons for pleasure for five years, previously, and felt that I knew a little about them. In these six years I have not invested another dollar excepting the dollars the birds have earned, and my present establishment of five houses and fifteen hundred pigeons, which has cost me two thousand dollars, is all paid for. In addition, for the last three years, I have paid out from five to seven dollars each week for the wages of a helper, to dress the squabs and clean the houses, for my regular business would not permit zne to attend to these duties myself.
“The consensus of opinion of all experienced squab breeders stamps the Homer as the best pigeon for this purpose. This variety is strong and vigorous; a hearty feeder and good worker; bright-eyed, alert, and active; stocky, symmetrical and full-breasted, which counts so much in squabs. They are also prolific, and their squabs are full-feathered and fit for market in four weeks.
“T was very fortunate in getting my first twenty-five pairs of birds. These were Homers, full-blooded, and had established records for flying, having taken first honors in several contests.
“They not only averaged me seven and one-half pairs of squabs a year, but stamped their vitality on the birds I have selected from their young.
“As my profits accrued I purchased straight Homer stock, picking from the best near-by breeders, as well as those of estab- lished reputation at a distance. | E
“T alwavs put a lot of new birds in a clean coop by themselves, give generous supply of feed and water, and have plenty of nesting materials in the coop, and if they have come from a distance put a good poultry powder in their feed for the first meal, and let them
alone for a few days, If they are strong, healthy birds they ought soon to begin to carry materials and build nests. When nest building is fully under way I transfer each mated pair to permanent breeding quarters. When I find a pair of birds mated, I call my assistant and tell him which bird to keep his eyes on, and not to lose sight of it a single instant. At the same time I note the other bird and catch it. I pass the caught bird to the assistant. He points out the other bird and it is soon caught. I band all purchases as well as those I raise.
“My weekly expense for feeding my flock of fifteen hundred pigeons during the month of December, 1903, was eighteen dollars and thirty cents for the following: Three hundred pounds of cracked corn, three bushels each of wheat, peas and kaffir corn, one and one-half bushels of millet, one bushel of hemp and half a bushel of cracked rice. The rice I do not feed regularly, but give when the bird’s bowels are loose, for which condition it is an excellent corrective. Feed is now much higher than last year.
“Pigeon-keeping for squabs may fitly be termed a ‘twentieth-century industry, for only during the last five years has it by its - rapid development attained to the dignity of a special business. The business will surely still more increase during the first decade of this century. The price of squabs has been strongly maintained during the five years just passed, notwithstanding the marvelous increasein the business. The business furnishes a way by which either men or women (for many of the latter have successfully taken up squab raising) can embark in an enterprise which does not call for severe bodily exertion and which if intelligently managed will yield good dividends.”
SQUAB RAISING ON THE FARM. Pigeons Kept in the Upper Part of Duck and Poultry Houses.—The following is from an article in the Country Gentleman, entitled “A Combination Plant, Fruit, Bees, Fowls and Squabs’’:
“For growing squabs some have separate houses, some use the lofts of old barns, and many are so constructing their poultry buildings as to have quarters for growing squabs in the second story of the poultry houses. This is gained by laying a flat roof on top of the poultry house, on top of this a double thickness of tar paper well coated with hot tar, with a board floor laid over it. This provides the floor for the pigeon house, the roof for the poultry house, and makes it absolutely vermin proof both ways. A large duck grower of our acquaintance has squab houses of this character built over his duck brooder houses and his poultry houses. Several thousand pairs of breeding pigeons are kept in this way, with a hanging outdoor flying aviary for the pigeons. When it has been successful on so large a scale, smaller growers need not hesitate in adopting such a plan.
.
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“Of course cleanliness. care and sanitary conditions about the plant are imperative. The most successful squab growers do not scatter sand or dirt of any kind on the floor or in nest boxes, Neither do they use any- thing but straw for the birds to build their nests. The droppings are all thoroughly scraped up from the board floor, from the nest boxes and under the perches once or twice a week with a hoe, and stored away in bags and sold at 50 to 60 cents per bushel. They are used by tanners in making the very best grades of leather. These droppings are of no value when mixed with tobacco stems, shavings, sawdust or sand. Grain or feed of any kind if mixed in with them will not injure their value, nor will some little straw or feathers count much against their value. Buy a good sharp hoe; floors constructed in this way can be thoroughly cleaned by scrap- ing up once or twice a week, and in this way ee sanitary conditions will be of the very
est.
“Those who do not care to dispose of the droppings in this way in some spread from six to eight inches of soil from their land over the floor of the squab house. This is allowed to remain from three to six months. Usually at the end of the moulting season all the nest boxes and the whole house is thoroughly cleaned out and the entire con- tents of same dumped on the floor, scraped and hauled away and scattered over the land. This makes an excellent fertilizer. We know of one instance where a large number of squabs are kept in this way, and the house is cleaned but twice a year. In the spring all the cleanings from the house are hauled out and spread over the land for the growing of summer crops. After the fall moult, the place is thoroughly cleaned up for winter, the cleanings of the house are stored away in a dry place and retained until spring. Many persons would call this a filthy, un- healthful way to keep a squab house, but some of the most successful breeders follow this plan. The presence of the five or six inches of dry soil on the floor keeps it in good condition throughout the season. The cloud of dust that is raised at times by the pigeons flapping their wings and flying about is almost a certain guarantee against insect attack. However, we do not advise this method. We simply give the facts as we have seen them.
“The only limit to the extent of such a plant is the ability of those who possess it properly to care for and manage all its branches at a profit. Where there is a family of boys and girls it might be well to engage the attention of all in growing these several kinds of products, and to lend encourage- ment to each by giving him a share of the profits. Scattered all over the country are thousands of families in country places con- tinually worrying and wondering why they cannot keep their children at home. The teal reason so many of the young people
instances,
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
leave the farm is that they are compelled to work continually and never receive any portion of the income for their labor. If the parents would allow their growing families to make an equal sum of money or in propor- tion to what they can make by leaving home, there would be far less complaint on this score. All children wish to have the privilege of earning a few dollars that they may call their own.”
The following paragraph is from the same paper in its report of the New York pigeon show, January, 1904:
“There seems to be a depression in the sale of high-class pigeons. Well-favored speci- mens of the highest character still sell at top prices, but the absence of any commercial value for a large number of pigeons that are grown detracts from the numerous sales that their producers might have. If producers of the hundreds of varieties of beautiful pigeons would turn into the market as squabs the greater part of all their product that was not valuable for the exhibition-room, greater returns would come for those which were saved for exhibition purposes. There is a grand stride forward in growing squabs. The combination cf poultry-growing with squab-growing works well. and is being adopted by so many small farmers as to create an unusual demand for all grades of pigeons that are good for this purpose.
“Tt is well for those who go into the squab business to remember that the price is graded by size and quality. During winter squabs that would average eight or nine pounds to the dozen have sold at retail in the New York market at from 35 to 40 cents each, while those which averaged two or three pounds less to the dozen sold at from 12% to 20 cents. It takes quite as much time and as much care and food to produce the small specimens that bring the lower prices as it does to pro- duce the higher grades which bring the better prices. People are beginning to find this out, and taking advantage of the knowledge, are looking about for the best*quality of pigeons to produce the best market squabs.”’
SQUAB PIN-MONEY. The following para- graph appeared in the January, 1904, issue of the Designer, a monthly magazine for women published by the Butterick Publishing Company of New York City:
a young woman of my acquaintance has kept herself supplied with hats, boots and gloves during the past year by selling the squabs of six pairs of Homer pigeons. They reyjuire very little care, and the young are ready for market when four weeks old. My friend is so well pleased with her success that she has added seven pairs to her stock, and confidently expects to dress herself completely on the sum derived from the sale of her squabs.—M, P,”’
THEY FLEW HOME. A dispatch from Paris, printed by the Baltimore Sun, says:
SOP REE Mis NT
“A man named Maraud complained to M. Brunet, Police Commissary for one of the districts on the south side of the Seine, that he had been robbed of six valuable carrier pigeons and said that one of his friends had seen them at the house of another man.
“The magistrate went to the place indicated and there saw some birds. ‘How did you come by them?’ he asked of the man. ‘Oh, I bought them months ago.’ was the reply.
““Well, bring them to my office,’ said Mr. Brunet. There he had a wax seal attached to each bird’s leg and the birds liberated.
“They flew back to Maraud’s house and an hour later the thief was on his way to the police depot in the black maria.”’
SQUAB INDUSTRY’S GREAT GROWTH. Address Delivered Before the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Years ago when poultry and egg production was being first advocated extensively, there were many fears expressed that the business would be overdone, that chickens and eggs would come to be common and low priced, and the fear that there would be no money in the business no doubt kept many out of it. Nevertheless, more and more have gone into poultry and eggs year after year, and millions of dollars’ worth of both are marketed yearly. Whole communities, like Petaluma, California, are given up to poultry and eggs. Eggs got as high as sixty cents a dozen in the large cities the past winter (1904).
Some people not informed as to squabs think that if many go into squab raising the prices are going to drop until there is no profit in the business. On the contrary, prices for squabs have been increasing every year here in the East, and they are going to increase in the West in the years to come. Consumers who have read our advertising all over the country are eating squabs who never ate them before, and the effect of our advertising on the general squab market everywhere has been to boost prices. Well- to-do people who are led to get into the habit of having squabs on their tables keep on ordering them, and tell others, and thus the market grows.
If all the Homer breeders we have sold during the years we have been in business were concentrated in one plant, we could sell the entire squab output of that one plant to any one of a hundred commission men in one of the large cities. :
New Jersey is doing well with squabs. Other States, notably California, lowa,, Wisconsin, Michigan and Massachusetts ‘are producing a great many. Just what is being accomplished in New Jersey comes as a surprise to people who look upon this business as something new and untried. At the annual meeting of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture in January, 1904, an address was given by Mr.G .L. Gillingham on squab raising, in the course of which he said:
“The production of squabs for the markets
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of our large cities is an industry that is reach- ing considerable proportions in this State. And, although it is growing yearly, yet the prices seem to be advancing; showing that there is an unlimited demand.
“The great scarcity of game all over our country compels the keepers of first-class hotels and restaurants to look for something to take its place, and at the same time be sure of a supply at all seasons of the year. There- fore they have hit upon the squab to fill this void, and now when one calls for quail on toast, or order of a similar nature, it will very often be found that the quail was raised in a pigeon loft, and is much younger, more tender and juicy than the quail would have been, could it have been secured.
“This is a business that can be carried on in connection with poultry raising, and is one that may be conducted upon village lots by women and young persons, if need be, and by those whose other business takes their attention during the middle portions of the day, as the labor connected with it is not heavy. It is particularly adapted to women who wish to add something to their income. In fact, women are more apt to succeed in it than most men, as it requires close atten- tion to the little things, as it is the many little things that go to make up the final profits at the end; as women are generally more patient and thorough with small details they will be more successful.
“The extent to which this business is conducted in some parts of our State may be shown by stating that in one town in Burlington County of about 3000 inhabitants, the purchase of one dealer the past year was 56,582 squabs, for which he paid $16,400; while another dealer bought perhaps a little over half as many more, bringing the aggre- gate to 86,000 squabs, for which the people of that town received nearly $25,000; while another single grower in the same county shipped from his own lofts between 13,000 and 14,000 birds.
“The cost of feed and care for a working loft of pigeons is about $1 per pair per year (manure not sold). Some put it much lower, but at the present prices of feed, if proper care is given, we should not figure much lower than $1. A good pair of birds will produce from seven to ten pair of squabs per year; generally an average of not over eight pair. The prices have ranged the past year from 25 cents for the poorest, to as high as 75, 80 and 90 cents for the best. Putting the number raised at the lowest (seven pairs) and the average price at 40 cents, we have $2.80 for the $1 invested yearly after the first cost of investment for buildings, etc., which need not be expensive, according to the taste and means of the builder and the amount of capital he wishes to put into it. The houses should always be placed where the drainage is good, preferably upon a dry knoll, facing the south or southeast. Some paying lofts have been made by fitting up unused wagon-
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house or wood-house lofts, or over hen houses. Other houses have been constructed for poultry on the ground floor and the story above for pigeons. In this case great care must be exercised to have the floor well laid with planed and grooved flooring, to keep vermin from passing up from the poultry.
“Very large flocks should not be kept in one room. From 50 to 100 pairs are enough to keep together for the best results, preferably the former. A room 10x 12 is ample for 50 pairs of working birds. A house may be built of any desired length, 12 feet wide and divided into apartments of the above size by wire partitions with doors hung on spring hinges, to facilitate passing through in feeding.
“These houses should have windows on the south, of sufficient size to afford ample light in all parts of the house and no more, as too much glass makes the house too cold on the winter nights.
“As each pair requires two nests, as they are generally sitting in one while raising young in the other, there should be twice as many nests as pairs of birds, with eighteen to twenty to spare, that they may take their choice.
“The period of incubation is eighteen days, the hen bird sitting on the eggs, except- ing about four hours each day, when the male takes her place, while she is feeding and resting.
“During incubation a substance forms in the crop of both birds, known as pigeon mill or curd, on which the young are fed for the first five or six days, until they are old enough to digest the grain, which is carried to them in the crop of the old birds, and ejected from their mouths to the mouth of the young bird by the same process as the pigeon milk is fed in the first place. Hence it is important that the proper feed be given, which should consist of a variety of grain and seeds, the larger the variety, the bettcr. These should consist of cracked corn, rather coarse (prefer- ably about three or four pieces, from a single kernel), with the fine sifted out. This should be kept before them in troughs or hoppers, so constructed that they cannot throw it out and waste it, which they will frequently do in search of other grains of which they are more fond. The other seeds should consist of whole corn, Canada peas, Kaffir corn, hulled oats, millet and hempseed. These should be fed on the floor twice daily, just what they will clean up quickly, feeding the hempseed but twice or three times per week, except in the moulting season, when a small quantity may be fed each day, as hempseed is very fattening, and when ted in excess bad results may follow. Do not feed wheat too liberally, and always mixed with other seeds, using the hard, red wheat and never new wheat, as it has a tendency to loosen the bowels of the young birds with sometimes fatal results. In connection with the feeds, the birds should be furnished with ground
NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOCK
oyster shell for grit, also a liberal supply of salt and small bits of charcoal and gravel. The salt is necessary to keep them in good health. These substances may be kept in small boxes around the house where the birds can have free access to them.
“A generous supply of pure water should be kept before them at all times near the feeding trough, and should be supplied each morning before feeding, that the old birds may have access to it immediately after feeding, before taking the feed to their young.
“In stocking the houses, always avoid using common breeders, as the results will be disappointing. They are not prolific and are more liable to produce dark squabs, which always bring the lowest price in market, and do not feed the young as well as the full bloods. The best all-round birds for squab raising are the straight Homers, as they are the most active, good workers, quiet disposition, and the best of feeders.
“The Runt is the largest of pigeons, but a very slow worker, seldom producing more than four pairs of squabs per year. It makes a good cross with Homer and Dragoon, but even then will not produce as many birds as either of the others alone. ;
“The squabs are dressed for market once a week, on regular shipping days. They are dressed just before they are large enough to leave the nests, and when they are full- feathered, and should weigh at this time eight pounds per dozen, this size commanding the highest price, the prices falling off very fast as the size drops from this weight. The squabs should be dressed with empty crops. They may be caught in the early morning before feeding, and dressed, or caught the evening before, after the old birds have fed them for the night, and kept in hampers until morning, when their crops will be just in the right condition.
“After the young birds are two or three weeks old, the old birds build another nest and begin to sit again, the male bird taking most of the care of the young until they are ready to dress; hence the importance of supplying two nests for each pair. Thus a good pair of working birds have a pair of ven and a pair of eggs a large portion of the ime.
“During the summer months the birds should be furnished with a shallow tub of water in which to take a bath, two or three times per week, which will help them to keep free of vermin. These tubs should be
emptied after they have bathed, as they
should not be allowed to drink the water in which they have bathed.
“With good care, properly constructed houses, wholesome food, never sour or tainted, very little disease should be encountered. Prevention is better and more easily ad- ministered than cure. Some of these are dry houses, pure water, regularitv in feeding and cleanliness. The water buckets should be washed out frequently with creoline water,
SHO IZIZ IE ANID INTE
made by adding a teaspoonful of creoline to one quart of water. This will kill any disease germs that may be present, and is a good disinfectant.
“Give good care, not neglecting the small things, as it is the multitude of these wherein the profit lies.
“The demand for squabs is constantly increasing and any one entering into this business and willing to give it the attention it requires will always find a profit on the tight side of the ledger. But remember this profit will be according to the care and intelligence put into the business.”’
NEW YORK MARKET. The following is taken from the New York World, an article on squabs, published in August, 1904:
Squab-Raising as a Fine Art.—Game Laws Make Propagation of this Small Bird a Remunerative Business.—Palates Demand Sub- stitute for Quail and Other Morsels that Statutes Forbid.—Few persons, even among the devotees of late suppers in New York’s high-priced restaurants, in looking over their elaborate menus and selecting, say, a squab on toast, realize what a tremendous industry the Broadway taste for a large cold bottle and a small hot bird has developed in the United States in recent years.
The industry may, indeed, be considered in itself in a squab state, but such has become the after-theatre demand for the tasty little birds that many business men have turned from less lucrative pursuits to devote their energies to their raising.
It would be impossible to state precisely how many squabs are annually bred in the United States, but it is estimated that hundreds of thousands reach the tables and tickle the palates of luxury-loving and extravagant people.
The best of judgment in regard to quality and quantity of feed is essential, cracked corn and red wheat being the staple food. Kaffir corn, Canada peas, buckwheat and _ millet comprise about 20 per cent of the food in winter, and in the summer less corn but more wheat. Grit and salt are before the birds always. i
At the age of four weeks the squabs are ready for market and are deliciously tender, as they have never learned to fly, and their muscles have not had the hardening influence of exercise. The killers now get busy. With a slip-noose around the feet, and wings locked on the back, the squabs are suspended from arack. A killing knife is inserted well into the mouth and a quick, deep slash made at the back of the throat, allowing the bird to bleed freely.
An expert can kill and rough pick about four birds before they get cold. The squabs are next dropped into a galvanized iron tub, through which a constant stream of water flows, which cools the birds. Then a small hose nozzle is inserted in the mouth and water allowed to fill the crop, after which it is with-
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drawn and a quick pressure forces everything out. A second use of the hose thoroughly cleanses the crop. Two more immersions in iced water make the birds ready for local shipment.
In the Lenten season commission houses buy and ice thousands of dozens of squabs for winter trade. That is also the time squab raisers select and save the best stock for breeders.
Many of the live birds, especially the Homers and red Carneaux, cost from $2.50 to $6 per pair.
Prices for squab in New York City run from $4 per dozen in the early season to $5.50 and $6 in the winter.
TWO YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WITH OUR BIRDS. Will you kindly send us price-list and such other printed matter as you have issued within the past year? You will remember we bought six pairs of you one year ago last July. We have about 124 now and are disposing of all the squabs we can raise at three dollars per dozen. All of our birds are not laying yet but will soon mature. We have lost several when they were young birds, then we had some stolen (one of which came back). One bird had a peculiar substance form around the outside under the bill. Will you tell us if this was canker? We disposed of the bird at once. We did not try to treat it at all. The people here know very little about fine squab, but I believe the market is growing better right along. Feed is much higher here than in the East. We have to pay $1.75 per 100 for cracked corn, $2.15 for ted wheat, $1.75 for Kaffir corn and about $5 for hempseed, so that $3 per dozen does not bring in a very large profit. Would you advise our raising the price? We hope to send you another order shortly. We have not tried to use the manure at all. We have had no trouble with our birds as to vermin. They seem to keep entirely free from it.— Mrs. H. D., State of Washington.
TO MONTANA IN GOOD ORDER. I received the crate of pigeons yesterday. They were all alive and in good health.— J. F., Montana.
FINDS OUR BIRDS FAST BREEDERS. On September 16, 1902, I ordered six pairs Extra from you and now (August 30, 1904) have about two hundred old pigeons and squabs together, and will want to begir shipping a few before long. Wish you would please give me the names of a lot of desirable squab buyers in New York and other nearby cities. Do you think prices will be better later on in the fall, and which is the best way to ship them, dead or alive? Can I get shipping crates already made? If so, where, and at what price? Thanking you in advance for this information.— W. E. H., North Carolina.
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HAD NO TROUBLE RAISING THEM. Last spring, in April, I think, “we bought twelve pairs Extra for thirty dollars of you. At present we have eighty-five in all, or about sixty young birds that we have raised our- selves. We would not think of selling them as we have had very good success and are much interested in the business, but through sickness I lost my former position in this village and have now secured a permanent one in Chicago, and expect to move there in a few weeks. Expect to locate right in the city and consequently will have no facilities for keeping the pigeons, and so am anxious to sell. The birds are as healthy as when we received them, as we have followed very carefully the rules laid down, in caring for them, and have never seen any signs of disease among them. Have lost only com- paratively few, and those were small ones which were neglected by mother birds, or by some accident. Quite a large number of our young birds have mated and have bred the latter part of the winter—R. F. G., Michigan.
GETTING SIX DOLLARS A DOZEN. Two of the six pairs have now hatched out three squabs, twoon February 4 and oneon February 7 (the other egg evidently was chilled by the extreme cold weather). The market price in Newark is six dollars a dozen, and we have contracted to sell these three squabs at that price. They are fat and very satisfactory. We are very much encouraged and wish to increase our flock.—F. C., New Jersey.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MARKETS. I received your Manual and have read it through very carefully. I have found that it tells the very truth. I was in Washington Market and there they told me just the same. They will take all the squabs I can give them. I think I will give you an order next month for 48 pairs Homers and one gross nappies.— H. T., New York.
ATTRACT ADMIRATION IN CALIFORNIA, Birds arrived on the 11th safe and in first-
class condition for the length of their trip. -
I am well satisfied with the birds and expect to give you an order for more before long. Every one that has seen them thinks they are fine —E. J., California.
OUR METHODS IN SOUTH AFRICA: Enclosed find fifty cents for which please send me a copy of National Standard Squab Book. Perhaps it may interest you to know that this is to assist in the raising of squabs in South Africa.—L. E. D., Pennsylvania.
YOUNGSTERS ARE BEAUTIES. I have fifty or more pure Homers from the original old birds purchased from your concern. These youngsters are beauties between the ages of six months and one year.—B. R. D., Long Island. p
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
IN PERFECT CONDITION. My mother bought one dozen pairs of your birds a year ago and now has about sixty in flock. They have been well cared for and are in perfect condition —T. A. B., Kentucky.
A NEWS-AGENT’S SIDE LINE. I have been doing a little business that I did not have time to tell you about in my last letter. I have boys in several of the towns around here to get squabs for me and I have made arrangements with the above firm to deliver those that I don’t sell myself, on commission. The hotel has an order for 150 per week. Besides this order I sell to several restaurants and let the market deliver to the houses. I am the only one here who buys squabs to any extent, and average 200 to 300 per week. I make from $5 to $7.50 each week this way, besides what I make on the train. How is that for a news-agent running a train every day from 11 p.m. to 1.15 am.?—B. D. Texas.
HAS OVERSOLD HIS SQUAB CAPACITY. Could you supply me with two dozen first- class squabs for shipment from Wooster on or about December 22? JI have an order for that amount, and while the birds I purchased from youare doing fine, I will not have enough. Have orders for breeders and squabs enough to keep the flock working overtime until spring, at which time I expect to enlarge my plant to at least 500 pairs. I could of course fill this small order from nearby markets, but Homers are Homers, and I don’t care to depreciate the value of my flock by shipping inferior squabs.—C, L. Z., Ghio.
THE MAN HE WORKS FOR IS MAKING MONEY WITH OUR BIRDS. I see in the Poultry Keeper that you offer a squab book tree, so I would like to have one, for I have squabs myself and I would like to learn how to raise them. I am only a boy and I am working for Mr. Fairbanks on his farm. He told me that I could write to you and ask you for a book. I know the chicken business very well, but not the squab business. Mr. Fairbanks bought pigeons from you last year (eighty pairs Extra shipped August 4, 1902). and he is doing fine with them, so good-bye and don’t forget the address. That penny is for a stamp, and the other stamp is for the letter —W. H., Missouri.
A LONG SHIPMENT IN GOOD ORDER. Your two letters dated January 27 were received yesterday, February 1. I went to the express office early this morning and found the pigeons had arrived in the night. The birds are all alive and in fine condition but two, one of which was bruised and I fear its wing is broken. I thank you for the extra two pairs and for the crates. I have a fine new squab house built according to your plans, only the flying pen runs up to the top of the roof, which I think a better
SUPPLEMENT
plan for this damp climate. I may send for one or two dozen pairs more by spring.—Mrs. E. N., State of Washington.
A PERFECT SHIPMENT OF HOMERS TO FRANCE. The pigeons arrived this day in perfect condition, but I am sorry to say I have neither the nappies nor the bases. I duly received your letter of December 16 which I answered at once. I have this day written to Puritan Line of steamship asking for information concerning the non-arrival of the nappies.—G. D., France (Europe).
DOING WELL. The ‘pigeons purchased of you last fall are doing well. Am in im- mediate need of more wooden nappies.—F. C. J., Massachusetts.
GOT ONLY TEN CENTS EACH FOR SQUABS BUT MADE MONEY. I built two rustic seats for a neighbor for three pairs of Homer pigeons, and put them in a pen eight by eight feet. They increased at about a pair of squabs a month. We turned the young ones out as soon as they were able to fly. We soon had a flock of pigeons of about fifty or seventy-five. Suddenly we found that we could sell the young ones for ten cents apiece and the butcher took them off the nest for us. We killed the three original pairs as we did not want any in coops. built a pigeon house sixteen feet high and ten feet square on the ground, two stories. The birds come in at the top and nest where they please. I took up a homestead seventy miles north. On this my whole family lived for most of the time. While we were away from this place, the butcher came regularly and took away the squabs and left the money or his account with a neighbor. We never kept any account of the profit of these splen- did birds except last year, when the profit was $34.50, and the feed would not amount to a dollar, as they fly out and rustle their own feed. My wife feeds them a little to make them friendly. I have a large wagon shed and they used to nest in this. I shot some of them and they have never bothered me there now for two years. They are wise and I think they can talk. As a comparison of profit between chickens and squabs, we had a coop of chickens that required con- stant care. After deducting $19 for chicken feed, the profit on them was $33. The chicken coop and corral are quite a distance from the pigeon house and the pigeons never feed with them.—W. S. M., California.
NEVER LOST A BIRD BY SICKNESS. In June, 1902, I got twenty-four pairs of you, paying sixty dollars for them. I have never lost a bird by sickness. I killed one. He was ailing and did not look well, so I killed him. This was three or four months after I got the birds. Right off after I got them I raised twenty-five pairs, then I be- gan to kill squabs, as I had no room, I sold
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the first lot of squabs in February, 1903, and got 25 cents apiece at first (this was much too low), then I sold for 30 cents apiece until May, 1908. I should say I sold in all 150 squabs up to May 1. From that time on the marketman to whom I was selling refused to give me more than 18 cents apiece, so I rigged up a new place and put forty pairs in there, then I sold a few more. Since then to now (November, 1903) have sold about 60 to 75 squabs. I have sold only squabs, but the other day I sold six pairs of breeders for two dollars a pair. All the 24 original pairs I got of you have kept working. I have three or four pairs which have made a nest almost every month since I have had them. They had eleven nests, others four or five nests a pair. I have eighty-eight pairs of breeders now. I have got confi- dence now to go ahead and am going to start a large plant in the country and will buy some more birds of you.—H. C., Massachusetts.
A YOUNG WOMAN’S SUCCESS. A year ago last July I received from you one-half dozen pairs and paid you $15. I have tried to take good care of them and they have increased till now I have some one hundred young birds. I did not try to sell any of them as I wanted to let the flock grow. I took good care of the young birds mating and so there are not any of them that are related to each other now that are breeding. I had built for them a good warm house according to your directions and they have done very well. Some few died during this winter, but I thinlc they were crowded and so the older ones would push the little fellows out of the nest and they froze during the night.—Miss E. M. C., Kansas.
A GOOD HEALTHY FLOCK. I bought 24 pairs Extra of you a little over a year ago. I now have besides the 24 pairs about 40 pairs of mated birds, all leg banded. Also I have about one hundred young birds and all but about thirty of these will be old enough to mate by the first of April. All of these are leg banded and are good healthy birds in first- class condition.—E. A. H., Iowa.
GOING TO MAKE AN EXHIBIT. My birds that I received of you in July and August are doing fine, and as there is a poultry show here in this city next month, I thought perhaps I would show a few of them. Could you give me any pointers on putting them on exhibition?—E. G., Michigan.
EXPERIENCE DEARLY BOUGHT. You may possibly think I am doing considerable correspondence without doing much trading, but I wish to get your advice in regard to a little matter. Last April I purchased seven- teen pigeons of a friend of mine for $5.95. I knew nothing except what your Manual taught me about the business. I purchased in the fall of a Westerner what were supposed
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to be twenty pairs of Al Homers, but they proved to be a poor mess. The Westerner also proved to be a dead beat. The next man I tackled was in your State, who shipped me twenty-four pairs Homers for $36. Well, at present I have fifty-three to fifty-five pairs of birds and about thirty-five to forty head of young stock. Now I see where I am lame, and where I made a big mistake in not buying your best breeders, if I had only purchased one-half the number. I wish to get rid of what I have. I have a large house and wish to fill it with the best stock obtainable.—M. D., New York.
NEW JERSEY SEES WHAT REALLY PLUMP SQUABS ARE. The 400 pairs of
igeons I got from you are hale and hearty.
y actual count I have ninety-eight pairs of eggs and squabs, besides the squabs ready to kill, which number is, however, very small. Taking the lateness of the season when I got the birds and the extreme cold we have here, I think the outlook all right. What do you say? Everybody is stuck on the plumpness of the squabs when dead and their bright and fine appearance when alive.—J. B., New Jersey.
OUR PROMISES MEAN SOMETHING. Thank you for prompt, kind and satisfactory way of settlement, in answer to our letter to you. If all dealers would as satisfactorily adjust claims similar to ours as you have done, there would be a much easier feeling among purchasers. This action on your part shows that your guarantee is just what it says. Again thanking you for your business-like settlement of our claim.—R. B. M., Pennsyl- vania.
BOUGHT BIRDS THAT NO ONE ELSE WANTED AND FOUND THEM INDEED CHEAP. About four years ago, my son, now 16 years old, got the pigeon fever, and I must admit I caught it myself. He first put up a dry-goods box and bought a few birds. He showed so much interest in them I thought it would be a good pastime and bought him more birds, and erected a house as per en- closed sketch. Like most beginners, we wanted a variety and we were foolish enough to buy them anywhere, and presume we got what no one else wanted. We spent quite a few dollars and our last purchase was from a fellow in Pennsylvania, who had ‘‘more than he wanted,’’ and we bought them because they were cheap, and they were cheap, or I had better say they were mighty dear. The pigeons never had a nicer home or better feed. I try to do right what I undertake, every one of our friends said we would succeed, but we made a miserable failure indeed. My_ wife saw your advertisement, sent for some litera- ture, we then sent for your squab book, which we just received, and read it with considerable mterest. The fever has slightly returned, not as hard as at first, but I honestly believe that
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAS BOOK
had I your stock in the first place, we could now tell a different tale. After my wife read your book, she said, “I believe I can do all right with that kind of stock myself.’ So I have encouraged her,:as she feels that it would be pastime for our two boys, and I was certainly fond of the birds when we had them. Send along the nappies and just as soon as we can get rid of the truck we have, and straight- en house up, we will be ready for the Extra Homers. I believe there is a great opportun- ity offered in squab raising, and we are going to try it—E. G., New Jersey.
READ OUR RULES TO THE EXPRESS AGENT AND GOT A REBATE OF ONE- HALF. The pigeons came to me Monday afternoon and seem to be none the worse for the long journey. They are beauties and I find it almost impossible to keep away from their pen, but I suppose the novelty will wear away. I should have written yester- day, but the express agent had overcharged me and I wanted to settle the matter, if pos- sible, without bothering you. I am glad to say I was able to persuade him he was in the wrong, and after reading your card he re- funded half my money. Thank you for the very prompt attention you gave my order. —Mrs. R. B., Florida.
STRAIGHT BUSINESS METHODS. The birds arrived (this order was the second order from this customer, six months after the first order) in good condition, and are now housed. The birds look fine. I thank you very much for the extra pair, something that I did not expect you to do under the circumstances, as it was no fault of yours of those birds going light. I also thank you for the information and will try and save the bird by your method. To get even with you I shall show my birds to all and mention E. C. Rice. Thanking you again for prompt shipment and straight business methods.— W. D., Ohio.
AN OLD CUSTOMER HEARD FROM. T am still raising squabs and like my pigeons better than ever (this customer has been with us going on three years). Am having good success raising them all through this awful cold weather, and they seem healthier than when it is warmer. I enclose check for which please send me wooden nappies. If you have anything new in the way of literature kindly send me some, as I want to keep in touch with you. Have you supplied_ birds to any one around here lately? Our visit to your squab plant last summer_is pleasantly remembered by wife and I.—F. L. B., New Jersey.
NICE BIRDS. ‘The pigeons arrived in fine condition and seem to like their new home very much. Thank you for selecting me such nice birds. Hope the baskets reached you safe.—Mrs, J. P, A., Virginia,
SOI AE IZMG ID INTE
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS GOT TO HIM QUICK. Birds received yesterday noon, all in fine con- dition. Put them in their house last night. All took a good bath this morning. I thank vou for your promptness and for sending me such beautiful birds. I had not expected birds so soon, but was ready.—P. M. R., Kansas.
SQUABS SUPERIOR TO POULTRY. I am an old pigeon and squab and poultry man. I have made money with squabs, and I think they are superior to poultry.—H. S., Massachusetts.
FLORIDA PURCHASER DELIGHTED. Pigeons arrived O. K. Saturday night. I am delighted with them, and as I have fol- lowed your instructions as to building house, pen and other articles, the birds seem to be at home.—M. F. B., Florida.
THEY ARE BEAUTIES. Received pig- eons all O. K. They are beauties and have begun to nest.—F. M., Ohio.
A TEXAS CUSTOMER’S APPRECIA- TION. Your second shipment of Homer pigeons was received yesterday and, like the first, in excellent condition, and I am more than pleased with them. Although my deal- ings with you, when compared to some of your large customers, are rather insignifi- cant, I can’t allow this opportunity to pass without expressing to you my thanks and appreciation for your filling of my orders. For square dealings, conducted solely along sound business lines, you are without a peer in the pigeon world today. I most heartily recommend you to all.—S. A. F., Texas. (The writer of this letter is a well-known Texas business man, connected with one of the largest corporations in that State.)
WON SUCCESS ALSO BY DOING AS WE DO; NEVER HAD A SICK BIRD. Some time ago I bought a dozen pairs of Homer pigeons from you and paid $20 for them, and I want to get about four or five dozen more pair, and would like to know the price you ask for them at present, so I can send the money at once. I find your book on the pigeon industry covers the pigeon business in good shape. I have always found when you start to make a new pie or cake, follow the directions of the people that have made a success. Consequently, I have not had a sick pigeon since I received them some eight months ago. The only difference I made was in the house, and in that the only dif- ference was not to make it quite as tight as they are made in your locality. Hoping to hear from you soon.—J. W. C., California.
ANOTHER WOMAN PLEASED. The birds came on the afternoon of the 6th. They are all very handsome. Some of them are beautiful. You will be surprised to learn
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that in less than 24 hours two pairs were nesting. They have been very busy all day. —Mrs. R. L. U., New York.
INCREASING FAST. Enclosed find $1.70 for leg band outfit. I am receiving excel- lent results from the birds and they are in- creasing so fast that I find it necessary to band them.—H. C. K., Maryland.
OUR HOMERS ADVERTISE THEM- SELVES. For the enclosed $15 ship by National Express six pairs Homers, equally as fine birds as you sent on August 3 last year, ten months ago, to Ben Barber of this place.—J. B. H., New York.
MANUAL WORTH FIVE DOLLARS. I am in receipt of your National Standard Squab Book and am very much interested in the work. I find that every time I pick it up something new seems to appear. In fact, the whole subject is covered, so far as I am able to judge, and I consider the work well worth five dollars instead of your dinky price of only fifty cents. There is a squab plant between here and San Francisco, four thou- sand birds. Their output of squabs, twenty dozen per week, all go to the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. I think prices for squabs are lower here than in the East, still I be- lieve there is money in it.—J. L. S., California.
ONE YEAR’S SELECTION. The number of breeders has increased to about fifty pairs from those I purchased from you about a year ago (fifteen pairs) and all are good breeders, as I have been particular to raise those from the best breeders only.—H. W. C., Michigan.
BREEDING THROUGH THE WINTER. Several months ago I purchased from you a number of your best Homers. They have been doing fine, breeding right along through this severe weather; in fact, my flock has more than doubled.—L. Z., Ohio.
OUR MANUAL OF GREAT HELP TO HIM. Some little time ago I sent for your National Standard Squab Book and after- wards for six dozen of your wood nappies. Since then I have been keeping my pigeons according to your instructions and with great success. I had some fine, pure-bred Homers and have been getting squabs at four weeks averaging twelve ounces. I have had them up to i2% ounces. You strongly urge the adoption of all methods that will reduce the time necessary to look after the birds, and I heartily agree with you.—cC. C. C., California. :
FROM A NEW JERSEY CUSTOMER. Anything new in the pigeon line? If so, send it to me. I am raising lots of squabs.— F. L. B., New Jersey.
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SQUAB BUSINESS A SUCCESS. My father is in the squab business in a town in this State. His business is a success, but I would like to have him give your birds a trial and so have decided to make him a present of a dozen.—H. L. T., Iowa.
GOOD WORDS FROM A COMPETITOR. We have associated your splendid achieve- ments and capacity with our dogged deter- mination to remain in to the death, and by elimination have differentiated both of our establishments from the pretentious and ephemeral plants that come and go. We are a long way from feeling otherwise than modest, and yet we realize that in about eight months we have got a good plant, a good stock, a good name and a good trade, and do not owe a dollar. All the same, this has been regretfully on our sole, unaided inexperience, and your skill has been a loadstar of hope, suggesting that perhaps some day we might hit upon the course which you have taken and follow it. li this business shall ever be trustified, we shall wish to be near you, and in any event we have nothing but desire for your con- tinued brilliant success, and that we shall be worthy compeers.—C. F., New York.
WONDERFUL FECUNDITY. Here is $3.84, for which please send me four dozen wood nappies by Barstow’s express. My pigeons bought of you a year ago are doing fine. I bought six pairs of you a year ago and have now (July 5, 1904) 175 birds. I had 100 stolen. But for this misfortune I would now have 275. I have 400 or 500 hens as well as the pigeons.—N. J. G., Massachusetts.
RAISED A HUNDRED. Will you send me your prices on grain of all kinds? My birds are doing fine now. Ihave about one hundred birds raised from the ones I bought of you (twelve pairs). As soon as I get started in good shape I shall buy more breeders from you. Ihave not sold any yet as I have been raising them.—H. A. H., Massachusetts.
OTHER HOMERS NOT LIKE OURS. I enclose my check for $1.50 to pay for leg band outfit, and 20 cents additional for postage. My birds are continuing to do fine, and I am more pleased than ever with them. I was out last night calling on a man who claimed to have Homers. They looked more like com- mon street pigeons than my Homers. All these things tend to encourage me, when peo- ple can breed such birds profitably. I know mine will show up much better. Please give me a few names of New York dealers in
squabs.—W. M.G., New York.
PERFECTLY SATISFIED. Pardon me for not writing before, but I have been away from home since the birds came, until within afew days. Iam perfectly well satisfied with the Homers you sent me, They are as fine a
32 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
lot of birds as I could wish to see. Half ot them are nesting now and I think that they went to work as quickly as could be expected. We have taken great pains to make their house warm, clean and convenient. I intended to order more birds before this time but have been unable owing to sickness in my family. However, as soon as I get straightened round again I intend to order more breeding stock and work my flock up to 150 pairs as soon as possible.—L. A. C., New Jersey.
ENCOURAGED TO GO ON AFTER EIGHT MONTHS’ TRIAL. Kindly quote me price on leg band outfit. I have lost the circular which you sent me. The birds I got from you last fall (eight months ago) are doing fine, one pair especially, breeding regularly four weeks. hope to have larger quarters and will then oe order for more birds.—F. J. G., New
ork,
A PLEASURE TO DO BUSINESS WITH US. The two dozen pairs of Extra birds ordered Thursday night arrived Saturday morning. It certainly is a pleasure to do business with you. I am delighted with the prompt service you have rendered, for which I beg to thank you. The birds are a fine lot, and they arrived all in the best condition. I am convinced that you make a special thing of each order sent you. Will return the baskets tomorrow.—E. S. F., New York.
NEVER SEEN BETTER PIGEONS. Sev- eral men who have seen my birds have said that they have never seen a healthier or finer lot of pigeons anywhere. The reason they are in such healthy condition is simply this, that I have followed your method to the very ey and hence the result.—E, W., New
ork.
SEVEN MONTHS OF STEADY INCREASE. In May last I bought of you a dozen pairs of Homer pigeons which proved a great success, as I now have thirty or forty young birds fly- ing at large. What I want to know is, can I let out my old ones? I havea fine large flying pen for them, but if you think they will stay with me if I give them their freedom, I would like to do so. They have now been in their present quarters nearly seven months.—W. L. J., Maine.
THANKS FOR EXTRA HEN. This is to advise you that oursecond order of breeders was received on the morning of the 24th in prime condition. We wish to thank you both for your promptness in filling our order, and also for the extra hen sent to replace the sick one of our first lot —W. E. M., Pennsylvania.
NEVER SEEN LARGER, FINER OR MORE VIGOROUS BIRDS. The Homer pigeons ordered from you on Saturday last arrived today, Tuesday, about noon, apparently in excellent condition, and I believe I have never
SS OIA AEST MID IN 1s
seen larger, finer or more vigorous-looking birds. Please accept thanks for your careful consideration and quick shipment. For promptness you are certainly a wonder.—J. H. B., Delaware.
SHIPPED IN EXTRA FINE SHAPE. I received from you last evening at 7 o’clock 208 birds, all alive and so far as I can see in good condition. This morning one is choked and stupid, but I think will come out all right later. I am very grateful for the extra fine shape in which you crated, labelled and fitted them for their journey. I willsend back your baskets this date all in fine shape. I have received everything else ordered, all in fine condition.—J. C., Long Island, New York.
SENT HIS FRIEND TO US. Please send me a pass to visit your plant at Melrose February 27, and one for Mr. Burrows. Mr. Burrows intends buying birds soon. Mine purchased last April are doing nicely.—E. L. S., Boston.
HE IS RECOMMENDING OUR BIRDS. Enclosed you will find a money order for which please send me wooden nappies. I would like to have them as soon as possible for my birds are beginning to lay. J was over to your pigeon plant in Melrose and bought a few pairs and I think that they are the real stuff. They are doing fine. Please send mea pass for two, as I would like to visit your plant again, and I am recommending your birds.— A. L. R., Massachusetts,
STARTED SMALL AND IS NOW CON- VINCED. Please give me your best price on 100 pairs, giving an estimate of the weight and express charges on same. My birds are doing finely. All young birds are larger than the parent birds and workers——G. C. D., Michigan.
THE CHILDREN ARE BETTER THAN THEIR PARENTS. I have forty-eight birds raised from three pairs I bought of you, far ahead in looks and activity of those you sent me.—Mrs, C. L. P., Connecticut.
HAS RAISED SQUABS TEN YEARS. I have received your Manual and it is beyond my expectations. .I have raised squabs for about ten years from common pigeons.—J. H. M., Pennsylvania.
EXPERIMENT A SUCCESS. My husband is going into the business. He bought some Homers of you last summer and intends buying more.—Mrs. G. W. P., Massachusetts.
THEY GROW UP IN INDIANA ALL RIGHT I now (December 1, 1903) have over eighty Homers from the eight pairs I purchased from you last spring. They are all in the very best of condition.—R. T. M., Indiana.
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IN FINE SHAPE ALL THE WAY TO OREGON. I write you to acknowledge the receipt of the birds. They arrived on the morning of November 18 and were turned into their new quarters on the 19th, and I guess they were very glad to get out of the baskets and stretch their wings which they did in great shape and a number of them took a bath as soon as it was presented to them. They all seem to be in fine condition after their long journey.—H. J. T., Oregon.
GOOD RESULTS IN SIX WEEKS. By actual count I find we have the following results today, six weeks after the arrival of the pigeons: Forty-two pairs of squabs and sixty- seven pairs of eggs in the process of being hatched.—I. B., New Jersey.
VERIFIED STATEMENTS AS TO COST OF FEED. My little experience justifies the statement of your book as to cost of feed. If you will answer my query as to capacity of my house I shall greatly appre- ciate the courtesy.—F. B. S., Oregon.
COMMON PIGEONS DO NOT PAY FOR KEEP. I have studied squabs for two years and have had good luck with them. I have read your book and think it is good. If i had a price list I would get some Homers. I have always had good luck, but common pigeons do not pay for the keeping.—H. K., Michigan.
AN ALABAMA BOY PLEASED. The birds arrived safely on the 24th and in good condition. We think they are a very nice lot of birds. As I am a boy of only fifteen years, I expect to follow your advice given in your magazines, and would appreciate any further advice you could offer me. As I have a little more money on hand, I may order some more birds soon. Thank you for your prompt delivery.—W. L., Alabama.
THREE HUNDRED BIRDS RAISED IN LESS. THAN ONE YEAR FROM THIRTY- SIX PAIRS. Our birds shipped by you February 12, 1903 (thirty-six pairs), have done very well. We have now (January 12, 1904), over three hundred and they are lay- ing and hatching all the time. We are going to buy some more before very long and move our plant out onto our thirty-acre farm. I think we will do some more busi- ness with you. Please give us the name and address of the people who buy pigeon manure. We have some to sell.—S. M. M., Indiana.
FIVE DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR THE SQUABS PROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR HOMERS. I wrote you the first of the week for price of fifty pairs of Homers ready for hatching. Not receiving any answer, I think you did not get the letter. Please give me figures by return mail, and if you
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can ship at once. The Homers I bought from you two years ago are doing finely, also those I hatched from them. They are very large and handsome. Shipped some dressed squabs last week to New York and they returned five dollars per dozen, which proves the quality of the goods. Hoping to hear from you soon.—A, C., Connecticut.
OUR STOCK. THE BEST TO BE HAD. I find I will not be in the market for more birds as expected, as my flock is in good shape, but have recommended your company to several prospective purchasers. Do not know, however, what result this will bring. I am glad to say that I have every confidence in your dealings, as I am much pleased with every article I have purchased from you from time to time and will not hesitate a moment to buy stock from you if in market for same, as I believe your stock to be the best that can be had.—O. C. S., Michigan.
.IN FINE CONDITION, AND PERFECT BEAUTIES. Please excuse delay in ac- knowledging receipt of birds. They were delivered to me in fine condition and cer- tainly are perfect beauties. They seem to enjoy their new quarters. I must congrat- ulate you on your promptness in shipping orders. With me it was the quickest move I have ever seen, considering the distance. The same day I ordered poultry from a breeder in Jamesbury, New Jersey. Both letters were posted late Friday afternoon. The pigeons arrived Monday morning early, while the poultry did not arrive until the following Thursday. I was much surprised at the difference.——J. H. B., New Jersey.
KINDNESS TO A_ BEGINNER. We thank you for the kindness you have shown us in our inexperience.—F. H. W., New Hampshire.
PLEASED WITH HER INVESTMENT. Last April I purchased of you some Homers. I have had good success with them as far as the laying and hatching are concerned, and am very much pleased with my invest- ment.—Mrs. L. G. S., Ohio.
STOCK TO BE RELIED ON. In talking with my friend, Mr. C. F. Peters, about go- ing into the poultry business, he advised me to write to you about the squab business, saying he knew you would do as well if not better by me than anybody, and I could rely on your stock and what you might wish to tell me about the business. I have read your works and think you have the right idea about the business.—C. A. G., Illinois.
THREE WEEKS OLD AND WEIGHED OVER A POUND. We weighed one of the first pair of squabs from the birds bought of you when it was just three weeks old, and it held the scales at just seventeen (17)
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAS BOOK
ounces. Pretty good, was it not?—Mrs. E. K., State of Washington.
A FINE LOT OF BIRDS. The last lot of pigeons which I ordered from you were re- ceived Monday morning in splendid condi- tion after their long journey, and are a fine lot of birds. I will send you in a few days another remittance, in addition to the one already sent.—J. L. Louisiana.
SEES THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWL- EDGE AND GOOD STOCK. Just read your book and saw how foolish we were. We had seven dozen mixed birds, some common and some Fantails, and some Runts and Homers. We were ignorant about the kind, and only had about eight or ten squabs in six months, so we sold them to the first person that came. Now I would like to start fresh again and get about a dozen pairs of your Homers. What would the express be to Alameda? Kindly let me hear from you immediately, as I would like to have some pigeons.—Mrs. M., California.
DOING BETTER AS HE GETS EX- PERIENCE. Enclosed find post-office money order for which please send me leg band outfit and extra tubing. From the twelve pairs of Homer pigeons I bought from you about May 1, 1903, nine months ago, I have seventy-two birds all told, old and young, and ten pairs setting. According to this rate I ought to have, I think, at least sixty pairs by May 1. That will be an increase of five to one. I have lost so far four young birds and four settings of eggs, but I hope to lessen this this year.—E. B. G., North Carolina.
PREFERS OUR HOMERS. I am very proud of my birds, they are so tame and pretty. I can get Homers around here, but I would rather have them all from your place. Please send at your earliest con- venience.—Miss B. D., New Jersey.
NO MORE CHEAP BIRDS FOR HIM. Herewith I enclose fifty cents worth of stamps, being in payment for one of your Manuals. In May last I started in the squab-raising business and never owned a pigeon before. I naturally have made some few mistakes, both in building a house and selecting birds. I am going to sell out if possible, if not incurring too much loss, which, being a poor man, I cannot afford to do, and if successful I shall buy land and build, and also buy the best birds I can find, even though it be only a few pairs. I now have 150 pairs all mated, working nicely, stove in house, eight-pound squabs, seventy- five cents per pair Philadelphia market. As I said before, I am poor, but not a cheap man. I want the best, which of course after giving proper food and attention, I should be rewarded both in stock of squabs and prices.—S, B., Pennsylvania.
#
S OPE ID Vie Nels
A FRIEND’S FLOCK DOING WELL. Enclosed find express money order. I am sure you will send the best birds. I find the Manual very instructive. Mr. Connelley’s flock which he obtained of you is doing fine. —C. L., South Carolina.
STOCK THE FINEST HE HAS SEEN. My home is in Buffalo, N. Y. I am stopping in this city (Atlanta, Ga.), temporarily. It is my intention to establish a squab plant in the vicinity of Buffalo. I have been to look over Mr. s plant, which is very fine, and the stock is the finest I have seen. He informed me that you furnished the stock (five hundred pairs), an entire equipment. My present intention is to start with not less than 300 pairs.—P. H., Georgia.
IN FIRST-CLASS CONDITION. The birds arrived yesterday in first-class condition, all alive. Thanks for the extras—R. W. B., State of Washington.
A NOVA SCOTIA CUSTOMER. The Homers arrived safely today, and I am very much pleased with them. They are a fine lot of birds —J. H., Nova Scotia.
KIND AND CORDIAL METHODS. Many thanks for your kind and cordial methods of doing business, and if I find that the conditions here are suitable to squab raising, I shall be wanting some more stock before long. So far I am very well pleased, and the birds you sent are certainly well worth the prices you quote.— D.T.S., Kentucky.
CHICKEN INDUSTRY NEEDS A MAN- UAL LIKEOURS. The Manualsent me is the most complete and concise work on the sub- ject of squab raising I have ever read. I doubt whether there is a book written on any subject of its kind so complete in all its detail. I would be willing to give most anything for a like account of how to succeed with chickens. If you know of any such work I would con- sider it a personal favor if you would kindly send me the title and where to get it. Iam glad to have in my possession such a book as the Manual, it is a pleasure to read it. Of course it’s business, but I think it wonderful that you should give such valuable informa- tion to the public.—J. H. J., Pennsylvania.
SAME AS YOU SENT BEFORE. Enclosed you will find $15 for six pairs of your best breeding Homers that breed white squabs, the same as you sent before.—F. P., Virginia.
FROM FIFTY DOLLARS TO FIFTY CENTS. Please send to us as soon as possible 48 nap- pies. We shall want 48 of your Extra Homers as soon as these nappies reach us, and if con- ditions prove favorable, hope to buy a thou- sand birds. I think there must be money in this business. I wrote a squab raiser in Iowa, asking if he would show me through his farm,
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and he replied that he would for fifty doliars. I enclose fifty cents for a National Standard Squab Book, which kindly send me.—A. D., Minnesota.
MAKING MORE MONEY WITH SQUABS. The nappies have not yet come. I have quit the railroad and gone into the squab business. We are going to send for some of your Homers soon and let what we have breed with a few additions occasionally until the Homer trade gets rooted. I am now making more with pigeons than while working for the company, or rather, I am making a good living and put- ting in a large stock of pigeons.—S. D., Texas.
OUR CLAIMS PROVEN TO HIS SATIS- FACTION. Last February, 1903, I bought a small lot of adult Homers from your com- pany and am satisfied they are all you claim for them. Being desirous of getting along faster in the business, I have advertised for additional capital in a New York City paper, and have had nearly two dozen inquiries about the industry.—A. D., New Jersey.
A HUSBAND WAITS FOR THIS YOUNG WOMAN. November, 1902, I bought twelve pairs of your Homers; now I’m sorry to say I must give up the idea of the squab business, and wish to know if you care to buy them and what you will pay. I have ninety birds, and sold some last summer. I think your birds have done very well. I would not have any- thing but your Plymouth Rock Homers.—Miss E. J. D., New York.
A TEXAS WOMAN FINDS THEM EASY TO RAISE. I have now (January 7, 1904), raised one hundred from those I bought of you (six pairs Extra sold December 11, 1902.)— Mrs. R. M. H., Texas.
ONE HUNDRED PAIRS IN MONTANA’S COLD WEATHER. The squab _ breeders arrived here all safe and well in spite of the cold snap Monday noon. We are much pleased with the flock. Number is correct, 208 birds (only two casualties). They cer- tainly are having a fine initiation to Montana weather. The mercury stood thirty-two degrees below zero last night and has been below since their arrival—wW. H., Montana.
DEALERS ADVISE HIM TO BUY OF US. About a year ago I bought your Manual and plans fora squab house. I have been study- ing the book thoroughly and find it very complete in every detail and ‘‘out of sight’? as compared with others I have seen. I am compelled to move to Southern California and will try squab raising. What discount do you give on 300 pairs of your best birds? I have been somewhat used to stock raising, including poultry. Iam advised by dealers in Los Angeles to get my stock from Boston, even at the expense necessary. While no names were mentioned, I presume they referred to
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ou---W. W. D., Minnesota. (Correct. We ave shipped to California within the past few years thousands of pairs of Homers and at all places in California where squabs are sold and eaten, the product of our Homers is wanted because they are the best in the market there.)
USES THE HEALTH GRIT. Please send me by American express one hundred pounds Health Grit, for which find $2 enclosed. My pigeons are doing finely and I now have 75 in addition to my original lot, and the young ones are hatching out squabs.—W. L. J Maine. j
HE IS PLEASED WITH US AND OUR BIRDS. Iamso much pleased with the birds I got from you and the bright prospects of the squab industry, that I feel interested in getting some of my friends started in squab raising. The last shipment of squab breeders reached me in splendid condition and are very fine birds. Jam very much pleased with the selec- tion and your good judgment. All your stock, birds, supplies and dealings with me in the past have been so satisfactory that you may expect more orders from me and my friends in the future. I have raised and sold pigeons and pet stock for years, so of course am capable of judging good stock when I see it, and I con- sider your squab-breeding Homers the best that can be bred for successful market squab breed- ing. Trusting that you may continue to have much success in this worthy business.—L. E. Virginia.
THEY EAT OUT OF HER HAND. I en- close money order for more nappies. I like my pigeons better every day. They are so tame now they will eat out of my hand.—Miss L. V. P., New York.
THREE MONTHS’ WORK. We are going to move this week to California. The six pairs I bought of you in March, three months ago, have all nested and done fine, and I have raised 24 young birds from them.—Mrs. H. B. S., Massachusetts.
ALL THE WAY TO VANCOUVER. I received my birds on June 8, and all of them were in fine condition except one hen, which seems to be a little stupid. My express charges were all right. Thank you for the free birds. Hoping that I will be able to send for a few more soon.—G. A. L., Vancouver.
HAS SEEN HOW OUR BIRDS WORK IN HIS TOWN. I am sending you herewith money order for $31.50, for which please send me 12 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, and two of your drinkers, same as you sent me before. I have seen two different lots of your Homers in this city, and although I have some good ones that are rapid breeders and raise large squabs, I am so much 1m- pressed with the work that Mr. Barrett’s Homers (purchased of you) are doing, that I have gone
”
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUADS BOOK
to work and fitted up two more breeding pens to accommodate some of your stock.—W. H. M., Massachusetts.
ALL AT WORK IN SIX WEEKS. Who- ever took the pair of pigeons from the basket must have been an expert in determining the sex and mates, as every one of them, that is, twelve females, have eggs and are setting. Don’t you think this is strong evidence that two pigeons never were taken from the basket during transit? I will make no claim against the express company. I feel very positive they are not at fault. The shipment reached me six weeks ago.—C. S., Ohio.
INCREASING HIS FLOCK. ‘The twelve pairs of breeders that I bought from you last fall are beginning to lav very nicely and I am very much pleased with them. Please send me six more pairs, in payment for which you oe money order enclosed.—H. W., New
ork.
A LARGE SHIPMENT TO CALIFORNIA. T received all the birds (312 pairs) without one being dead, and the lot seems to be in splendid condition, on the whole, after such a long journey. It seems wonderful to me that none were dead with all the rough handling they must have received on such a long journey. The birds are beauties and attract a great deal of attention.—P, W., California.
QUICK WORK HATCHING. The Homers I got of you are doing finely; received May 1, five weeks ago, and I have a dozen or more squabs from the dozen pairs—J. F., New Jersey.
FINEST HE EVER SAW. The Extra Homers arrived today in first-class shape, and are the finest I ever saw.—L. C. Y., Maryland.
UNABLE TO FILL ORDERS FOR HOM- ERS. The writer has been engaged in selling Homer pigeons for squab breeders for the past several months, but my stock is now almost completely exhausted and I am unable to fill my orders. Have just received an order from Hot Springs, Arkansas, but as I make it a rule not to attempt to fill orders for birds which I do not have in my own lofts, have declined the order and referred the customer to your company. He wants fifty pairs, and would suggest that you get into correspondence with him. Trusting that you may be able to get the business.—G. C. S., Ohio.
OUR PIGEONS AT THIS LARGE SHOW IN 1906 MADE A CLEAN SWEEP OF THE PRIZES. Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass. Gentlemen: Pardon the delay in not answering about the safe arrival of the birds. The show was a big success and over nine hundred entries were registered. I had a nice coop fixed up and brought the entire flock of fourteen birds. They behaved fine
SWGEAZ IE IIIT IN| TD
and did not mind the close confinement after the first day. One of the pairs laid two eggs. My flock took first, second, third and fourth prizes, also one for the largest flock of one exhibitor (which was $3), and the white birds took first prize over three other pairs. The judge was high in praise of the birds and their markings. 1 understand you have sold some birds to Mr. Marsh, who has heard about my success and is to start with one hundred pairs. The pigeons sold several months ago to a doctor of Warren were through my recom- mendation. Thanking you again for past favors, I remain, etc.—Mrs. R. C., Pennsyl- vania. (The pigeon exhibition to which she refers was held in February, 1906.)
OFFERED FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR FOR THE BIRDS. Pigeons arrived August 29 in good condition and I thank you. I am well pleased with the birds; they are the finest flock I have ever seen. The teamster who brought them out from Seattle informs me a man on the way offered him five dollars a pair for the birds. Had I been with him, I surely would have taken him up, and made nearly $100 by the bargain. You -may expect another order from me in a month or six weeks for one hundred pairs, and then I shall have enough breeders to commence with.— C. C., State of Washington.
(We have had quite a number of letters similar to this one, and from other informa- tion which we have in regard to the Western market for breeders, we know it to be a remarkable one. Any one who buys our fine birds can find a purchaser who is willing to pay in many cases much more than the dif- ference in express charges. We _ receive numerous requests from wholesalers who wish to sell our birds in their territory, but we sell all the birds we wish to at retail, to the extent of our capacity, at’ one price to all, and do not supply such dealers. We are shipping at least one order a day the year round to Cali- fornia or the State of Washington.)
OUR HOMERS ARE PRIZED BY FAN- CIERS AS WELL AS SQUAB BREEDERS. Our Homers sell on their merits as squab breeders, but they are first-class flyers, able to win in any company. At the New York and Chicago National Pigeon Shows in Janu- ary, 1904, in competition with the whole country, Homers sold by us and exhibited by our customers were the best birds there. In awarding the first prize, New York show, class of Blue Homer Cocks, the judge said: ‘‘ Grand one; the best bird in the ring today to my way of thinking. He is a large, fine-colored Homer with almost perfect head, broad shoulders and wedge-shaped body, nice eye and fine dark cere. This cock also won the cup for best Homer shown, and this honor was not new to him, as he did the same trick at Lawrence earlier in the season.”’
The class of Blue Checker Cocks at the New York show was the largest. “A finer class of
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Blue Checker Homers we have never seen,” said the judge. The first prize in this large class was awarded a Homer from our coops exhibited by one of our customers with the following comment by the judge: ‘Grand- bodied, up-standing bird, elegant head and eye, with the most perfect checkering I ever saw on a Homer, but for being a trifle light (in color) on rump he would be hard to find fault with.”
In awarding the first prize in the New York show, class of Blue Hens, to a hen sold by us and exhibited by one of our customers, the judge said: ‘‘This class outside of the winner was not bang-up. Good blue hens are scarce, but the first bird is an exception, and probably one of the best hens going. She is extra large for a hen, almost over the limit in this respect, but she is built on the correct lines, very good color and smooth type of head. She would make a great mate for the first cock.”
In the fall of 1903, one of our customers, with a Homer cock bought of us, won first prize every time exhibited, also special prize for best Homer in the show, every time ex- hibited at_the pigeon and poultry shows at Taunton, Brockton and Hartford.
THIS COMMISSION FIRM IN NEW YORK CITY WANTS ONE THOUSAND DOZEN SQUABS DAILY, PAYING FROM $4 TO $6 A DOZEN FOR SQUABS BRED FROM OUR BIRDS. The large commission houses handle squabs by hundreds of dozens daily and firms which are known to furnish squabs of first- class size and weight, such as our birds breed, get more orders than they can fill. We re- ceived the following letter in January, 1904, from a_ well-known commission firm in New York City (whose name and address we give to customers who buy breeding stock of us):
Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.:
Gentlemen: I am receiving quite a few letters from time to time from the different customers of yours that are starting in the squab trade. I wish if you see or write them, that you would advise them as I have done, to put themselves in a position to ship from 5 to 10 dozen squabs at a time, and if they intend to make a business of it, they might as well buy enough breeders in the start, so as to be able to ship a quantity at a time, as these little shipments of one or two dozen hardly pay one to handle, the expense eating up the commission. I have stated to them before, and you can also tell them, that the squab trade is in its infancy, and will certainly increase from time to time, and we are in a position to handle daily any part of 1000 dozen squabs, as we have a big outlet to place them promptly at top prices, with check to balance same day goods are received and sold. For the pres- ent, and until further notice, we quote you market as follows: Squabs weighing ten pounds to the dozen, $5.50 per dozen; nine pounds, $5.25 per dozen; eight pounds, $5 per dozen; seven pounds, $4 per dozen; six and one-half pounds, $2.75 per dozen;
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dark, $2.10 per dozen. Would like to have all the squabs you can get. In case you have any good customers that are starting in, 1 wish you would send me a complete list of that trade, so that I can write to them
occasionally, and post them on the condition -
of the market.
To our answer we received the following letter from the above firm:
Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.:
Gentlemen: Your letter of the Ist duly received, and I am glad to hear from you so promptly. I have received quite a number of letters from small shippers who, judging by the way they write, must be beginners, and know but very little of the business. have tried to make things as plain as possible to them, and encouraged them all to start in and increase the size of their purchases from you to such an extent that it will pay them to ship. Of course we are obliged to take these small shipments, and encourage them along as much as possible, but very often after we have got a man started, he would have made a pretty fair shipper, but some one gets hold of him in the meantime and makes him believe that he can do better than we can, which is one reason that I object to helping these small shippers along. As above stated, as soon as they get started they begin sw itching around, who starts them has very little for his trouble and pains of putting them in the way of mak- ing money.
I wish if you have any shippers’ addresses in the West or in Wisconsin (which seems to be quite a squab country) and also in either Illinois or Minnesota, that you would send them to me. They seem to be doing pretty well in that section, and are satisfied with the fair prices they get from our market,
NALITONAL SIANDARD
and the man .
SOUAB BOOT
on account of the poor prices they get in Chicago, or elsewhere nearer home.
At the present time, squabs are very scarce and very high. We are even returning more money than the last quotations I sent you, in order to get enough birds to supply our trade. So if you can put me in the way of increasing our squab supply, I would greatly appreciate it, and try in some way to recip- rocate for same. Thank you for the infor- mation you have given me thus far in regard to shippers.
Under date of January 30, 1904, we have the foilowing letter from a commission firm in St. Louis, showing that the demand in that section is becoming extraordinary : Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.:
Gentlemen: We are in the market for squabs and if you have any customers in this vicinity who are seeking a market for their squabs, we would be glad to be placed in correspondence with them. We will pay the highest market price for them, and feel confident that the service we will render your patrons will prove advantageous to you, to them and ourselves. Please let us hear from you.
We do not give the addresses of these firms, and other good squab buyers, until we have sold breeding stock to the cus- tomer. Commission men in all the cities are getting letters from curiosity seekers who are merely ‘looking up’ squabs and to such letters the commission men pay scant attention, for lack of time, and as
there is no money in it for them. Any one who doubts the genuineness of the letters we print should come or send a friend te our Boston office to see the originals,
APPENDIX A
(Copyright, 1903, by Elmer C. Rice.)
CALIFORNIA MARKET. The California market for squabs is excellent, especially at the invalid resorts. In San Francisco it is not so good as at the Southern Coast places frequented by rich travelers. We print the following letter:
Poultrymen’s Union of California, 413 Front Street, San Francisco (January 28, 1903): ‘‘ Your valued favor just received and in reply would say that usually the quotations in the papers are close to being correct, but if you desire to call and see us at any time, we will give you exact quotations. There is always a good market here for large, fat squabs. They are readily selling today at $3 per dozen.”
SUMMER RESORT MARKETS. The pleasure and vacation resorts all over the country are good squab markets. Maine squab breeders ship to Boston in the winter but in the summer they get better prices at Bar Harbor and elsewhere along the coast. The White Mountain resorts in New Hamp- shire are a fine summer market, also the re- sorts along the eastern coast of Massachu- setts. Newport, in Rhode Island, is a good summer squab market. Two or three of our customers in the vicinity of Lenox, Mass., and in North Carolina and Florida, are quite enthusiastic over the splendid market at their doors. Wherever the good eaters go, winter or summer, there is the demand for squabs.
HOSPITAL TRADE. A woman in the State of Washington wrote us that two big hospitals in a city near her had offered to take all the squabs she could supply. She moved out, bought a farm and in January, 1903, we shipped her four baskets. Under date of February 7, she replied: ‘‘ Please pardon my delay in acknowledging the re- ceipt of the shipment of fifty pairs Extra Mated Homers I ordered from you. I have been so busy with them that I have not really had time to write. Out of the whole lot there was only one dead one, which sur- prised us.’’ (As we had shipped two pairs more than the order called for, or 52 pairs altogether, the customer had no complaint.) “The birds are perfect beauties and we are
reatly pleased with them. They seem to ike their new home. Thanking you for your kindness and with best wishes.’’
The hospital trade in squabs is worth cater- ing to, for they are such a delicacy that they are greatly esteemed by physicians. There may be a suggestion in this for you if you de not care to deal with commission men.
BRANCHING OUT. We have put some of our best birds, in largest orders, for 300 to 1000 pairs, right into the heart of the squab country
around Philadelphia, showit.g that our ideas and our birds are all right. On February 9, 1903, we received the following letter from Heacock & Hokanson, architects, of Phila- delphia:
“Enclosed please find 25 cents for a plan of your style of squab house. Our client in- forms us that you have prints showing the details of house, nests, self-feeders, etc. We have two clients who have been making some- what of a success at this work and are now ready to build houses with every essential and practical feature necessary to make a success on a somewhat larger scale.”’
SQUABS IN UTAH. The following letter comes to us from: James A. Hepburn, Utah, dated January 24, 1903:
“Enclosed find check for $1.70 for which please send me postage paid your leg-band outfit. I recently received your book on pigeons and although I have been breeding Homers for flying for a long time, I learned many things of interest to me from the book. I intend now to increase my flock and raise squabs for the market also. I find I can sell all I can supply here to the local markets.”
SQUABS NOT GAME. A correspondent writes us that she does not think she can market squabs in her State because the game laws are so strict. In reply we wish to state that squabs are not game, but are a domestic product same as chickens, and can be mar- keted in any State or Territory at any time of the year in any quantity without violating the game laws.
CHICAGO MARKET. The Chicago market for squabs is fairly good, but nowhere near so good as the markets of New York, Phila- delphia and Boston, because the only squabs obtainable there in large quantities are the inferior squabs of common pigeons. We have customers in Illinois who have written us that their fat Homer squabs from our birds are salable at prices from $1 to $2 in excess of the prices quoted by the Chicago commission men. The Chicago market is an eager one, and the dealers are imploring squab raisers to sell, saying they will take all offered. We advise our customers in the Middle West to sell their squabs to the private trade direct over the heads of the Chicago commission men until the latter advance prices. We print herewith some letters from Chicago commis- sion houses, showing that they want them both with the feathers on and off, depending on the dealer:
C. B. Hayden, Jr., & Co., 214 and 216 South Water Street, Chicago, [Illinois (Jan. 26, 1903): “Your favor of the 24th inst. at hand and in reply will say, fat dressed squabs bring
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MATING COOPS IN MATING HOUSE.
We have a thousand mating coops in our plant. This illustration shows how they are arranged in a house, several tiers high.
140
A IPAZTE INIOIOS val
$2 to $2.25 per dozen. We handle them in any quantities.”
Gallagher Bros., 191 South Water Street, Chicago, Ill (Jan. 26, 1903): ‘‘We have your favor of the 24th to hand and noted. In regard to handling squabs will say, we are in a position to handle any quantity to good advantage. Weare now getting fancy squabs from Wisconsin, which are selling at $2.50 per dozen, about seven pounds to the dozen.”
C. H. Weaver & Co., 129 South Water Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 29, 1903): “Your favor of the 27th received. The market on squabs is $2.25 per dozen for the weights you speak of. We can handle all that you will be able to ship us, but would advise making a small shipment at first, so that we will get an idea of your stock and dressing.”
Theodore C. H. Wegeforth Co., 133 South Water Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 28, 1903): “In reply to your favor requesting us to quote you prices on squabs will say that there is a very good demand for them on this market at present and when fine they will bring from $2 to $2.25 per dozen but in order to bring these prices, the squabs must be fat and weigh on an average about three-quarters of a pound each, and for such there is a ready sale. If you have any, or receiving, you can safely -ship all you can get.”’
H. R. Waszko, 213 South Water Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘‘In reply to your letter of January 27, we wish to say that we can handle your squabs, in fact we can place any amount at the extreme top market price, for we are heavy receivers of dressed squabs, especially from South Dakota and Wisconsin. Squabs should weigh not less than six or seven pounds per dozen. Should be dry-picked as the trade that can pay fancy prices want them No. 1, and we quote them firm at $2.50 per dozen, but they must be fancy. We think we can get you still higher prices but we can tell from your first shipment to us just where we can place them and what we can do. See that they are well cooled off before shipping. Trusting that you will favor us with a good shipment as soon as possible and also give us an idea of how many you can ship us daily or weekly.”’
Peter Britten & Sons, 2 and 4 Fulton Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 30, 1903): ‘‘There is no limit to the amount of squabs we can handle, as we have inquiries for the same at all times. We assure you, and you can rely on us to obtain the highest possible price for your stock at all times.”
Cougle Brothers, 178 South Water Street, Chicago, Ill, (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘‘Replying to your favor of January 27 will say that good fat squabs are worth from $2 to $2.50 per dozen. We can handle all of that kind you can get. The best way to ship them is just to pinch their necks, cool thoroughly and pack in a box. Do not bleed them nor take the feathers off. We hope you can ship us some of this kind of squabs as we need them.”
F. W. Melges & Co., 100 South Water
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Street, Chicago, Ill, (Jan, 28, 1903): ‘‘Re- plying to your favor of the 27th in regard to squabs we beg to say that there is a wide range of prices according to quality. If they are fine fat birds we can handle advantageously all youcan ship us. We shall do all in our power to obtain the very top price for same at all times.”
A. Booth & Co., 63-65 Lake Street, Chicago, Ill. (Jan. 25, 1903): “If squabs are well dressed and weigh eight to nine pounds to the dozen, we can use them at $2.25 per dozen £.0.b. Chicago.”
H. G. Lane, buyer for the Wellington Hotel, Wabash Avenue and Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Ill (Feb. 2, 1903): ‘“‘In reply to yours of January 26 about squabs would say that we are buying the large white squab you speak of. We have them shipped with the feathers on and market price for the best squab is $2.75 to $3.00 per dozen.”’
William H. Taylor Co., 156 and 158 South Water Street, Chicago, Ill. (Feb. 4, 1903): “Your letter at hand in regard to squabs. Would say we could use all your squabs you can ship. We would just as soon have them with the feathers on as off. We can offer you $2.50 now for good stock. Should at any time market do better, we should certainly give it to you. Please let us know how soon you can ship and how many each week. We have the trade for them and can do as well as any one for you.”
Herman Weber Co., Inc., Union Hotel and Restaurant, 111-117 Randolph Street, Chicago, Ill. (Feb. 3, 1903): ‘‘Your favor of the Ist to hand. I am buying squabs fresh in the market all the time and am paying $3 per dozen forsame. You can bring in two dozen of your squabs and if satisfactory will buy same of you right along.”’
The letter last quoted above, that from Herman Weber, is an indication of what the consumer in Chicago is paying for inferior squabs. It rests with you whether you will be satisfied with breeding a product which com- mands a price of $2 to $3 a dozen, or $3 to $6. If you put squabs weighing ten pounds a dozen and over into the Chicago market, you can get from $3 to $6 a dozen.
NEW YORK MARKET. In the first part of January, 1903, we received the following letter from the manager of the squab depart- ment of a commission house in Washington Market, New York city:
“Your name and address as raisers of fancy squabs was given me by Mr. Howes of Detroit, Michigan, who was over to your place a few days ago. As I have heard of your plant before and have tried to get your address so as to write to you for squabs, I hope this letter will mean some business for us both. If you have any squabs to ship, I would like to get your output, and can use all you can ship at full market, and make you prompt returns day received and sold. This week I am returning the following prices:
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Squabs weighing ten pounds to dozen and up, $4.50 per dozen; eight pounds and up, $4; seven pounds and up, $3.50; six and ones half pounds and up, $2.60; dark, $1.80 per dozen. If you will prepay charges, account of sales will be sent you same day goods are received, less five per cent commission.”’
Letters like the above come to us from all parts of the country, and squab breeders whom we have supplied get similar communi- cations. The poultry and game dealers in all sections are after squabs all the time and could sell a great many more than they are now able to get hold of. The above letter is written notwithstanding the fact that in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania alone are today four or five thousand squab breeders, many of them with large flocks of over one thousand pairs of birds each. In the town of Moorestown, New Jersey, to take only one case, are from 200 to 300 squab breeders. As we say in our Manual, people in these sec- tions keep hens for their own use, but not for market, for they know that squabs pay bet- ter than hens. Poultrymen in other sections of the United States are fast finding this, out and are putting in squabs along with poultry, or giving up poultry altogether. In spite of the large output of squabs from the 4,000 to 5,000 breeders in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, which go into the Philadel-
hia and New York and Boston markets (for the squab raisers in New England sup- ply only about one-tenth of the Boston de- mand), there is all the time a scarcity of squabs, as the above letter proves. This letter comes to us because we have the repu- tation for dealing in a fancy product. There are breeders of squabs who send to market an inferior product from small and cheap Hom- ers, and such squabs are not the kind which dealers are anxious to get. Be sure you are able to breed a fancy squab by getting your breeding stock of us. Some beginners are anxious as to express rates, not compre- hending that they can ship squabs long dis- tances at a trifling cost. The express rate from Boston to New York is $1 per 100 pounds. This means that an express team will call at our door, get a box of squabs weighing 100 pounds, transport it to New York, and in that city deliver it by team to the commission dealer for $1. In the case of a box of our squabs weighing twelve pounds to the dozen, about eight dozen and the box would weigh 100 pounds. If we de- livered them in New York at the price quoted, $4.50 per dozen (or $36 gross), we would net, deducting his five per cent commission and the $1 express charges, $33.20. The com- mission man would resell the squabs to his trade for $5 to $8 per dozen. By a dozen squabs we mean in this case and in all cases where prices are quoted, twelve squabs. We do not mean one dozen pairs of squabs. We mean six pairs of squabs. Squabs are always quoted at so much per dozen, not so much per dozen pairs.
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On January 8, 1903, the New York squab buyer above quoted offered the following prices for squabs: For squabs weighing ten pounds to the dozen and up, $4.75; eight pounds and up, $4.50; seven pounds and up, $3.60; six and one-half pounds, $2.75; dark and No. 2 squabs, $2.
On January 25th, 1903, he offered the fol- lowing prices: Ten pounds and up, $5.50 per dozen; eight pounds and up, $5.00 per dozen; seven pounds and up, $4; six and one-half pounds, $3; dark and No. 2 squabs, $2.10.
On February 6, 1903, he offered us the same prices as last quoted, adding that he would pay $3 to $3.75 per dozen for squabs of average weight and grade. In this letter he said: ‘“‘As I have been getting quite a few letters from some of your squab customers of late, I want to thank you for same, and hope to get some of their birds and prove to their satisfaction by the prices large, fine birds will sell at, that squab raising if. prop- erly carried on_is a very profitable and pay- ing industry. The demand for squabs is on the increase and will be from now on, as the game laws of all the States are such as to prevent much small game from reaching the several markets, where there has been a big supply of such at low prices that squabs will now take their place, so that new be- ginners have nothing to fear from a glut by over-production of good-sized squabs. This we have proven to our own satisfaction when we introduced the large or royal squab to our best hotel and cafe trade in this market, dur- ing the past season, and it now looks as though our demand will be greater this com- ing season. The buyers of these large birds see they are worth the difference in price, that they have a better call for them once they introduce them to the consumer. En- courage all your buyers to invest in birds that produce large, plump squabs. It wilf pay them best in the end and make a better demand for their grade of birds.’’
On February 16, 1903, he offered us the following prices: Squabs weighing ten pounds to the dozen and up, $6 per dozen; nine pounds, $5.50 per dozen; eight pounds, $5 per dozen; seven pounds, $4 per dozen; six and one-half pounds, $3 per dozen; dark, $2.10 per dozen.
The above quotations are a good indica- tion of what the New York market for squabs
is.
_ One of the practical ways we have of help- ing our customers is to refer them to such first-class buyers of squabs as the firm above quoted. We will give the address of the above New York firm to you when you buy breeding stock of us.
SCRANTON MARKET. The following let- ter is from Chandler and Short, commission merchants, 15 Lackawanna Avenue, Scran- ton, Penn., dated February 15, 1903: ‘‘ We have yours in regard to squabs. They are worth from $2.75 to $3 per dozen, dressed, on our market. Whatever you ship, we will
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endeavor to get the very highest market prices for. All you have to do is to have the feathers picked off.’’
CLEVELAND MARKET. The _steward’s department of the Union Club, 158 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, sends the following letter under date of February 13, 1903: “I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday and beg to say regarding your questions about squabs, that they are worth to us from $3 to $3.50 per dozen for the best and largest squabs either dressed or in the feather.”’
W. H. Bennett, proprietor of Oyster Ocean Cafe, 368 Superior Street, Cleveland, Ohio (February 12, 1903): ‘“‘I use about one and one-half dozen squabs aweek. Price averages $3 per dozen the year through.”
W. H. Seager, Sheriff Street Market, Cleve- land, Ohio (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘‘I purchase squabs when offered in this market and have sent to California for them on special occa- sions. The market price varies from $2.40 to $4 per dozen.”’
Gibson Pinkett Company, Fulton Market, 21-25 Prospect Street, Cleveland, Ohio (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘‘ We buy squabs and pay what they are worth. Price runs from $2.50 to $4 per dozen. We could use fifty dozen or more today.”
KANSAS CITY MARKET. The market for squabs here is steadily improving. Here are some letters bearing on the subject:
From James R. Peden & Co., 404 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): ‘““Send your squabs to me. I have good, steady demand for them and will take all you can offer. Top prices paid, or handled on commission.’’ (Mr. Peden ships squabs to New York City and other points east.)
W. M. Woods, Produce Company, stalls 12 and 13 west side, City Market, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): ‘“‘ The market for squabs is good. Prices range from $1 to $1.50 for common stock and from $1.80 to $2 and $2.25 for fancy. J am sure you will find a market for your squabs and if they come up to the mark you have set for them, will command a much better price. Kansas City market for squabs is growing. I will take your squabs at market price day received.”
C. T. Wiggins, East entrance City Market, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): “It is only a question of how many you.can supply. I can handle all the squabs you will offer and will pay you good prices for them. The demand is strong and increasing. Hope you will soon make a start with me.”
George O. Relf, steward, Midland Hotel, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 27, 1903): ‘“‘We can use squabs almost any time at $2.75 per dozen. If you have some now we will take one or two dozen and if O. K. will very likely use them right along.”
Ewins-Dean Hotel Co., proprietors Hotel Metropole (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Hotel Balti- more (Kansas City, Mo.) (Jan. 30, 1903):
NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
“Kindly quote me prices on squabs by the dozen. Ihave been using about two hundred per month and expect to use more. If your prices are right you will hear from me in a few days.” (Signed) E. G. Venable, steward.
E. Klidey, the New Coates House, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘‘We are using a few squabs which we buy from the commis- sion men here at $2.50 per dozen. Let me know what price you want for yours and we may be able to use eight or ten dozen a week.”
D. P. Ritchie, steward Hotel Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo. (Feb. 6, 1903): ‘Your favor of January 27 received. We pay $2.75 per dozen for fancy squabs delivered, with feathers on.”
OUR PIGEONS GOING AROUND CAPE HORN. We have sent our breeding stock about everywhere, but one of the most curious orders we ever had is from Captain Lane of the ship Kennebec, which arrived in Boston in November, 1902, from Seattle, with a cargo of lumber. At this writing (Feb. 18, 1903), Captain Lane is making arrangements with us to supply him with a breeding outfit of our Homers, which he will instal on his ship so that on his long return voyage to San Fran- cisco (or Seattle) he will have fresh squab meat regularly. Captain Lane is part owner of his big ship and is accompanied by his wife and young son. He has visited our place and knows about our birds and our methods.
SQUABS IN NEW MEXICO. Here in the East we would not look upon New Mexico as a fancy market for squabs, but here is a letter from a customer in Albemarle, New Mexico, which proves that he is getting interested (Jan. 29, 1903): ‘The pigeons you sent me on the 20th were received yesterday in excellent condition, and am well pleased with them. Please find enclosed a money order for thirty dollars, for which send me twelve more pairs of your Extra mated thoroughbred adult pigeons. Ship as before by Wells-Fargo express.”’
SOUTHERN MARKET. Our breeding stock has gone to every State in the South. If you live in any part of the South, you can market squabs as readily as poultry is mar- keted. One of our Southern customers, who lives in Citronelle, Alabama, has been to Bos- ton to see us. Under date of January 30, 1903, he writes: “I have received Homers from two others, but they do not compare with yours. I will build my second house very soon as the first one is filling up fast.”
LONG DISTANCE SHIPMENTS. To all inquirers we wish to state again emphatically that we certainly do guarantee the safe arrival of every bird, no matter in what part of the world you live. We are learning all the time how to handle the long distance shipments best and experience has taught us little wrinkles about the baskets and the arrange-
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ments of the feed and water dishes, which are valuable. The express messengers get their instructions not from guesswork or from written notices or tags, but from a board a foot square on which is printed in bold type the necessary directions. This winter (1903) we have shipped every week to California. One order of 200 pairs for Santa Ana, Cali- fornia, filled seventeen baskets. Of the 400 birds, only one turned up dead, but as we had sent along four more pairs than the order called for, we were seven birds ahead on the count. Another large shipment toSan Rafael, California, in January, 1903, brought back by return mail the following letter, which we print exactly as we got it, word for word, and altogether it is one of the best recommenda- tions for us to people who live at a distance that we ever received:
“Yesterday a.m. (January 20) at 8.30 we received your letter advising us of the ship- ment of 100 pairs of Extra Mated Homers, on January 14; advising also that the pigeons would reach us before the letter. Well, they did not arrive until 4.30 today, January 21 (7) seven days onthe road. We notice that seven days are also required to get your shipments to Los Angeles; and when you assume that they will reach here at or before the receipt of no- tice of shipment we think you are mistaken. Nevertheless, be this as it may, the birds reached us tonight at 5.30, every bird in first- class shape—every individual one being in first- class shape; giving evidence of being shipped in perfect condition and having plenty of feed and water en route. Your feed ran short, as evidenced by charges of 40 cents made by express company for feed provided by them, which we are only too glad to pay, and at same time shows care and attention of express company messengers—a good fault. Every bird in the lot is bright and active, and they come into a first-class home, a fine house and flying pen, plenty of feed and a galvanized iron pan 6 inches deep with water 4 inches deep Tunning constantly. Dimensions of pan, 4 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 10 inches, guarantee- ing plenty of bathing facilities. They were liberated after dark, but the early morning will afford all the bathing facilities they will need, and we prophesy they will embrace the opportunities afforded at first opportunity. We wish to compliment you on your prompt methods of doing business, and on the superior- ity of the birds shipped us. They were indeed high-class birds, in fact, Mr. Rice, they are better stock than we expected to receive. Your sending us four extra pairs above order was a graceful act on your part, one which we fully appreciate, and thank you right here for it. Your shipment was nearly a week before we expected it ~ 1t by extra exertion we got all ready in time and they have a fine home. Express charges at $14 per hundred Boston to San Rafael, 270 pounds weight of shipment, amounted to $37.80 plus 40 cents for feed, $38.20 total, at merchandise rate. Still at rate given in your circular $4 for 24 birds (12
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pairs), this is too much by a margin. $4 rate to San Francisco per 12 pairs is not just cor- rect, still we are not kicking, for the-difference is not very much. Note this, 201 birds came out of those baskets. Now we aresure, abso- lutely sure of the count. Two people kept count as each bird was liberated and 201 birds came out of the crates. If 100 pairs are mated, what will we do for that poor lone bird? We wait for suggestions; pretty tough on that lone bird, 3500 miles from home, but he or she is here sure. In conclusion we thank you for your promptness, your honesty and your fair, square dealing and will keep you posted as to our progress as per your sug- gestion. We thank you for the crates; they are fine. We wrote you yesterday and look for reply in accordance with your usual promptness.”’
We sent the above letter to Mr. R. H. Dwight, agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company in Boston, and he was quite as pleased as we were. Through Mr. Dwight’s co-operation our through western shipments by the Wells-Fargo have been a remarkable success. The only difficulty we have ever had on account of long-distance trade came when we were shipping in crates, not baskets. We sent a large order into San Francisco and on the way four of the crates were broken into by rough handling and forty-two birds got away. The Wells-Fargo Express Company settled with us for the loss of those birds and we made good to the customer, sending the missing birds on, and the customer was out not a cent for further express charges, for the Wells Pergo people carried the birds dead-
ead.
The baskets in which we now ship cannot be broken open except with the aid of an axe and they can be thrown ten feet across a depot platform without being injured.
There is a minor criticism in the above letter in the ma‘ er of express charges. Ac- cording to the figures which we give in the circular headed ‘‘ Express Rates,’ the cus- tomer should have been asked to pay about $33, instead of $37, as he did pay. We be- lieve the figures which we give to be correct in every case—the slight variation which may come as it came in this case is due to the fact that no two persons will weigh up the same lot of goods exactly the same, and that, of course, the birds vary in weight. The weight when the shipment starts is less than when it finishes, because at the end the bottoms of the baskets are covered with manure. (The grain which we send for feed is not weighed in and charged for transpor- tation.) If the waybill is lost or delayed, and the agent at destination weighs the shipment, he will get a greater weight, and consequently a higher rate, than the express employee who weighed the shipment here in Boston.
We wish to say further that if you think we have figured the express rates to you too low, send us money which we claim to be
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correct and we will prepay all charges, thus putting on ourselves and not on you the dif- ference, if there is any.
COMMON PIGEONS AGAIN. We have had some of the old-time raisers of squabs from common pigeons on the ranches in the Middle West write us for more proofs that Homers are ahead of common pigeons.
In reply we will print here the letter which we received in January, 1903, from a customer as follows:
‘““T have for sale between four and five hundred pen-fed common pigeons. Can you use them, and at what price? Should you not be in a position to use them yourself probably you can refer me to some one that is in the market for some fine pen-fed birds. The Homers which I purchased of you some time last summer are doing very nicely, and have to make more room for them is the reason of wanting to dispose of my common birds. Thanking you in advance for favor asked.”
We asked him to tell us if he had not found our Homers more profitable than com- mon pigeons. He replied as follows:
““In reply to yours will say that your state- ment of the Homers being more profitable than the common birds is true, as the fact has been demonstrated to me in the past five or six months, by my experience of hav- ing the two lots side by side in separate pens. My common birds referred to are fine birds and will sell them f. 0. b. at $2.50 per dozen, which, taking the plumpness of the bird in consideration, is very reasonable.”’
The above breeder lives in Missouri and we expect to sell a good many of our Hom- ers to him and to those in his State who know of his experience. His letters are at our Boston office, where they may be seen. We will not give his name by mail because he is a customer, but if you think the above letters are made up by us, you write to the Boston office of Dun’s or Bradstreet’s com- mercial agencies and ask for one of their men to be sent to our office to investigate.
PIGEON MANURE. Our advice in the Manual as to pigeon manure has interested pigeon breeders all over the country, nearly all of whom say that they never have taken pains to save it, and when it got too thick they have scraped it up as best they could and used it for fertilizer. They want to know how we keep it pure, and all about the market, etc.
The pigeon breeder who does not make provision for the purity of the manure and the steady sale of it is just throwing bank- bills straight into the fire. We have erected two buildings at our place for the manure, and take every precaution to keep the ma- nure free from straw, sawdust, sand, etc. The first building stands at the back of one of the long houses, and about halfway in the whole plant, so that we can reach it easily
147
with a wheelbarrow from the houses. There is a slide cut in the north wall of what we call No. 2 squab house, and through this slide the manure is shovelled from the wheel- barrow (standing in the passageway) directly into the manure house, where it stays until there is from $50 to $100 worth of it, when we bag it up and send it off. In the other building, which is larger, we dry and store a larger quantity of the manure.
We take the wheelbarrow empty down a passageway and stop at a unit pen, then go into the unit pen with a bushel basket and scrapers. We use a trowel to clean off the nest-bowls, a tree scraper to clean out the nest-boxes and a hoe or a floor chisel (same as is used to clean off snow and ice from city sidewalks), six inches wide at the blade and with a long handle so that it can be easily used while the operator is standing. In scraping the floor, the manure rolls up with little exertion off the blade of the chisel. It is shovelled into the bushel basket and the basket taken out into the passageway and dumped into the wheelbarrow. It takes one man not over thirty minutes to clean a pen thoroughly and the product of each pen is between two and three bushels, or from $1.20 to $1.80 for half an hour’s work, which is pretty good pay. (We have been getting in the winter of 1903 sixty cents a bushel from the American Hide and Leather Company of Lowell, Mass.) We ship the manure by freight in bags. We buy these bags when we can from farmers who have large herds of cows and who use considerable grain, and they let the bags go for one and two cents apiece. Second-hand bags in the Boston junkshops cost from four to nine cents apiece. The leather people let the bags pile up and then send them back to us ina bunch. We are particular to save not only the manure in the unit pens, but in the sorting and mating cages and coops. We cover the floors of these cages with bur- lap, not tacking the burlap down, but stretch- ing it over three finish nails tacked at the backs of the cages and two nails tacked at the front of the cages. The manure cakes and dries on the burlap as it would on the floor. When there is a layer about half an inch thick, all tramped hard, dry and odor- less by the constant hammering of the feet of the birds, we take the burlap off the nails and stretch it outside, bottom up, then sprinkle water on the back and the manure drops off in large cakes. The burlap then is dried and replaced. This method saves an immense amount of time which otherwise would be consumed in scraping the floors of the cages. We have 108 of these cages at the farm and in our Boston shipping room, each capable of holding from 12 to 20 pairs of birds, and we have burlap carpets on all of them. We use a large amount of burlap not only for this purpose but for small grain bags to go with orders for breeders to dis- tant points, and also for the floors of our
148
shipping baskets, We buy this burlap in large rolls weighing 150 pounds and contain- ing from 300 to 320 square yards. We do not hem it or sew it in any way for the cages, simply cut it and in stretching it over the nails fold the raw edges under.
Having read vhe Manual, you know that we do not use sand or sawdust in our squab houses, so we are able to deliver manure which is absolutely pure. The tanneries do not like to get lots of impure manure and of course pay more for the unadulterated arti- cle. It is just as easy and more business- like to keep this by-product pure. Feathers and grain in the manure do not injure it for tanneries.
The manure in the houses has no odor, but when we have got it scraped up and banked in the manure house, it gives forth a pungent, ammonia-like smell. As the manure house is entirely cut off from the squab houses by the slide in the passage- way, this pungency does not trouble any- one, It is not a nasty smell, anyway.
We have had customers from as far off as Illinois write that they were quite charmed with our story about the manure, and that they were saving up bags of it to ship by freight to the American Hide and Leather Company at Lowell, Mass. This tannery is a branch of the Leather Trust, which has other tanneries, so use your wits and find out which tannery is nearest you, and ship to that one. If you can find a tannery not in the trust, sell to that, if you wish to. If you sell to a trust tannery, the check which pays you will come from the New York of- fice of the trust, same as ours do. We rec- ommend our New England customers to ship to Lowell. We have always found the leather people square in measuring the manure, in fact they have given us credit on two or three occasions for more than we thought we had. They pay after you have sent your bill of lading and the report of the measurer has gone to the New York of- fice. You need not be afraid of swamping the leather trust with pigeon manure. They will take all you can scrape up. Chemicals which are used as substitutes when pigeon manure cannot be had are said to be injur- ious to the hide.
We write the above to help you sell the manure from your squab houses. Do not ask us to advise you further on this point, for we cannot. If you cannot find a tannery within shipping distance, try the florists or market gardeners. We are informed that the florists’ exchange in New York City is a good place to sell pigeon manure, and customers near that city have told us that they are selling there.
SQUABS IN THE POULTRY PRESS. The magazines devoted to poultry are beginning to take up squabs on account of the increasing interest shown by poultrymen in the subject. In the Poultry Keeper for November 15, 1902, appeared a contribution by A, P. Spiller.
NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOOT.
After giving the general arrangements for caring for the birds, he says: ‘“‘At about four weeks of age the squabs are ready for market. Some markets require them dressed, others only killed. Good breeding pigeons will hatch and rear from six to eleven pair of young a year. The cost to keep a pair of breeders, including the raising of the young, at the pres- ent time is about eighty cents a year, this, of course, varying some with location and cost of feeding stuff. Wild game birds are becoming more scarce each year. The properly raised squab pigeon comes nearer taking the place of these wild birds than anything else. That they make fine eating, those who have eaten them cannot deny. There is always a ready sale for good plump squabs at hotels, restau- rants, markets and private families, prices ranging from $2.50 to $4.50 per dozen, de- pending upon quality and season. When one begins to raise pigeons it is better to try to secure strains from some reliable breeder who has stock bred along profitable lines. There is a difference in regard to breeding and feed- ing qualities and results obtained which war- rants the paying of a little more at the start in obtaining more profitable stock. The writer is in favor of the straight Homer, carefully selected as to size, shape, breeding and feeding qualities, as it is well known that the Homer pigeon is one of the best feeders and breeders of any variety, and the numbers they will pro- duce in a year more than balance any slight advantage that may be obtained in size. The breeding of pigeons is fascinating to most people. It is true there are some losses, but with care and some experience in manage- ment the few losses that occur to the beginner may be reduced to a very small percentage. The work is light and not as exacting as in some other lines, affording a lucrative employ- ment almost from the start to those who are not strong, as well as to the most robust. A flock once mated will give but little concern to their owner, as they remain constant for life regardless of the numbers contained in the flock, and for years will amply repay in profit and pleasure for the feed and care given them.”’
We wish to call the special attention of our readers to that portion of the above article by Mr. Spiller where he says that the cost of a pair of breeders is eighty cents a year. We say the cost is sixty cents a year at the present prices for grain (1903). In his article Mr. Spiller says nothing about keeping the pigeon manure free from dirt and selling it to tanneries. This must be done in order to hold the feed bill down to its lowest notch. Wesay that the manure will pay one-third of the grain bill, and taking Mr. Spiller’s figure of eighty cents, and deducting one-third from it, we have as the net cost fifty-three cents.
We asked one of our friends living in West Newton, Mass., to ask Mr. Spiller if his esti- mate of cost was made when he was saving the manure and selling it to tanneries. Mr. Spiller replied by letter as follows under date of February 16, 1903; ‘No, the manure was
INTE IEE, NID oe
not taken into consideration at all. I do not know what the tanneries pay for it.”
The owners of large flocks of common pig- eons in the West who are breeding squabs for market do not sell the manure and for this reason they lose an important source of rev- enue. It is remarkable to us that pigeons pay with them at all. Certainly the manure is a very important by-product, and you should figure on selling it just as you figure on selling the squabs.
NEWSPAPER MARKET QUOTATIONS. Only a few of the daily newspapers of the country are in the habit of printing regularly market quotations on squabs. The Boston Globe has an article about once a week for the information of the household and in this article squabs are regularly quoted. At Thanksgiving time, 1902, the Globe quoted squabs at from $4 to $5 per dozen. In the Globe of February 14, 1903, squabs were quoted at $4.50 and $5 perdozen. If our New England customers will buy a copy of the Friday or Saturday Globe each week, they will probably find this household article containing the quotations for squabs on one of those days.
SQUABS IN THE STATE OF WASHING- TON. The squab raisers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania are very well satis- fied with the New York and Philadelphia mar- kets for squabs, and we have done consider- able talking about the New York market our- selves, but let us tell you that the market for squabs on the Pacific-Coast is a fine one, too. Here in the East we think Seattle is a long way from home and you may find some city chaps around us who think that city is but just on the edge of the tall timber. If you live out in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, or any State in that section, you ought to feel pretty sure that the markets for squabs around you are good, after you have read what we are going to tell you here about the market for squabs in Seattle and its vicin- ity.
These letters were obtained for us by a customer who lives near Seattle:
Fulton Market, corner Second Avenue and Columbia Street, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11, 1903): ‘Yours at hand and will say that if your birds are as you say, we can use on an average of twenty dozen per week at $2.50 per dozen, feathers on.”’
A. D. Blowers & Co., 817-819 Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb.12, 1903): “Vour valued favor to hand regarding squabs. In reply will say that most of the squabs used in this city are brought from the East and held in cold storage, so that native birds will no doubt sell much better than this article. We have made some inquiry about them and find that there will be no trouble in selling four to six dozen a week, and no doubt many more, as the trade would open up. We do not think there is any one in this part of the country who
149
raises them for sale, and think if you can pro- duce a good article that you will have no trouble whatever in selling them here. The price for eastern squabs is $2.25 to $2.50 per dozen. Some of the customers prefer to have them plucked, others alive. We think it would be better, perhaps, in the first ship- ment to send them alive until a regular trade is established. Our commission for selling them will be ten per cent of the gross sales. If you haye any nice ones, it would be well for you to send two to four dozen along and see what we can do with them for you.’’
(It is better to ship squabs killed and prop- erly cooled. Do not send them alive to your market. Few butchers in the commission men’s employ understand how to kill and cool a squab right. Do your own killing and cooling and packing as we have given you precise directions and you will know, not guess, that your product is reaching the con- sumer in perfect condition.)
Palace Market Co., Second Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11, 1903): ‘‘ Squabs such as you speak of would be worth 20 to 25 cents each. Would prefer the feathers on. We can use all you have.”
California Commission Company, 923 Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11, 1903):‘‘ Your favor to hand and contents noted. In reply we beg to state that squabs are selling from $2.50 to $3.50 per dozen, according to the quality of the birds. We want them with the feathers on and not drawn. You may ship us two or three dozen for a trial and then we will be better able to tell what we can do for you and see how many we can handle at a time. Our commission is ten per cent. on all goods. We are certain that we can give you entire satisfaction and know that our business methods will please you. We make prompt returns and keep shippers well posted on the market conditions. Trusting to be favored with your further valued orders.”
C. W. Chamberlain & Co., 905-907 Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): “Yours of the 9th at hand and contents fully noted. Squabs, such as you mentioned, would sell here for about $3 per dozen. Our selling charge is ten per cent. Twelve to fifteen dozen per week could be disposed of from present information at hand. They should be shipped alive.”
J. F. Gayton, steward Ranier Club (this club is composed of the richest men of Se- attle), Seattie, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): “I am in receipt of your letter with regard to squabs. Yes, I want some squabs at any time. Will be glad to have them. I will take a dozen at 25 cents each, either dressed or undressed, three dollars per dozen. After I see the first birds I can tell whether I can take them regularly.”
Williams Bros., Gilt Edge Cafe, Everett, Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘‘In reply to yours will say, I cannot say at present how manv
VIEW FROM PASSAGEWAY.
VIEW FROM INTERIOR OF SQUAB HOUSE.
Above are two views of a model made to illustrate what we call the dowel system of feeding and watering. It is a great time-saver in a long house. Between the floor of squab house and the lowest tier of nest boxes is one foot space. Fill this space with three-eighths inch doweling set one and one-half inches apart, as pictured. (This doweling comes in any length from a carpenter and is very cheap.) Set galvanized drinker and feed trough as shown. The trough has a three-quarter inch slot in its bottom so that the grains will fall into position ready for eating on the back side of the bottom strip into which the dowels are driven. The birds Stick their heads through the dowels to eat and drink, and cannot foul either grain or water. Push a wheelbarrow with grain along the passageway and a house one hundred feet long can be attended to in fifteen minutes. Without this arrangement if you go into each unit pen to feed and water, you will use up at least an hour, and it will be harder work. By this method you need enter the breeding pens only when killing or cleaning times come,
150
AVIEIeIDIN DIO val
squabs I can use, but will start with two dozen a week, picked, at $2.50 per dozen. Ship as soon as you please and will look the market up for you in the meantime.” ‘
Gordon & Co., commission merchants, 811 Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): ‘* Replying to your letter will say that we have telephoned to several of the hotels and restaurants here that would be apt to use squabs and we find that there are some places that make a specialty of using them and we do not believe we would have any trouble in disposing of them nicely. We would suggest that you send down a small box of them and let us show the customers just what they are and find out just what they will be willing to pay for them. They have been selling recently for 25 cents each. If you care to make this shipment, we will be glad to get it.”
Seattle Market, Cor. First Avenue South and Washington Street, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 10, 1903): ‘‘ In reply to yours would say, it would be a good idea for you to ship us in two or three dozen squabs forsample. I could get the hotel and restaurant people’s opin- ion on price and quality and be able to talk to you on quantity. Eastern frozen squabs are selling on this market for $2 to $2.25 per dozen. If your stock is as you say, I think it would be a better seller than frozen goods.”
Maison Barberis, restaurant and dining arlors, 204-210 James Street, Seattle, Wash. Pred. 11, 1903): ‘‘ We will take thirty dozen squabs every month; have them plucked, and will pay you $3 per dozen. Please answer and say about what day of the month you will send them in.”
. C. Klyce & Co., commission merchants, 906 Western Avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): ‘‘ Yours regarding squabs to hand. We have investigated the market here and find a good many of the first-class hotels and cafes will take them at very fair figures. There seems to be a variance of opinion as to what they will pay, but we presume that the
supply has been very limited, and they -
would pay just about whatever the seller would ask in order to get them. We think the average price would be about $2.50 to $2.75 per dozen. Of course there would be some bidding among the different buyers in case they were scarce, and we might get more for them. We have immediate access by ‘phone and salesmen with all our customers who serve squabs for short orders or other- wise. By this means you would be in close touch with the people most in need of them and would always try to get you top-notch prices. We believe this is a good investment for you to grow them for this market. Of course you would have to start in and grad- uate up to find how large the volume of trade will be that we can command you on them. Anything in the way of game, fowls or meats are staple sellers at good prices.”
Hamm & Schmitz, Hotel Butler, Seattle,
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Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): ‘‘ In reply to yours, will say that we could use three dozen a week of the squabs and will pay three dollars per dozen for plucked birds, laid down here.’’
The above letters indicate to us that peo- ple in the State of Washington who eat squabs have to pay from $3 to $4 a dozen for the cold storage, frozen kind. Poor as these are (they are the lightweight squabs of com- mon pigeons) they are in active demand. Of course the consumers would pay as much, and no doubt more, for fresh-killed squabs bred from our fine Homers. The commis- sion men are certainly eager to get squabs. They are willing to pay from $2 to $3.50 per dozen. They resell them at a profit.
The above letter from E. C. Klyce & Co. is sensible and could well be written by any commission firm in any State in the Union, or by any commission firm anywhere that sells poultry, eggs and butter. Wherever there is a sale for hens and chickens, dressed or with feathers on, there is a sale for squabs at higher prices not only because they are a greater delicacy, but also because good eaters everywhere know they are a greater delicacy, and expect to pay, and do pay, more for squabs, pound for pound, than they pay for hens and chickens, geese and turkeys.
We ship to Seattle by the fastest express trains. The birds go from Boston to St. Paul (Minnesota) by the Wells-Fargo Express Company. At St. Paul the birds are taken by the Northern Pacific Express Company, which has charge of them to destination. Every express messenger in the employ of these two companies of this long route has handled our shipments and made a fine record, and is trained to the work of feeding and watering all sizes of shipments. Our Seattle trade can be sure that their ship-
,ments will be treated right and will reach
them in perfect condition. That is what we
guarantee.
MORE LETTERS. Here are more letters from squab buyers, unclassified, as they came to us in the first part of February, 1903:
Allyn House, Hartford, Conn. (February, 1903): ‘‘ In answer to yours will say we are continually using squabs. We buy them plucked in all cases. We pay all prices, ac- cording to size, age, and condition when re- ceived. They run from $2.25 to $3.25 per dozen. Sometimes the market is a little higher.”
Russell House, Detroit, Michigan (Feb- ruary, 1903): ‘‘ In reply to your letter would say that we use quite a few squabs here. Am paying at present $2.50 per dozen for splen- did stock. If you care to send me any at that, you have to pay the express, I should be glad to have same.”
Duquesne Club, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 13, 1903): ‘‘Wish to know, if you have squabs of first quality. Should you have about three dozen on hand, I would pay you per dozen,
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squabs plucked and delivered from $3.59 to $3.75 per dozen. If price suits you please let
me know.”’ Signed by E. Max Heinrich, superintendent. Lincoln Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska (Feb.
16, 1903): ‘‘Replying to your letter. We can use about two dozen squabs per week in our cafe at present. Will pay $2.50 per dozen delivered here, feathers on.”’
Hotel Victoria, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 18, 1903): In regard to your letter, will say, we use about one dozen or one and one-half dozen per week, just depends on the business, and will pay $3.50 per dozen delivered here at the hotel.”
Fred Harvey, general office, Union Depot Annex, Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago office, corner 17th Street and Wentworth Avenue (Feb. 14, 1903): We can use 15 to 20 dozen squabs per week if the birds are very nice and the price reasonable. Can use them with feathers on. Do not know what we can afford to pay, it depends entirely on the birds. If you will please send three dozen squabs by Santa Fe baggage car to Kansas City, charging them at such a price that you can afford to furnish them, I will use them asasample. If the birds are not of the right quality and the price is too high, we will not need any more, but if the birds and price are right, we can use quantity given above. I enclose baggage car shipping bill; be careful to fill it out correctly. This bill is made in duplicate: you hold one copy as your receipt and the other goes with the birds. Please put the squabs in a small box with a little ice.”’
Hotel Savoy, Ewins-Childs Hotel Co., pro- prietors, Kansas City, Missouri (Feb. 16, 1903): ‘What is your lowest price on best squabs in five-dozen lots? We are not in the habit of sending out of town for our supplies, but if you have something better than we can get here, it is possible that we can do business with you.” (Siged by George Thompson, steward).
Frank E. Miller, superintendent Dining Service, Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway System, No. 707 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, Missouri (Feb. 16, 1903): ‘I have your favor relative tosquabs. It is proper for you to state the price per dozen. We occupy eight or ten large dining stations and require a large number.”’
Hollenden Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio (Feb. 19, 1903): ‘‘In reply to your letter making inquiry regarding squabs I will state that we are paying $3.00 per dozen for nice dressed squabs. We do not buy any unless they are fully dressed, no feathers on.”’
Louis A. Fisher, Manager Century Club, Cleveland, Ohio (Feb. 17, 1903): ‘‘We buy all our squabs in New York as the prices of
_ three and four dollars per dozen prevailing in this city are too high—that is, we buy cheaper in New York than here.’’
A. S. Barnett, steward Morton House, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Feb, 11, 1903): ‘In
NATIONAL’ STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
reply to your inquirv in regard to what we would pay for squabs such as you have, we are paying $2.25 per dozen. Should you consider our price an object, would be pleased to learn how many you could furnish a week.”’
Hotel Schenlen, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 10, 1903): ‘‘Your squabs must be according to the weight and you should find a ready market for such stock. Nice white squabs are bring- ing $3.50 today.””
Hotel Rider, Cambridge Springs, Penn. (Feb. 11, 1903): ‘‘We can pay you $2.25 per dozen for genuine squabs (no pigeons) de- livered here. Can use six or eight dozen at a
ine: but we do not want anything but young irds.’’
E. A. Goodrich & Co., commission mer-
chants, 103 South Water Street, Chicago, Illinois (Feb.13, 1903): ‘Your favor at hand. If you mean fat young pigeons that
have left the nest and can fly, they are worth 75 cents to $1 per dozen, and the trade wants them alive. (This is the way the trade in Boston wants them, but they pay more.) If you mean nestlings, or very young pigeons which have not left the nest and are unable to fly, we can get you $2 to $2.25 per dozen, dressed neatly. Either kind is good sale at prices named and can handle for you any quantity from five dozen to one hundrny dozen. If nestlings, tie in one-half dozen bunches packed in ice and ship by express.”
A FINAL WORD. Our object in printing the letters from marketmen and other squab buyers, in this appendix, is to convince any intelligent man or woman that there is a mar- ket for him, provided he goes to raising squabs, no matter where he lives. We have hundreds of similar letters on hand, but we have not room to print all, and we think we have printed enough. If you are not con- vinced by what we have printed that there is a paying market for squabs within five hundred miles of you, do not write to us and ask us to tell you the names and addresses of squab buyers in your town or city, or your county, for that we may not be able to do, but sit down at your writing desk, or go out in person, and find out for yourself.
It is unnecessary to argue the squab mar- ket with any one of common sense who lives east of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and on the Pacific Coast, and within shipping distance of Denver. If you live in a barren territory or a foreign country, and wish to take up this subject with us, we will reply to the best of our ability, but remember that you are on the ground, and can find out such facts for yourself better than we can tell you.
This Manual is intended to be a book of facts, backed up by evidence. If anybody has any additional facts as to squabs which will improve this Manual, we will be glad to con- sider same, and will pay for them if accepted.
APPENDIX B
Many interesting points with regard to squab raising, the management of a plant, and so forth, are disclosed by the letters which we receive from customers, and the following pages will repay reading as showing the practical side of the business.
The stories of success, letters from customers, which appear in this Appen- dix B, were received by us in 1905, along with hundreds of others of similar character. These show results duplicated over and over again by our cus- tomers, and they came to us in the ordinary run of business, day by day.
We do not print the names and addresses of these customers. Many of them are regular buyers of our birds. We would advertise them as breeders to our loss. We guarantee the genuineness of the letters here printed, and will prove it in any way desired. The originals are on file at our office at Boston and may be seen there.
Here are stories which tell of hardy, vigorous parent stock; of one-pound squabs; of quick results from a small purchase; of flocks from us bred for years without a single death; of remarkable breeding qualities; of handsome Homers which attract admiration wherever they go; of prizes won at fairs; of excellence demonstrated over Homers of any breeding in every State; of many women who are making success with our birds; of. customers who started with
small flocks and later bought of us by the hundred pairs; etc.
See page 153 for the difference between sand and grit.
conditions in Florida.
Same page also for
See page 155 for points about moulting.
On page 157 read what a correspondent says about inbreeding, and the author’s reply; also causes of failure in squab raising.
More about the excellent market for squabs in the State of Washington is
given on page 159.
Breeding without having any sickness or deaths is told on pages 159 and
160.
The experience of a squab breeder with five hundred common pigeons
is told on page 164.
OUR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS ARE STRONG IN AND AROUND BRIDGETON, NEW JERSEY, WHERE THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL BUYERS AND BREEDERS —READ THIS LETTER FROM A CUSTOMER IN SOUTH VINELAND. Will you kindly let me know when is the best time for me to buy more pigeons, as those I bought of you three years ago are doing finely, and I am perfectly satisfied with them and I tell people where I got them, and several persons told me they were going to send for some from you. There are lots of people come to see them, as they are fine birds, and when I send for more I want them mated like the ones I got before; but I will not send until I hear from you. I got twenty-four pairs the last time. ‘There were two that died a little while after I got them, but that was all I lost.—O. W., New Jersey. (This customer lives in South Vine- land, New Jersey, a few miles from Bridge- ton, New Jersey, and in this territory are a
great many pigeon fanciers. We have sold more Plymouth Rock Homers in this [Cum- berland] county, around Bridgeton, than any breeder or set of breeders in that county, and the reason for it is just what our cus- tomer in South Vineland states above.)
SAND IS NOT GRIT—CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA, AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE GREAT MARKET THERE. I have plenty of beach sand and would like to know if you really need to ship me the grit, for I am going to cover the ground of the flying pen with the sand.—J. S., Florida.
Answer: Gravel is grit, but sand is not grit. It is all right to cover the ground of the flying pen with sand and use sand generally about the squab house. In Florida there is nothing but sand, and this is true of other localities also. I wish everybody who has pigeons or poultry would read and remem- ber what I say about sand and grit. Sand
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 153
STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS ———$—$—$—$—$—$—$ $e Oe
is the product of the washing of the ocean’s waters. This incessant beating and washing have worn off all the sharp corners. As a matter of fact (as skillful breeders of poultry in Florida know), if the birds can get no grit and are forced to eat sand, then the sand which they eat packs tight within them, and if you cut open one which has died from some inexplicable cause, you will find the bunch of sand. It is not grit at all, and does not cut and grind the grain as grit does. This is the cause for many failures with poultry in Florida.—lack of grit. The breeder thinks he has grit all around him, when he has none. It is all right to cover the flying pen with sand; it is clean stuff and the pigeons will not eat it unless they are forced to by their owner’s failure to provide grit. Make no mistake, pigeons can tell grit from sand. For further remarks on grit see Supplement to Manual. It is fully as im- portant as grain and grain is not good for anything without it. ust a word about the Florida squab outlook while I am answering this Florida query. I spent four months in the winter of 1905, in Dade County, three hundred miles south of Jacksonville, to get rid of a cough. I found three of my custom- ers in and around Palm Beach. One lived in Jupiter and was raising them all right but the market was not to his liking, and he was a good man, too. Another at Man- gonia, two miles from Palm Beach, was an experienced poultry man, and he was a good business man. Although well-to-do, he gets on his bicycle every day during the winter season and sells his poultry and eggs to the rich cottagers at first hand. You would not believe me if I told you what prices he gets. As for squabs, I state here with full knowledge of the facts, that any number of squabs may be sold in Palm Beach from January 1 to April 1, for $1 apiece, $12 a dozen provided they are good squabs, such as Plymouth Rock Homers breed. The Hotel Royal Ponciana at Palm Beach (called the largest in the world) the winter I was there had fifty-two thousand separate names on iis register in its three months’ season. These were the richest people, in Florida for amusement, and ac- customed to the choicest table delicacies. This is only one hotel; there are many others, including the chain of great Flagler hotels from St. Augustine to Miami and Nassau. Who also in Florida has the business sense to see an opportunity and follow it up by providing these tens of thousands of rich northern people every winter with squabs? I always considered California the ideal climate for breeding squabs, but Florida is just as good; it is perpetual summer there and the winter market beats anything I have ever seen or heard of. As for the summer and fall market, it is not good for much. If you must sell squabs and poultry then to keep a-going, you will have to ship North by the
Clyde line, or else sell your goods to native folks at about half the price you get from northern sojourners in the winter.
WOMAN HAS RAISED ONE HUNDRED PAIRS. Two years ago we bought some pigeons of you. We have some fine ones now, about two hundred, or one hundred pairs.—Mrs. W. B., Pennsylvania.
BRED SATISFACTORILY ALL WINTER. Enclosed find money order for supplies, etc. I have some stock whose parents came from you and can say they are certainly all you claim for them. They have bred satis- torily all winter and bid fair to continue.— R. A. S., Massachusetts.
SYSTEM AND DIRECTIONS PERFECT. Your system and directions for handling birds are about perfect, and your Manual is almost indispensable for any one who is in the pigeon business. The drinking fountain, bath pan and nest bowls reached me. They are just what I have been looking for for a long time.—Mrs. H. J. S., Pennsylvania.
VIRGINIA WOMAN ORDERS A SECOND LOT. My pigeons came safely Saturday morning and are exceedingly fine birds. I like them so much that I enclose remittance for another lot.—Miss A. M. D., Virginia.
THEY PLEASE EVERYBODY. The one dozen pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers I received from you on November 9 are all doing well. Quite a number of persons have seen the birds and all seem to think them fine—W. B. R., New York.
RUGGED STOCK. HE HAS LOST BUT FEW EGGS AND BIRDS IN HIS EXPERI- ENCE. I now have in my flock about two hundred birds which are producing squabs rapidly and seem to be doing well. Have lost but few eggs or birds during my experi- ence. I have two parties figuring to buy me out. I have been enlarging my plant and will divide the flock unless I sell. I will send for more nest bowls in case I do not sell out.—H. H. K., Missouri.
STRENGTH AND VIGOR OF OUR STOCK SHOWN BY AN EXCELLENT JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA. The pigeons you shipped me on the 2d reached me the 9th in excellent condition. The first thing they had after being put in the squab house was a kath, and I never saw anything more grateful than they seemed to be. I am glad you sent the extra pair of birds. I think the way the birds stood the long, trying trip speaks volumes for the strength and vigor of the flock. Thank you for the promptness’ with which the order was filled.—Mrs. J. F. P., California.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
154
STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
SOON TO SEND FOR MORE BIRDS. Enclosed find money order for $2.88, for which please send to my address three dozen nest bowls for pigeons. My birds that I got of you last fall are doing well. Thanking you for past favors, and that soon I am send- ing for more birds——Mrs. M. H. P., Con- necticut.
PIGEONS WERE MOULTING. Can you explain to me why my birds start in and make their nests and then stop? They have done very little since October (it is now December). They are looking fine. They are all mated Their house is cleaned twice a week. They are free from lice. They have shell, salt and codfish in front of them all the time, no rats or mice to trouble them. I have about sixty. The house is twelve by thirty. The house is not cold. They have plenty of nest material. Not a sick or dumpish bird in the lot. If you can tell me what else I can do, you will con- fer a great favor. I bought my birds of you in May, twelve pairs. I have over sixty; do you think they have done well?—F. E. G., New York.
Answer: If you had applied to one of the know-it-alls (who know nothing about pig- eons), he would have told you that your trouble came from the fact that you did not originally buy your birds from him, but the simple truth is that your birds were moult- ing late, and would not lay until through shedding their feathers and getting their new coats.
GOOD GRAIN NEEDED FOR GOOD BIRDS. Enclosed find remittance for one hundred pounds best red wheat and one hundred pounds hemrseed. Ihave had hard work to get good red wheat lately, and I find it poor practice to feed the inferior grain, as the birds scatter it all over the house, so thought I would try and get some from you. I think my birds are doing first class, and I intend to put in two or three more lots as soon as I can arrange for them.—C. E. B., New Hampshire.
CONVINCED HIM THAT THEY ARE PROFITABLE. About a year ago I bought from you half a dozen pairs of Homer pigeons, and at present time they number over fifty birds. The way they have increased and the little, but necessary, care they need convinces me that they must be profitable. I enclose twenty-five cents for the working plans for enlarged house, which I intend to build as soon as the weather permits, with the idea of stock- ing it in the early spring. —H. B. R., New York
MORE THAN PLEASED IN ARKANSAS. The pigeons that you shipped arrived here O, K.—twenty-six in all. Many thanks for the extra pair. They are doing fine, and I am more than pleased with them, and hope to send for more soon.—A. H., Arkansas.
SATISFIED WITH SQUAB HOUSE AND BIRDS. The pigeons and also the letter stating they were shipped arrived yesterday morning at nine o’clock. This certainly was fast time from Boston as the stamp of your letter showed 5.30 p.m., forty-eight hours previous. To say that we are pleased with the birds does not express it. They are certainly fine birds, and we will try to do our part to make a success of the business. We built our houses after the plans given in your squab book, and are well pleased with them. As soon as we get them painted we will send you photographs of them so you can see where we keep our birds and how we care for them. The birds were all in good shape and seem to have received goad care from the express company.—H. A. B., Illinois.
DOING NICELY. Enclosed find stamps for which please send me some aluminum tub- ing for leg bands. The birds we bought from you are doing nicely.—A. H. W., Pennsyl- vania.
GOING TO SELL HIS COMMON PIGEONS —EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BEST BREEDERS TO BEHAD. Ihave had pigeons only about a year. At present I have about seventy, half Homer and half common pig- eons. Iam going to sell the common pigeons, and in the fall you shall have my order for breeders. I think your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers are the best breeders that are to be had. Mrs. Street, who lives here has some of your Homers, and I think they are all you claim for them.—W. W. P., Arizona.
FINE AND HEALTHY. Enclosed find $1.70 in two-cent stamps, for which please send me the leg-band outfit. My birds are doing very nicely. They look fine and are very healthy.—C. C. R., Pennsylvania.
FIRST SHIPMENT DOING WELL, SO HE ORDERS ANOTHER. Enclosed find money order for which send eighteen pairs and four dozen nest-bowls. The first order of mine was received O. K. The birds are doing fine. —N.S.R., Iowa.
FAST WORK—HAS NOT HAD HIS BIRDS A MONTH, BUT HAS PLENTY OF NESTS, AND SQUABS ARE DUE. I am very agree- ably surprised with the pigeons which you sent me. I received them on May 18. They were so quiet and seemed so much at home that I let them into the fly on the 22d and had no trouble with them. They went in and out and did not have to bother with them. On May 24 I received the nest-bowls and put them in the house the same afternoon. The next day one of them commenced to make a nest and lay. She is setting now and should hatch about the 16th of June; so I think I will have some squabs before I have had the nic- eons a month. I think this is pretty fast
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OUR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS ARE BOUGHT AND BRED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AT WASHINGTON
The Plymouth Rock Homers are being bred by the United States Govern- ment at Washington successfully and satisfactorily, exactly according to our Manual and the directions which we give our thousands of customers. The Government buys our birds because they are the best.
The first lot of our Extra Homers which we shipped Uncle Sam brought us back a letter from the superintendent saying: ‘‘ The birds were in perfect condition with the exception of a single individual whose eye had been | injured. JI am very much pleased with the pigeons, which are certainly a fine lot.”
The birds did well and a return order for more birds came to us later from the Government, the order stating: ‘‘ Referring to my letter of March 24, I have the pleasure to inform you that the pigeons received from you have now become satisfactorily established in their new quarters, and it seems that we can advantageously increase our stock.”
To fulfil the United States Government specifications, breeding stock shipped as per orders given us had to be not only the best of its kind, but absolutely healthy. One pigeon in the first shipment died after a time and the remains were turned over to the biological department of the Department of Agriculture, for a microscopical examination to discover germs of con- tagion. None was found, and the flock continued in rugged health.
It is a compliment to us and a good advertisement for us, for the United States Government to buy our breeding stock.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
is another of our customers, having bought an outfit of both birds and sup- plies for its Northern Hospital for the Insane.
We have supplied many well-known American families with squab- breeding flocks and outfits, including the Rockefellers, Carnegies, Goulds, ete. These very rich people, accustomed to the best table delicacies, breed their own squabs from our birds, because in this way only can they be assured of a steady supply of unvarying excellence, the markets and the breeders of ordinary squabs not being dependable. Some of our customers have exclu- sive contracts with rich families who take all they breed. One customer, a woman, supplies the Brandegees, multi-millionaires of Boston. The Carne- gies have a large estate in Florida.. Three years ago we received a trial order for twelve pairs of our best birds from one of the ladies of this household. She did so well breeding squabs and was so well pleased with our birds, that the manager of the farm visited us in the summer of 1907 and gave us a large order for Plymouth Rock Homers and supplies which later we shipped to
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work. Several more are making nests and laying. I thank you very much for sending me the fine stock which you did. One of my friends told me the other day that he had written to you last fall about your pigeons but had never received an answer from you. I told him his letter must have miscarried. He is starting in the squab business with com- mon pigeons, and they will be likely to fail. My birds have been greatly admired by all that have seen them, and I hope to interest some of my friends in your Homers. Thank you for fair treatment.—E. W. T., New Jersey.
BETTER HOMERS THAN THIS ILLINOIS CUSTOMER EXPECTED TO GET. My fifty pairs of pigeons arrived safe and sound yesterday. They are fine birds, better than I expected. The express was $5.05, which was reasonable enough. If these birds do well will order fifty pairs more in December. Thank you for your prompt and square way of doing business.—C., D, P., Illinois.
HIS EXPERIENCE WITH RUNTS A FAILURE. I have been raising squabs from runt pigeons and have lost so much on them that I cannot afford to risk any more money on stock which may turn out to be as bad as some that has been passed off onme. Please give me your prices on your Extra Homers and nest-bowls,—G, W. M., Pennsylvania.
PRETTY BIRDS IN TEXAS, ALWAYS HEALTHY, NEVER SICK. You will remem- ber that I bought six pairs of birds from you last July. Ihave now about twenty pairs on hand as nice and pretty birds as you ever saw, well marked. They are perfectly healthy, never sick,—Mrs, L. C., Texas.
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS HAVE MORE THAN COME UP TO HIS EXPECTA- TIONS. My intentions are at present to give fifty pairs of your birds a thorough trial for one year, and if it proves successful I intend to move my place near New York City and then increase it to one thousand pairs to start with. The birds I received from you have more than come up to my expectations, and if the business moves along as it has I do not think I will hesitate one moment next spring to increase my flock to the amount stated. Thank you for past favors,—J. D., New York.
BREEDING WELL IN FLORIDA. En- closed find money order for $1.70 for which please send to me by mail your leg-band outfit.
y birds are doing finely. I wish I had twice as many, but must be contented with these at present. .The young squabs are leaving the nests every day or so.—G. A. G., Florida.
LOUISIANA CUSTOMER BRED THEM. Enclosed herewith find money order for fifty cents, for which please send me your squab book also quote me your best prices on birds, drinking fountains, etc. You sold me twelve pairs of your pigeons and shipped them to Wilson, Louisiana, and ! like them very much, and they did all you claim for them.—T. J. C., Louisiana.
QUICK WORK IN OHIO. The birds ar- rived Saturday, May 6, and on Saturday tne 13th three had laid and were setting. Today, May 16, five are setting and one odd egg is in another nest without the nesting material.— C. G. A., Iowa.
NO AILMENTS AND BREEDING SATIS- FACTORILY. The birds ordered of you on the 13th were received on the 16th, and find them the same as the other order—satis- factory in every respect. I also wish to thank you for the extra pair. My first order of birds, which I received from you five weeks ago, are doing finely—no pigeon ailments. I have squabs, and the majority of them are hatching. —D. & S., New York.
SOMETHING ABOUT INBREEDING, TO- GETHER WITH REMARKS ON WHY SOME PEOPLE FAIL AT~ SQUAB' BREEDING. Enclosed find draft for $40 for which please ship per Adams or Southern Express, to above address, twenty-four pairs Plymouth Rock Homer pigeons. Will want four times as many more if these prove satisfactory. Iwas quite interested in your National Standard Squab Book, but am a little inclined to criti- cise some statements. On page 41, it seems to me it would be well to substitute gizzard, for crop, when describing the necessity for grit in the digestive process, and in your comments on inbreeding, you evidently lose sight of the fact that in all doves and pigeons, in the wild or natural state, the young hatch in pairs, male and female, almost invariably, and that they almost invariably mate, and have done so for centuries without deterioration. The Gentry swine, which took about all of the high prizes at St. Louis, have been inces- tuously inbred for twenty-five years. The Hart herd of Jerseys, finest in the State of Ohio, have been bred sire to daughter, son to mother, brother to sister for ten generations, and have constantly improved in size, vigor and productiveness. The Bishop merinos started with three animals and never had a drop of outside blood in forty years, and were then the finest in the world. So there is nothing to be feared from inbreeding if stock is well cared for and ordinary intelligence is used.—H. R. C., Ohio.
Answer: Good; I am glad to get that kind of a letter because it shows that the writer is
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able to think for himself. However, I do not inbreed pigeons, and I do not think you have authority for making the sweeping statement that in a wild state the pigeons almost in- variably mate in pairs as they were hatched. I will prove that to you right now by asking you, Have you not seen male pigeons, both in a wild state and domesticated, fighting for the possession of a female? Certainly, we all have; it is an every-day occurrence among pigeons, depending on a hundred different notions which may form in the minds of the pigeons. This domination of the strongest and handsomest over the weakest and ugliest is the law of life among human beings as well asanimals. This survival of the fittest would not be true if it was the law and the rule and the custom, call it what you will, for nest- mates to mate for the reason of propinquity alone. Now, as a matter of fact I know that there are a great many Homer fanciers in this country, mostly Englishmen, who have bred pigeons all their lives, who win prizes with Homers as well as other kinds of pigeons, which are the product of inbreeding. There are a dozen fanciers within fifty miles of my plant in Massachusetts who come to my place regularly and there pick out young birds which we band with seamless bands for them and sell them when weaned, and I know for a fact because some have told me so, that they take these birds and inbreed them. However, as a matter of business, it would not do for me or for anybody selling pigeons in the open market to inbreed them, because there is a sort of horror, a repugnance, among people generally, especially women, against that sort of thing. Nearly half my trade is among women, and I think that as arule they master pigeons better than men, and I don’t think I would sell to many women if I advocated and practised inbreeding. If you are a follower of poultry, you will read advice from many theorists and impractical men, who work eight hours a day at something else, but who will sit at a desk in their evening hours and with a pen direct breeding operations for anybody offhand, and one of the stock re- marks of these folks, unable to follow their own ideas in breeding successfully is, when some one writes them that his or her pigeons are not raising young satisfactorily: ‘‘Your pigeons are probably inbred, and are worthless, being weak.” It is a foolish and senseless remark, because it is a guess, and nothing more. In my Manual I decry inbreeding and, as I say, do not practise it, because I do not think it is nature’s way. An animal wants a handsome and attractive, or otherwise satisfactory mate, and is willing to fight for it—this is nature’s way. While I am on this subject, I will tell why people fail, as some do, with pigeons. There are generally men and women who have failed with poultry, and with everything. It is their fault, not the fault of the pigeons. If they start with pigeons, strong and rugged
birds, it is up to them to get results. I have seen people start with pigeons who absolutely could not get an egg or a squab to amount to anything for months, and then sell out to somebody of sense and gumption who inside of a month would be doing so well with the birds that he would buy more. Is this sur- prising? Not if you have had much expe- rience with people and their habits. There is a large percentage of folks who cannot man- age their own eating and drinking right; their bowels are always out of order; they are dos- ing with patent medicines; they seldom or never bathe. Others who look after them- selves perhaps better cannot do the simplest things of life successfully; cannot write their names legibly; cannot compose a letter and address the envelope correctly; cannot man- age their children so as to hold their respect; cannot keep friends with their neighbors; can- not earn money, or cannot save it; and so on. Yet many of these people (and there are hundreds of them who turn to a new thing like squabs for the long-sought touchstone) will take hold of animal breeding, requiring at the outset, and all the time, the sterling qualities of patience and common sense, not to speak of some degree of skill which must be acquired, and then wonder why they fail. From squabs they go to bees, or vice versa, or to ginseng or pecan nuts, or truck gardening, or poultry, but never back again to something at which they have failed. The Creator put these things into the world, and the devil has put many temptations along too, to winnow out people, to separate by their own acts the wise from the foolish, the skilful from the unskilful, the good from the bad, etc. The acquisition of a flock of pigeons, or anything else, will not turn a poor tool into a good one,
SPEAKS OF US IN HIGHEST TERMS. Enclosed find draft on New York in $10.25, for which please ship me four hundred pounds mixed pigeon grain. My Homers are doing nicely. Ihave only lost one more bird, two in all. Quite a number are laying, a few setting. It affords me pleasure to speak in the highest terms of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company. —W. B. W., Arkansas.
ONE BIRD SICK, THE ONLY ONE IN A YEAR AND A HALF OF BREEDING. You no doubt remember me as one who purchased two lots of Homers from you a year ago last January. I am now prepared to sell squabs as my enclosed card will show you. I send you this card to show you that I have not been asleep in the business, and that I have given constant care to the flock ever since the first day I asked you, What is a squab? Ha,ha. It makes me laugh to think that I was so green. I now have one good customer here who gives me $3 a dozen for them, but he says they are not selling very fast this time of year (May). Others said, when I presented
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my card, that they would think it over and let me know. One fellow wanted to give me $2.10 per dozen: what do you think of that? He did not get them, I assure you. I have no other birds except those I received from you, and I have not had a sick one among them in the year and a half, with the exception of one that had a large lump on its wing. I painted this with iodine. It moped around for six weeks or more but now it and its faithful mate are building a nest. Here is a strange freak of nature which puzzles me. I have a pair of young birds that always lay four eggs. The first four did not hatch. Out of the next four they hatched one bird. The third, also four eggs and one bird. I have separated them as I found them to be nest mates. My object in writing this letter to you; besides informing you of my success thus far, is to ask for the address of some one, not too far from me, to whom I can sell my squabs at this time of the year. One man wrote to me and said he would buy all I raised ‘‘if I bought the breed- ers from him.” But may first thoughts were, of course, to see you first—F. B., Ohio. (We told this customer where to ship in New York City, and he shipped accordingly and received satisfactory prices).
STARTED WITH 24 OF OUR BIRDS IN 1902, AND NOW HAS 700 OF THE FINEST EVER SEEN. In July of 1902 I bought twenty-four birds, Homer pigeons for breed- ers, from you. I now have seven hundred of as fine-looking birds as any one ever saw and all full blooded for which I thank you for the good stock sent me.—C. E. L., Michigan,
FIRST ORDER FOLLOWED BY A SECOND. The six pairs of pigeons were received O. K. Enclosed please find New York draft for $21.92, for which please send me twelve pairs Homers and two dozen nest-bowls.—D. C. S., Minnesota. (A third order followed inside of a month from this customer.)
SQUABS SURPASSING ALL EXPECTA- TIONS AND BRINGING $5.50 PER DOZEN. Could you furnish me with a price-list of breed- ing stock and supplies as I have misplaced the one you sent me last spring with my National Standard Squab Book. I desire to state that the Homers are surpassing all expectations along the line of squabs and I have been getting as high as $5.50 for them in New York. Wishing you continued success in your honest dealings. —A. H. T., Ohio.
FIRST ORDER QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER. The twenty-four pairs of Extra Homers were received in good form as you know, and are so satisfactory that I de- sire to duplicate the order and enclose_here- with an Adams Express money order, Please send us twenty-four pairs as Ecod as the others as soon as possible.-—G. P. W., Con- necticut.
FLOCK DOUBLED IN THREE WINTER MONTHS. I bought some pigeons from you about Christmas. I am pleased more than I expected to be with them. They are doing nicely. I have doubled my lot with squabs from them. I want to ask you if it would be safe to let them out into the flying pen now. You see I have had them about three months now.—A. S., Virginia.
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS CER- TAINLY ALL RIGHT FOR SQUAB BREED- ING—WE ARE SHIPPING THERE STEAD- ILY. Enclosed you will find a Great North- ern Express money order for $80, for which I want you to ship me forty-eight pairs of your thoroughbred Homers as soon as possible for you to do so. I sent some time ago to you for a free book on squab raising and since then have read up your National Standard Squab Book on squabs and looked up the markets in Seattle and Everett. I find that there is a better market for squabs than any- thing else I know of at present, and I am going to devote all my time to raising them. I have a building almost completed for the first forty-eight pairs. Just as soon as I get them settled to business I will send for forty-eight pairs more. I have seen two or three flocks of your birds near Seattle and must say they look like business if given half a chance. The owners seemed well satisfied with them, but I think they would be more so if the birds were given the right attention, which they did not look to have.—G. T., State of Wash- ington.
BEST LOOKING BIRDS THE EXPRESS- MAN HAD EVER SEEN. The birds arrived here yesterday in good order. They are beauties. The expressman said that they had lots of birds pass through here, but these were the best he had ever seen. Thank you for the extra two pairs which you sent, and for such fine birds. I shall build a fifteen or twenty unit house jus# as soon as it gets a little warmer, and I shall want a lot of your best Extras to fill it; none but the best for me.—H. A. D., Massachusetts.
WANTS THE PURE STOCK. You will soon get another order from me, because I want the pure stock and the Plymouth Rock Sanat pom penvE is the only place to get them. ., Oregon.
MANUAL GOOD, SANE AND PRACTICAL —MODEL OF GOOD ENGLISH—GOOD WCRK APPRECIATED. I have your favor of the 19th inst., also the Manual, and beg to thank you for both. I have read your book very carefully. It is not one of my habits to go out of the ordinary course in matters of business; but I think I know good, sane, practical work of almost any kind when I see it. If you will allow me to say so, your
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Manual is, from every point of view, that is, as a business book, a model of the rare thing called “ good’? English, and almost as a Naturalist’s standard work—the best thing I ever saw. This letter does not call for re- ply, but it does no harm to any one to know that a good piece of his work is recognized and appreciated by some one else who believes in and strives to do good work himself. I wish you continued success.—F. G. A., San Francisco,
HIS NEIGHBOR HAS DONE WELL FOR NINE MONTHS AND WILL NOT SELL ANY. The pigeons came two hours ahead of your letter informing me of the shipment. They arrived in fine condition, had plenty of feed and water, and were delivered promptly, and I am pleased with them. They are beauties. My neighbor, Mr. Cole, bought six pairs from you last June and now, nine months later, has nearly fifty pigeons, and will not sell one of them at any price. I tried all over this city of sixty thousand peo- ple to buy six pairs of pigeons and could find only one pair for sale. I return basket today. Please accept thanks for your prompt de- livery.—R. M. T., Ohio.
TREATED IN AN HONEST AND GEN- EROUS MANNER. My pigeons arrived yesterday morning in perfect condition and I am delighted with them. They are beau- ties, and I want to say you have kept your word to the letter and treated me in an hon- est and generous manner. Return basket today.—Mrs. A. L., Illinois.
HE IS PROUD OF HIS FIRST PUR- CHASE. My pigeons arrived safely Satur- day in fine shape, not even soiled. Jam very much pleased with them and thank you for the extra pair. They are a fine lot of birds, and I am proud of them. You will hear from me from time to time.—V. M., Virginia.
CANADIAN CUSTOMERS PLEASED. I take pleasure in letting you know we received our stock in very good condition. We re- ceived them one day before we got your let- ter. We got them home and with much sur- prise we counted fourteen instead of twelve. We return many thanks to you for your kindness and liberality. They are doing nicely.at present. They are lovely birds.—
B. S., Ontario, Canada.
FIFTY PAIRS TO START—THESE DID WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CUS- TOMER RUN HIS CRDER UP TO THREE HUNDRED PAIRS IN THREE MONTHS. Enclosed find check for $125, for which please send us fifty pairs of your extra breed- ing stock. Hoping same will be satisfactory, and if pleased with stock will probably want more soon.
Please ship first of next week if
convenient. (Three months later.) En- closed find check for $385, for which please send me two hundred and fifty pairs Extra Homer breeding pigeons. I have taken credit of $40 on the first order as I was informed at your office when down there, if the order was made three hundred pairs within three months I could have a rebate on them. Hope this is satisfactory.—C. W. P., Rhode Island.
BEST BIRDS EVER SEEN IN NEW JERSEY. The birds you shipped me are a fine-looking lot, and I think are the best I have ever seen.—H. J. F., New Jersey.
FILL REPRESENTATIONS TO THE LET- TER. The pigeons arrived safe and sound. They fill your representations to the letter. I am more than pleased with them and wish you all the success that honest dealing en- titles you to.—C. A. V., New York.
HE EXHIBITED HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS AT THE FAIR AND WON WITH THEM. I took some of my pigeons bought of you to our Fair and got first and second premiums. I have taken good care of them.—W. A. C., New York.
“WHAT FINE BIRDS, AND HOW LARGE THEY ARE.” I received the pig- eons all right. Every one whosees the birds says, ‘‘ What fine birds, and how large they are. I never saw such large pigeons before !’’ and it is just what I think. Thank you for sending such fine birds.—S. L., Michigan.
TO FLORIDA IN FINE CONDITION. I received the birds shipped by you to me last Friday, having made the trip in fine condi- tion, and I feel proud of them. They are certainly beauties.—A. C. H., Florida.
HE HAS NOT LOST A BIRD, YOUNG OR OLD, IN BREEDING FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK STOCK. Will you please give me address of parties who buy pigeon manure? The birds purchased of you one year ago next month have done well. I have not dis- posed of any and have not lost one young or old. It has caused considerable talk here- about, for many parties have pigeons and have lost many of them. Newcomb, who bought a few of you on my advice, told me he wished he had bought all of you, but he bought of several other sources and has been dissatisfied. I have about completed my big house and shall soon call on you for more birds.—A. P., Massachusetts.
THIS WOMAN IN CONNECTICUT OUT- GREW ONE HOUSE AND BUILT UP INTO A FINE PLANT. It is some time since you. heard from me and so I will write a few lines to show how I am getting along with my pig- eons. They are doing fine. I have squabs all ages. I have about thirty-five pairs of old
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ones. I have put up a large house for them. The other one was not large enough, so when I get them in a large place, I think I will have a fine plant.—Mrs. M. K., Connecticut.
ANOTHER WOMAN HAS INCREASED HER FLOCK FROM 25 PAIRS TO 275 BIRDS INA YEAR. You will recall that I purchased twenty-five pairs of breeding stock from you about one year ago. They are all doing nicely now and I have about two hundred and seventy-five birds, all in fine condition.—Mrs. J. F., Connecticut,
GOING TO BRANCH OUT. My birds bought of you are doing fine and I am going to branch out into the business. I will move from New Hampshire to Bridgewater, Mass., in the spring and build a large house and put in all your birds.—H. G., New Hampshire.
LARGE FLOCK RAISED FROM A START WITH SIX PAIRS EXTRA. I would like one hundred bands from you, as I need them now for young birds. The six pairs Extra I bought of you March 23, 1903, have done fine, and I have a large flock raised from them,— L. B. R. B., Massachusetts.
BREEDING ALL THE TIME IN MAINE, I have got about one hundred birds now, all raised from those I bought from you last spring. They are ane ent healthy and breed- ing all the time —J. W.S., Maine.
GONE TO WORK IN A NEW HOME IN DEAD EARNEST. The nappies arrived all right, and we are well pleased with them. Our birds have gone to work in their new forty-foot house in dead earnest. Enclosed please find Pacific Express money order, for which please ship us by express No. 1 Ply- mouth Rock Homers and Extra Plymouth Rock Homers as specified. Kindly rush this order.—J. A. P., Missouri.
WORKING RIGHT ALONG IN ALABAMA. Enclosed you will find a_ post-office order amounting to $15 for which please send me six pairs of Extra Homers. This is my second order and I will expect some extra fine birds. The birds purchased of you last February are working right along.—B. W., Alabama.
THIS MAN HAD SOME FINE HOMERS, BUT WHEN HE SAW THE PLYMOUTH ROCKS HE HAD TO WILT. Our birds are doing fine and breeding rapidly. There is a man about one and a half miles from our place who thought he could not be beat with his crowd of pigeons, but I invited him to my place and showed him my birds. He gave in right away; he was not in it alongside of my birds. The size of my squabs at three or four weeks set him a-guessing. He wanted to buy
of me right away, but no, I told him he should purchase from Boston, for I did not have enough myself yet. I have a pair I do not think four months old yet, and they set and have a pair of splendid squabs out just burst- ing with flesh. A person would be surprised to see the flock that I have out of the small number of birds that I bought last fall in September.—J. B., New York.
FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS AND THE BIRDS WERE QUICKLY NEST BUILDING. Please pardon my delay in not announcing the safe arrival of the thirteen pairs of fine Homer pigeons. I followed your directions as near as I could, and I am glad to say the birds are already laying and building nests. I returned the -basket today.: I understand that my brother ordered twelve pairs of birds for me, but thirteen came. Please accept thanks for the extra pair.—Mrs. D. W.S., Georgia.
STARTED IN 1902 WITH OUR BIRDS AND HAS A FINE FLOCK NOW. In October, 1902, you sent me at Oak Park, Illinois, forty- eight pairs. I came to this place two years ago and now have my lofts filled and am ready tosell. JI have three hundred pairs mated and at work. They are as nice birds as you sent me.—H, W. C., Michigan. :
BIRDS PROVING THEMSELVES VERY SUCCESSFUL. Being pleased with the Homers you sent us and finding we have room in our building for another dozen birds, we forward you an express money order for $16.92, for which forward six pairs of Extra Plymouth. Rock Homers and two dozen nest- bowls. The birds are proving themselves very successful. Already we have five pairs on nests.—I. D., New York.
INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR—AND PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THEM ARE SUCCESSFUL. I have your instruction book, the National Standard Squab Book. It is the clearest thing in the way of a guide book that I have ever seen.—C. F. W., Oregon.
STARTED WITH EIGHT PAIRS EXTRA AND NOW HAS FORTY-FOUR. Enclosed find fifty cents for which please send me at once that much leg-banding material. I need the leg-banding material badly. My birds are just simply doing fine. I have eighty- eight fine birds now. it think that is doing finely for the time I have had them, and had such a few to start on. I started with eight pairs. —Miss S. S. G., Louisiana.
THE VERY FINEST. The pigeons arrived on time and in good shape. We had some very fine birds but no better than these. Thank you for your prompt attention.—A. E B., Pennsylvania.
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OUR PIGEONS SHIPPED NINE THOUSAND MILES, ALL ARRIVING ALIVE; ONLY TWO OUT OF CONDITION
Elmer C. Rice, Esq., Treasurer, Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass., U.S. A.
Dear Sir: On the 20th of this month I had the pleasure of receiving the fourteen pairs of Plymouth Rock Homer pigeons. They were in fine condi- tion and had been well looked after on the voyage, which lasted fifty-five days, from New York to Colombo. There had been some wars amongst the pigeons on the voyage; and two were more or less mauled, but they had been kept separate and will, no doubt, do quite well. Iam very much pleased with
them and thank you again for your kindness. Yours truly,
(Mrs.) F. I. SINCLAIR. Colombo, Ceylon, September 28, 1907.
Note by E. C. Rice: With regard to the distance covered by the above shipment, the agents of the steamship company write me as follows: ‘ The actual nautical miles from New York to Colombo are about 8600, and the SS. Swazi before arriving at Colombo stopped at Algiers, Port Said, Aden, Tuti- corin and other ports, which brings the total nautical miles up to about 9000.”
The following is from the Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post:
MONEY IN SQUABS—The Government gives a practical demonstration of what they can be made to pay.
It has long been known by practical breeders of poultry that there is money in raising squabs. Now the United States Government has given to this fact official confirmation, based on scientific tests.
The record of profit reveals the great opportunity awaiting those who engage in this industry. In the practical experiments conducted the diet of the birds consisted of wheat at eighty centsa bushel, sifted cracked corn at $1 a hundred weight, Kaffir corn at ninety cents a bushel, millet at ninety cents, hemp at $1.30 and peas at $1.10 the bushel. At these rates the cost of feeding was one-seventh of a cent a day for each bird, or about fifty-two cents a year.
On that basis the net annual return was $1.50 a pair. There were four hundred and twenty-five pairs of pigeons in the flock and they reared four thousand four hundred marketable squabs in twelve months.
This is a practical, conservative record, bearing the government’s bona fides, and may be duplicated by any one who will carefully attend to the requirements of the birds.
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STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
PLEASED, AND ORDERS MORE SUP- PLIES. I herewith enclose $2.46 in express money order for which send me by Adams Express two drinking fountains and one dozen wood fibre nest-bowls. The birds which JI received from you last fall are doing fine. I am well pleased with them.—A, E, B., Penn- sylvania.
SQUABS ARE HEAVY. I write you enclos- ing $1.50, for which please send me your Manual and one dollar’s worth of the best kind of leg-bands for pigeons. I have about four hundred pigeons. The stock came directly from the Plymouth Rock Squab Com- pany by Mr. Hulet. He sold out and went East and I bought his entire stock. They are fine. The squabs get like stones. When people ask me about my stock I tell them they are from the Plymouth Rock Squab Company. Am I right? If I am not, tell me and | will quit it—J. A. M., State of Washington.
SIX WEEKS’ WORK. In taking account of stock today I find I have sixty-eight nests containing sixty-two squabs, the oldest just two weeks old, and fifty-six eggs. Do you consider this a fair showing for the one hun- dred and thirty-seven pairs of birds I received from you about six weeks ago? One female bird died: I wish to thank you for the extra birds sent along to cover this emergency.— E. E. T., New Jersey.
Answer: Yes, we consider this a fair showing for six weeks. Do not believe any stories you hear or see printed that the dealer or writer can sell pigeons which will go to work at once as soon as they reach their new home. Some may and some may not, but this is a matter which is settled by the pigeons themselves, and anybody attempting to control the mat- ter is a pretender.
PLEASED WITH SECOND ORDER. The second order of pigeons came in good shape and the crate will be sent back today. We are very much pleased with the birds.—G. P. W., Connecticut.
SMALL SHIPMENT DOES WELL; HE ACCORDINGLY ORDERS 300 PAIRS OF EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. The pigeons you shipped me arrived in good condition with one exception, that is, one birtl seems a little inactive or dumpy. Will advise you later if the bird does not pick up. (Later). Herewith please find check for $67.17 for which you will send me by freight at once the following bird supplies: Six hundred and twenty-four wood fibre bowls, thirty bath pans, nine drinking fountains, one sprayer. You may expect an order from me July 15 for the three hundred Extra Homers as per yours of May 15.—J. R., Ohio.
HANDSOMEST LOT OF PIGEONS THIS
PENNSYLVANIA BREEDER HAS EVER SEEN. My flock consists of in the neighbor- hood of one hundred and fifty pairs, and in- cludes twenty-four pairs of the best Homers, which I purchased of you in August, 1902 for $60. The balance of the flock is bred from these birds, and they are the handsomest lot of pigeons I have ever seen.—C. L., Penn- sylvania.
A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL RAIL JOURNEY TO NORTHWEST TERRITORY, CANADA. The thirteen pairs of Homers and one dozen nesting bowls you shipped May 27 arrived in condition June 2, being six days en route. They have a good home and I wil! send you another order soon. The barrel of freight shipped May 16 has not ar- rived yet. Thank you for prompt and court- eous treatment.—E, L. B., Northwest Ter- ritory, Canada.
WHITE WHEAT AND RED WHEAT. Would it be all right to feed my birds white wheat? I. have much trouble getting red wheat. I wish you would tell me, as I do not wish to run any chances, as my birds are doing fine. I have twelve youngsters. The first hatch is setting again, also the second and third hatch. If I would run any risk in feeding white wheat let me know.—W. G.S., Michigan.
Answer: White wheat is all right, and is fed by most of our customers. If there is any tendency to looseness caused by feeding white wheat instead of red wheat use it spar- ingly, or feed rice to offset.
CUSTOMER OF THREE YEARS’ STANDING HAS RAISED THEM RAP- IDLY. The original birds which I bought of you nearly three years ago have increased so rapidly that it has been quite a task to care for them and to dispose of the squabs. I have always spoken a good word for the busi- ness and your company in particular, and without doubt have made business for you. —H. C., Michigan.
HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF HIS FRIENDS. The five pigeons you sent to replace the four I returned and the one that died were received today in good condition, and I take pleasure in reporting that they are entirely satisfactory, unless one should prove to be a cock; but even if that is the case I shall enter no complaint, as you have been so entirely fair. I am very much pleased with the birds and expect good results from them. My friends who were not pleased with the first lot I ordered and received some white Homers from a dealer in your State, but are far from pleased with them. They now think that I have the advantage of them, and have been well treated by you. I shall
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STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
certainly have a good word for you when an occasion offers.—R. H. 8., Kentucky.
STARTED WITH EIGHTY PAIRS EX- TRA, BRED THEM TO FIVE HUNDRED PAIRS. What will you give me for my en- tire stock of Homer pigeons? I have from one thousand to twelve hundred birds, all strong and healthy, and from your best stock of birds. I am compelled to sell for the reason that I have taken this hotel and it takes all my time to look after it. Hope to hear from you by return. mail. —H. C. F., Missouri. (This customer started with eighty pairs of our Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.)
HAS 150 PAIRS OF THE FINEST HOM- ERS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. About a year and one-half ago I bought fifty pairs of your Homer pigeons. I have now one hundred and fifty pairs of the finest Homers in Colorado. Fifty pairs are the original ones that I got from you; the rest I have saved from my young ones.—D. L., Colorado.
BOTHERED BY MICE. I wrote you that my birds were not doing well. Since writ- ing the same two hens are setting, and from the amount of driving going on I hope to have them all at work in a few weeks. Since my last letter to you I have been setting traps and have caught seven or eight mice. I suppose that is what has been bothering them.—F. H. M., Tennessee.
DEATH OF AN OLD AND VALUED
CUSTOMER. My brother-in-law having died very suddenly in New York, three weeks ago, where he had gone a few days on busi- ness, his squabbery is left without any one to carry it on. The Homers he got of you two summers ago, in 1903, two dozen pairs, have done very well indeed, owing to the excellent care he gave them. "They were for his own pleasure, so he has not sold any squabs, but used them for the table and to send to friends. I should think there are nearly two hundred birds in the two pens at present. What prices should I ask for them? I have writ- ten to you knowing what confidence my brother-in-law had in your judgment, and that under the circumstances you could help me dispose of the pigeons advantageously.— Miss G. M., Maine.
TREATED FINELY— SQUARE DEAL- ING. In reply to my inquiry I received your answer which was very satisfactory, and have shown it to some of my friends who thought that I had been fooled in buying of you. They now think that I have been treated finely by you. I will say that I ap- preciate your square dealing and will speak a good word for you, as there are quite a number here that are going into the busi-
ness, who have been watching the results of mine.—W. W., Rhode Island.
STARTED WITH FIVE HUNDRED COMMON PIGEONS AND MADE A FAIL- URE. A short time ago we put up a build- ing after the plans which I purchased of you, and put in five hundred and twenty common
pigeons. Since then we have discovered that we made a mistake. The flock is a failure in more ways than one. We got one
hundred and sixty-two pairs of birds from a party we did not know, and the birds were sick when we got them. We received them on a Saturday afternoon, and on Monday they were dying. After losing quite a few, the cause of which we were not able to ascer- tain, we have finally decided to start over again. We are going to put in Homers and start on a more cautious scale. We are go- ing to get rid of all these birds, clean out the building and start anew. We have tried the common pigeons and have been convinced that they are not the right stock. As we are new in the business we have a great deal to learn, and will have to get our informa- tion from those who we are sure do know, Remember, we are willing to pay for the in- formation. If there is any charge please name the price and we will remit. We are beginners and would like to make a success of the business, and do not expect to get for nothing information that has probably cost some one both time and money.—J. D. C., Pennsylvania.
Answer: We do not think you read our Manual before buying your common pigeons, or if you did, what we say about common pigeons there must have escaped your atten- tion. Common pigeons are useless in com- parison with Plymouth Rock Homers, and it is unwise to experiment with them.
GEORGIA PREACHER FINDS THEM SPLENDID. Enclosed I send you _ post- office money order, for which please send me one leg-band outfit. The birds you sent me are doing splendid.—Rev. L. H. H., Georgia.
SECOND SHIPMENT—FIRST LOT IS HARD AT WORK. Enclosed find express money order for $20. Please express to my address twelve pairs Homer pigeons. The first ist you expressed to me is hard at work and making fine headway.—G. F. T., Alabama.
INCREASED FROM TWELVE _ PAIRS TO TWO HUNDRED PAIRS IN TWENTY MONTHS. I have somewhat about four hundred pigeons that are most all bred from your best stock. They are a nice lot of birds. I started with tweive pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers twenty months ago, —G. P., Massachusetts.
PORE SRE DARE EONS REC ee eh A a EE ee ee aoe eo RK eee ae LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 164
STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
THREE HUNDRED PAIRS SHIPPED TO THIS CUSTOMER, EVERY BIRD IN THE BEST OF CONDITION. Your favor of the 11th inst. received on my return home Friday night, and would have been answered but for the fact that I had quite a busy time, partially through outside business and partly on ac- count of arrival of the birds. I wish to tender my most hearty thanks for the manner in which you have carried out your part of the transaction. Every one of the 312 pairs of birds seems to be perfect in every respect, and they have already been admired by every one who has seen them. The twelve pairs Extra which you so generously presented me for my nephew have been forwarded to him, and I feel sure will greatly please him. I shall see him possibly Monday next week on my next trip, and will thoroughly instruct him. Once in a great while I get to Boston. Next time I am there I shall do myself the honor of calling on you to see your plant, so I can enlarge mine on the same lines or at least get some ideas of that end. Thank you again most heartily — G. F., New York.
GOOD LUCK WITH THEM IN NEBRASKA. I bought twelve Homer pigeons, or six pairs, of you nearly a year ago, with which I have had fairly good luck, and I may order more birds of you in the future, as I intend enlarg- ing my plant soon. But I want to ask a favor of youtoday. It is this: Will you give me, on the enclosed card, the name of the tanning company to whom you sell your pig- eon manure ?—L, S. M., Nebraska.
BIRDS BREEDING WELL. Please find enclosed express money order for $5.34, for which ship me by Wells-Fargo Express four dozen nest-bowls and leg-band outfits. My birds are doing very well. I have twelve squabs.—H. H.S., New York.
SECOND ORDER TO COME BECAUSE OF GOOD WORK IN MARYLAND. We enclose you herewith check for $11.52. Will you _ kindly send us at your earliest convenience twelve dozen nest-bowls? We are glad to report that the pigeons received from you a few months ago are doing nicely and we expect to order more shortly.—M. P. F., Maryland.
THIRD ORDER FROM INDIANA MAN, Please ship me at once twelve pairs. I en- close draft forsame. This is my third order.— V.N., Indiana.
SECOND ORDER FROM ILLINOIS WOM- AN. Please find enclosed express order for $30. Send me twelve pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. This is my second order.— Mrs. J. W. G., Illinois.
A MINISTER ENCOURAGED TO GO AHEAD. The pigeons I purchased of you
last August (nine months ago) are doing well, but I have so far found it impossible to go into the house for five minutes or so without all the birds leaving the nests. Can you tell me how to obviate this? Will you be kind enough to inform me about how much money it will take to build a house including heating plant and flying pens in first-class shape for fifteen hundred pairs of birds? You will greatly oblige me.—Rev. L.C.H.A., New York.
SECOND ORDER; FIRST SHIPMENT WORKING WELL. Enclosed please find Adams Express money order for $15.96 to pay for six pairs Extra Plymouth Rock Hom- ers for squab raising, and one dozen bowls. The birds first bought are doing well, and I am well pleased with them.—L. D. P., Illinois.
SECOND ORDER WITHIN ONE MONTH. Herewith find draft for $40.75, for which please send me two crates of your Homer pigeons and one drinking fountain, by Ameri- can Express, to my address. This is my second order within one month. I am well pleased with the first shipment.—L. D., Iowa.
GOOD SHOWING MADE BY OUR BIRDS IN ONE MONTH AFTER ARRIVAL. I am having such good luck I thought I would write you about it. Just one month ago to- day the 9th of May, I received my thirteen pairs of birds from you. I now have eight squabs from four pairs, and six more pairs setting. The two hens that were in bad shape upon arrival are getting better, but have not nested yet, and the thirteenth hen I think is going light from too hard driving by the cock. He drove her all the time and pulled out half her feathers, but he has mated with another hen now and doesn’t bother any. What do you think of this for so short atime? Ihave as fine a home for them as can be built—built just as you say with a fly ten by ten by twenty feet, with a big load of lake sand for the floor, and keep the squab house cleaner than lots of kitchens I know of.—C. G. A., Iowa.
EXCELLENT BIRDS AND EXCELLENT CARE FROM MELROSE TO NEW MEXICO. The pigeons arrived safely last Saturday even- ing; each and every one of them was in perfect trim and must have had excellent care on the way, as not one seemed in the least discom- posed by the six days’ journey. Your kind- ness in sending us the extra pair I do assure you is most highly appreciated. We are delighted with the birds and as soon asI return from my summer and fall trip, will send you a large order.—Mrs. T. H., New Mexico.
IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. You will find stamps to the amount of $2 for which kindly mail me one hundred aluminum V- shaped leg bands for pigeons. I am glad to tell you that the pigeons are doing nicely.—
A. T., Washington.
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STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
THIS WOMAN IS POSTMASTER IN HER TOWN—SHE STARTED IN 1903 WITH OUR BIRDS AND THIS IS WHAT SHE HAS DONE. In July, 1908, I purchased a few birds from you. Ihave bought no others but have now got over a hundred and would like some advice relative to shipping squabs. Will it pay to ship one or two dozen at a time to Boston, and will you tell me who would be reliable parties to ship to? As I told you in my first letter, this is a somewhat isolated place; however, there are quite a number watching my experiment, as I have the only store here and have recently been appointed postmaster. Every one notices the birds and my success will probably bring you orders. I have lost only one bird and that one by acci- dent; no sickness or lice in my flock at any time.—Miss L. K., New Hampshire.
PLEASED WITH FIRST LOT, WILL OR- DER ANOTHER. I am so well pleased with the coop of birds shipped me that as soon as I get my house built and nappies in, will order another coop of your highest-priced birds.— R. H. N., Georgia.
AN IMPORTANT STORY TOLD IN FEW WCRDS—THIS CUSTOMER IN PENNSYL- VANIA FOUND A LARGE FLOCK OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS BY HIS EXPERIENCE BEYOND REPROACH. Please ship balance of my order of Extra Homers (one hundred pairs due me) at earliest moment. Kindly telegraph night of ship- ment. The first lot (two hundred pairs) are beyond reproach.—C. K., Pennsylvania.
REACHED TEXAS IN GOOD SHAPE— CUSTOMER SATISFIED. I beg to advise you that the pigeons reached here yesterday all in good shape. So far I am very much pleased with them and with your prompt shipment and good treatment. I hope to send you another order soon for a dozen pairs.— A. G. M., Texas.
ALL AND MORE THAN EXPECTED. On Saturday I went out to my country place and found the pigeons. They are all and more than I expected and are in every way satis- factory. J presume my man will return the empty pigeon crates this week.—H. A. K., Illinois.
SQUABS FROM OUR EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS WEIGHING 10%, 10% AND 11% POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. My first shipment of squabs will be made April 11. So far my squabs have averaged ten and one-quarter, ten and one-half and eleven and one-half pounds to the dozen. If you can give me any data necessary for spring and summer it will be appreciated—C. M., Michigan. (This customer started with four hundred pairs of our Extra Homers.)
INCREASED FROM A DOZEN PAIRS TO 250. I bought a dozen pairs of birds from you two years ago, and now have two hundred and fifty. Is that doing well? Will you kindly inform me by return mail how you separate the pigeon dung from the other matter it gets mixed with, and I will be greatly obliged.—F. M. F., Iowa.
INSIDE TWO MONTHS HAS YOUNG BIRDS BEING RAISED IN A SEPARATE PEN. I bought a dozen pairs of Homers of you and received them March 1, two months ago. They have mated and produced quite a number of squabs. I have the squabs in a separate house, as I intend to raise them for a year or so until I increase my flock. I have been advised to pull out the tail feathers of the squabs when they are old enough to put into a house by themselves, as it would decrease the death rate among them, as all their vitality can go to the bird and not into the tail feath- ers. Is there anything in this advice ?—J. W. W., Rhode Island.
Answer: We believe it is best not to pull the tail feathers out of the young. We have never done it ourselves. Certainly the Creator does not pull out the tail feathers from these young birds when they are weaned.
RECREATION FOR AN IOWA MINISTER. The twenty-six birds came in good shape, apparently no worse for the journey. Most of them are active. I am well pleased with the birds. We are making friends rapidly, some of them eating almost at once out of my hand. I wish them to do well, and as soon as I get accustomed to their ways it is my inten- tion to put in enough stock to make their care worth while. I wish to show my appreciation of the way in which the order was filled.—Rev. N. F. D., Iowa.
IOWA LADY GREATLY PLEASED. I am greatly pleased with my flock and expect to send another order sometime later.—Miss A. A., Iowa.
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS THE BEST IN COMPARISON WITH ALL OTHERS. I received the birds in good shape and the grain and gravel. The birds are doing well. I have got two sets of squabs and five more pairs oneggs. The reason I did not write you before is, I went around to different people that have had pigeons from other places and the same people have seen your stock; and they all say yours is the best. I shall give you more orders when my pocketbook will permit me. I think you do your best and I thank you again for the nice big birds you sent me.— J. H. H., Michigan.
MADE THEMSELVES AT HOME IN KEN- TUCKY. I received from you in March two dozen birds. They have been laying for over a month and I have now (May) four pairs of
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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STORIES
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young birds. I am very much pleased with them and the way they have taken to their new conditions.—R. F. W., Kentucky.
GOT AGOOD START. The birds are doing fine now. I have seven pairs young and two oa eges since March first—L. C. M., New
ork,
REMARKABLY WELL IN SHORT TIME. Several weeks ago I received one dozen of your Homer pigeons from you for which I paid $10. These are all mated up and doing fine, except two. Four of them are setting and another one will be setting in two or three days. I think this is doing remarkably well for the short time I have had them, as I did not expect them to lay until at least three weeks after they had been here.—B. W.., North Carolina.
SELLING SQUABS AS FAST AS THEY COME AND GETTING ORDERS FOR MORE—ANOTHER SMART WOMAN. Find enclosed post-office money order and send me eighteen pairs. The last lot I got were $15 for six pairs; also want two extra hens for two extra cocks which I have. I have been saving up some of my young during the fall and winter months and have two extra cocks. Am selling everything as fast as they come and even engaging ahead most of the time. The Country Club manager spoke to me a day or two ago to try and have squabs for their little dinner parties, which will begin to be popular about June, and as I have two standing orders at present for all I have to spare I must put in some more breeders. I have about sixty birds now. Of the six pairs ordered last fall, one hen died within a week with diarrhoea.—Miss J. M., Illinois.
BIRDS BREED SO FAST THAT HE HAS NO MORE ROOM FOR THEM. I have about seventy pigeons. ‘They are six months to one year old. What can you allow me on them toward more breeders? These _ birds are all raised from stock I bought of you. The reason I want to exchange them is be- cause my house is too small for them and I have no more room. I am going to put up a large building in the spring and then I can take care of more. I am satisfied there is money in the business if any one can get started right.—H. A. M., Massachusetts.
A BRACE OF SQUABS BRED FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS WEIGHED OVER TWO POUNDS. I weighed two squabs from your birds and they weighed ust two pounds, two ounces.—J. A. O., New
ampshire,
BEST HOMERS IN HIS FLOCK— THEIR SQUABS BRING HIM THIRTY- FIVE CENTS APIECE FROM BOSTON
HOTELS ALL THE YEAR ROUND. The birds I purchased from you are the cream of the flock. I have been selling the squabs at the Boston hotels for thirty-five cents apiece the year round, and Nathan Robbins, at the Quincy Market, was glad to take them at $3.50 per dozen. I have saved a few young birds, some of the very finest.— C. L. P., Massachusetts.
KANSAS MARKET IS LOOKING UP. The birds arrived in good order and I am today well pleased with them. I think some of them have as fine plumage as I ever saw on a pigeon. There is a party here in town that has a flock but they are not first- class birds, yet he gets $2.50 per dozen for the squabs and could sell five times as many if he had them in Kansas City. We are favorably located here, sixty-five miles to Kansas City, forty miles to St. Jo., Missouri, and twenty-five miles to Topeka, and we ought to do well. If I can get hold of a place just out of town I will increase my flock next spring or possibly this fall.—C. H. K., Kansas.
RATS TROUBLED HIM. I have not bought a bird since you sent me one hundred pairs of Homers. At first they did not do much, The very hard winter we had and I being away in New York most of the winter, and the birds not having the proper care, of course they did not do much; but now they are raising ‘‘Cain,” and they are chasing each other to the nests. I now have about two hundred young ones that escaped the rats, and two hundred and twenty-two eggs hatching. I am satisfied with them and they must have been strong and hardy birds to have lived. I have lost as many as one hun- dred birds by rats. I have tried everything, and am now laying cement floors on three barns, but guess I will have to build new buildings. I will mail you a photograph of the place in a week or so. I have not sold a bird as yet, but have had plenty of chances, —C. M.S., New York.
ATTRACTED MANY ADMIRERS IN THIS EXPRESS OFFICE IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. In acknowledging re- ceipt of the six pairs Extra Homers I wish to thank you for the additional pair, and to say that they reached me in the pink of con- dition. My delivery man told me that many persons copied your address from the basket at the front of the express office, where they attracted considerable attention. The re- markably beautiful black bird I have named Black Champion and his consort Queen. She will hatch next week. At present I have five squabs, one egg failing to hatch. If beauty counts for anything, the birds are worth the price.—Mrs. P. M. V., State of Washington.
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STORIES OF SUCCESS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
MANUAL PRACTICAL AND BEST. Your Manual came to hand and can see that it is a book everybody should have who may be interested in pigeons. I have had birds for eight years and read all kinds of books. I think yours is the best which can be had.— H. E, E., Pennsylvania,
HIGHLY SPOKEN OF IN . VIRGINIA. Will you kindly send me your price list of books and circulars giving your prices, etc. Being very much interested in this industry and expecting soon to go into business, I wish to get your prices and information. I have heard your company spoken very highly of here in Virginia and wish to get acquainted with you.u—J. W. K., Virginia.
A GUARANTEE WHICH GUARANTEES. The two sick birds are improving and are almost as lively as the others. Your offer to make them good in case they did not get better shows that your guarantee means something. A good many persons have seen
them and all agree that they are far ahead -
of the ordinary run of pigeons, and any one who understands anything at all about live- stock of any kind can see it at a glance.— J. G., Pennsylvania,
A CUSTOMER IN THE BERMUDA ISLANDS GETS HIS HOMERS IN GOOD ORDER. The pigeons arrived here all safe on Monday, December 5. One of them is a little dull, and we have separated it from the others and hope that it will get all right.— G. 8., Bermuda Islands,
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS HAVE THE CALL IN JERSEY CITY. Enclosed find remittance for which please send me six pairs Plymouth Rock Homers by Adams Ex- press. If these are satisfactory and as nice as some of your birds I have seen in Jersey City, I will want more shortly, as I have ac- commodations for about one hundred pairs. —F., E. F., New Jersey.
BIRDS DID BETTER THAN HE FIG- URED WHEN HE STARTED. Can you favor me with the address of some squab buyer in the vicinity of Syracuse, New York? The birds I got of you a year ago are doing finely and surpassed my expectations. Am having to enlarge again.—W. L., New York.
EXPRESS DELIVERY BEAT THE MAIL. Pigeons came yesterday in fine condition. I am more pleased. Thank you for filling the order so promptly. The birds were here three hours before your letter telling me that you had shipped.—C. M. G., New York.
HER SECOND ORDER FROM FAR- OFF WASHINGTON. Find enclosed $68.17, for which please send me forty pairs Plymouth Rock Homers and supplies as specified. This is my second order.—Mrs. M. G., State of Washington.
GOT A DOZEN, NOW HAS 200. Please send me the names and addresses of some of the firms in New York City and other places which deal in squabs and pigeons. I have now about two hundred pigeons. I got a dozen pigeons from you to start with in June, 1903. What is the price of squabs and old pigeons now?—J, G. G., Pennsylvania.
SQUABS ARE A “TERRIBLE SIZE.’’ My flock is increasing rapidly and I must provide for them. I also inform you that my birds are doing finely and_ breeding steadily right along and are very healthy. Our squabs are of a terrible size. Any one would be astonished to see them at tour weeks old.—A. B., New York,
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMER USED AT THE CHRISTENING OF A FOUR-MASTED SCHOONER DOWN IN MAINE. I write to say that the Homer pigeon which you sent to Mr. E. R. Chapman a few days ago, was uesd at the christening of the new four- masted schooner ‘* Augusta W. Snow ” which was launched at the yard of Messrs. E. and 1. K. Stetson this forenoon, and was released at 11.20 a.m. today, and if she turns up at home I shall be very glad if you will inform me of the time, etc. The following inscrip- tion was attached to her leg, written in in- delible ink on a piece of linen—‘‘ Bangor, Maine, Christening Pigeon from launching of Schooner Augusta W. Snow, May 6, 1905.”’ —wW.B.S., Maine.
WELL SATISFIED AFTER A YEAR OF BREEDING. It is one year ago last Decem- ber that I received thirty-six pairs of your pigeons. Iam well satisfied with the results. They have demonstrated without doubt they are breeders all right. I have sold a few dozen squabs, eaten acouple of dozen and in- creased our flock by many dozens. I have as fine lot of pigeons as one would wish and they are producing squabs right along. The pigeons I raised last year are producing birds and are an unusually fine lot of pigeons.— H. P., New York.
A GOOD START IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS. The pigeons I bought of you in July have done finely. I think I got seven pairs and now (February) I have close to twenty-five pairs and the young ones have
ezun to lay now. I see that they will mul- tiply very fast.—T. E. G., Alabama.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
168
APPENDIX C
(Copyright, 1906, by Elmer C. Rice)
In 1907, we expect our.trade to be even greater. In 1906, we sold more birds and supplies than in any previous year. That our trade is larger than that of all others combined is not an idle boast, but is very much of a fact, due to this, namely, that we sell Homers which are larger, more prolific, and which breed larger squabs, than any others. This supremacy we intend to maintain.
We offer additional proof in the following pages. For every letter which we print here, we have a dozen just as good, or better. The following letters, only a part of many received in nine months of 1906, are not from customers ‘merely pleased by the fine appearance of the birds on arrival, but are accounts of breeding which has won success.
There are some very strong letters here. All are worth reading for the practical information and news they give of the squab industry up to date. We do not print the names and addresses of these customers. Many are regular buyers of our birds. We guarantee the genuineness of the letters, and will prove it in any way desired. The originals are at our Boston office and may be seen there.
We ask your trade for 1907 by deserving it. If anybody tries to make a sale to you by ‘running down ”’ competitors, insist that he or them demon- strate the worth of claims by furnishing preof in volume and character, con- cerning birds, matings and management, equal to the letters we print here and in our other publications.
OUR LARGEST 1906 ORDER. In looking birds had a long trip to reach him. We
back over our year of business, 1906, we recall first an order from a customer whom we started in 1905, with 120 pairs Extra, for which he paid $300. We sent him 125 pairs, five pairs free. A year later we received the following telegram from him:
“‘ Wire bottom prices for one thousand pairs Extra, including two thousand nappies and date you ship.”’
We quoted him our regular price for Extras, the same to all, namely $1.70 per pair in large lots of 300 pairs and over.. Our customer was a man of few words and knew what he wanted. Three days after sending us the above telegram he sent us the following letter: ‘‘ Enclosed find draft for $2111.25 as payment in full for 1150 pairs Extra and supplies. I trust you will exert every care in interest of shipment. You will please hold the birds until May 10, as it will crowd me to get my quarters ready before that time.”
We shipped 1200 pairs, giving the customer 50 pairs free. He lives in the West and the
expect to sell him more yet, judging from his last letter. We will be pleased to show the correspondence at our Boston office. The point we wish to make is, that we are the only firm anywhere actually filling orders this size, or able to fill them, and that we earned the confidence of this customer by giving him his first lot of birds so good that he kept on trading with us. More 1906 experiences follow.
STARTED WITH SIX PAIRS EXTRA AND IN TWO YEARS RAISED SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX SQUABS. Nearly two years ago (in October. 1904), I purchased of your firm six pairs of your best Extra Homer pigeons, from which I have been breeding since, and it may be of interest to you to have some particulars as to results. I should pre- mise by saying that I was, at the time, a nov- ice pure and simple—as a matter of fact a lawyer by profession—and knew absolutely nothing of the care or culture of pigeonsy
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1906
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906
However, study of your squab book, close and constant observation of the birds, their habits, etc., with the resultant experience, enable me to get along pretty well. re .
My pigeon house was not originally in- tended or constructed for that particular pur- pose, but had, hitherto, been used for a hen house. It is about 40 feet by 12 feet, with five windows. Along the whole of the west front and extending across the south end I built a fly 10 feet wide, 12 feet high and about 70 feet long. My flock has hatched, up to the time of writing this, six hundred and thirty- six squabs (636), without those consumed at my own table, but I contemplate marketing the squabs this fall as the overcrowding stage is rapidly approaching.
If you can find time I shall be glad to hear whether or no, in your expert opinion and in the above circumstances, you think that I have been fairly successful. Although I feel reasonably satisfied with my progress, were I to start again, ab initio, I think that I should do so with a complete flock of fully matured birds rather than waste the time consumed raising stock, by breeding, to a business basis. Wishing you continued success.—W. C., Massachusetts.
DOING GREAT WORK. The Homers which you sold me two years ago are doing great work. I am perfectly satisfied with them.—F. S., New York.
TOOK FRIEND’S ADVICE. Enclosed find an order for birds and supplies with remit- tance. A friend here was much pleased with our birds from your lofts and decided to go into the business. We prevailed on him to order from you because we felt your birds were the best. He could have bought here in Illinois at a much cheaper rate but he took our advice. So we trust you will do well by him and trust you will send us another order blank like the one enclosed.—Mrs. K., Illinois.
MULTIPLIED SIX-FOLD. About two years ago next June, I bought of you 60 pairs of your Extra selected Homers and they were a very fine lot of birds, and I have raised a very fine lotofbirdsfromthem. I haveabout 400 birds now, and they are straight bai wing and mottle with the exception of about eight chocolate.—A. C., New Jersey.
GETTING THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN. Please send me your new literature on squabs. I bought 18 pairs of you in 1903 and now have a flock of 190 birds and am getting $3.00 for my squabs in St. Louis. If any one in this section writes to you for squabs you may refer them to me.—F. L., Missouri.
NEIGHBOR PLEASED. Your favor of the 21st to hand, also price list of $1.70 for Extra Homers in 300-pair lots. Mr. J. A. Westen- dorf, of this city, purchased of you on a trial] order five pairs of Extra. Why cannot you make me the $1.70 rate for 50, 100 or 200-pair lots? In going over my buildings I find that I cannot accommodate 300 pairs so would not like to order that number for fear of being too crowded. ;
Mr. Westendorf is pleased with his birds and if the birds you should send would be the equal of those I would be more than satisfied. —A. S., Missouri.
ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY. Please send me the feeding slip that you have published as your daily feeding ration. The birds we got from you are entirely satisfactory.—J. D., Pennsylvania.
RECOMMENDED BY ANOTHER. Will you kindly let me know how I can expect to receive birds ordered from you to be sent to the above address? I have been recom- mended to try your birds by Mr. R. Warner, of 9 DuBois Avenue, and if you can guarantee safe shipment I will place an order with you as soon as I hear to this effect. And if they are as you represent them, I shall be a regular customer of yours. If you will give me the desired information, you will greatly oblige.— G.S., New York.
THIS SHOWS WHAT A CUSTOMER DID WITH TWELVE PAIRS OF OUR BIRDS. My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers have done finely. I sent to Boston $30 for 12 pairs. The birds arrived before-I expected them and they all looked fine. I got my first egg March 21,1905. I raised all of my young to increase the flock for one year and found at the end of the year that I had 271 young birds, all seam- less banded, and as fine a lot as I ever have seen. This year I am selling squabs and mated pairs, raising my best young, and have already sold squabs and mated pairs which have to date netted me $60. I have sold my squabs for $3 a dozen, and mated pairs for $2.50 a pair.
I now (September 10, 1906), have 400 birds that I have raised. A good lot of them are worthy to be put in the show pen, and if they were they would be among the winners.
When I went into the pigeon business I bought what I thought was the best stock to be obtained, namely, Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, and my flock shows that I did not go wrong, for every one that has seen my birds pronounces them the best lot they have ever seen together.
My birds now are in the midst of moult, but most of them are breeding right along.
These are strong letters.
Read them over.
You want some assurance, when you buy
pigeons, that you will be treated right, as these customers were.
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LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1900.
I now have 95 mated pairs at work and as soon as the moult is over I shall begin mating again. By November I expect to have 50 pairs more mated and at work.
I feed the best of grain, using cracked corn, kaffir corn, red wheat, buckwheat, a little hemp, and during the moult sunflower in the head, letting the birds pick off the seed as they like.
I use the self feeder Mr. Rice describes in his Manual and I find with it the feed is always clean. Inever feed on floor. Iuse automatic water fountains and scald them out every two or three days. I give the birds a good clean bath every day.
I have trays to feed any dainty which I have, removing trays when seeds are eaten.
One thing that is essential with pigeons is cleanliness. I clean loft every Saturday, cleaning out nests that have young, putting in new straw, and spraying over lofts with liquid disinfectant.
I have followed the instructions of Mr. Rice’s Manual and found it to be good solid advice.
In the past 18 months I have been in a good many pigeon lofts and have seen exhibits at New York State Fair and Rochester, N. Y., Pigeon Shows, and never have seen any better birds than I have raised from the Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.
Iam perfectly satisfied with what my birds nave done and when I buy more they will surely be Extra Plymouth Rocks.
The feed bill will not exceed eighty-five cents a year per breeding pair. I use tobacco stems for nesting material and like them. I shall always try and speak a good word for the Plymouth Rock Squab Company, for I have found them always ready to assist at any time.—W. R. R., New York.
THEY HAVE NOT LOST A BIRD. I wrote to you some time ago in regard to the squabs we got from you in the month of May, or rather pigeons, 50 pairs, and have yet to lose sur first bird, which not only speaks well for your birds but it looks as if we are giving them the right attention.
There is one thing we wrote to you about, those not working—but they are doing fine and, counting your birds, we have 100 pairs, besides we have sold some which were greatly admired. z
The hotel we take them to in Washington gives seventy-five cents a pair all the year round dressed, the commission merchants never higher than 60 cents a pair.—M. B., Maryland.
MANUAL INDISPENSABLE TO SUCCESS. In regard to the National Squab Book which you publish, would ask if you ever revise it.
The one I purchased of you in May, 1904, is all right and I could never have raised the number and quality of squabs I do without its guidance. Of course you are learning new points about your business and if you have a later edition than mine please let me know.
The Homers have started in on their annual spring campaign and from all appearances they are going to outdo their former produc- tions. With best wishes for your continued success.—A. T., Ohio.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY OTHER CUSTOMERS. Some time ago I wrote your company for their free book on squab raising. Later I sent for your National Standard Squab Book. I have read each one from start to finish and am well pleased with them. I have made up my mind to give the squab business a trial as I am quite sure that there is money in it, if properly conducted.
I realize that to make a success of any business one must thoroughly understand it. As I have had no experience in this line I wish to start in with a small number and increase them as I grow to understand the business.
My plan is to buy 12 pairs of the very best breeders that I can obtain and keep only the best of their increase for breeders till I get my flock to the desired size. Now, from reading your books and having you highly recom- mended to me by other parties, I have made up my mind that you can give me what I want in this line.—H. B., Illinois.
FROM FOUR PAIRS TO THIRTY PAIRS IN NINE MONTHS. Nine months ago I bought of you four pairs of Extra Homers. I had to move them twice to make room. I have now 60 first-class Homers. I have had several chances to sell some of the squabs but I think too much of them. By studying your manual carefully I have not lost a bird. orn a friend of your Homers.—W. M., New
ork.
NO DISEASE. You no doubt have my name on your books as a purchaser of 10 pairs Extra, which I purchased of you last winter. I am still enthusiastic over the industry. I have all the original 11 pairs you sent me and 33 young, all the offspring of your birds, 55 birds in all. They are every one in finest condition, disease has never touched my flock. —J.P., Virginia.
FIVE MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA. When I received those birds from you in March J turned them into a pen and have been so taken up with other work that they have been left to themselves until now. At present I am taking all the working birds out and banding, and when they have young squabs I have
Beware of anybody who tries to make a sale to you by running down the Plymouth Rock
Squab Co.
Insist that he show you letters like these in proof of his claims. viel
1906
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON. THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906
moved them also, putting them in a corres- ponding section in the other pen, the arrange- ment of the pens being the same. I find that the old birds find their young and go right on keeping house just the same as before they were moved. At present I have 100 young birds, the oldest being less than five months and already at work. The squabs are fully developed and out of the nest at three weeks. I expect to have about 80 or 90 pair of birds at work about the first of November. Then I shall begin to ship.—E. R. C., California.
GETTING ALONG IN VIRGINIA. Please ship by freight to us six drinking fountains and six bath-pans. We got some birds of you last year. They have done very well. Thank you for the advice—P. N., Virginia.
GENEROUS TREATMENT OF CUSTOM- ERS. Your letter of May 21 was most satis- factory and certainly very generous. I hope I made it very plain to you that you were not at all to blame for the loss of one of my pigeons. Your offer to replace it free of charge was quite in keeping with my impression as to your very generous treatment of your cus- tomers. I have at last found that the lost pigeon was a female and if you think a white pigeon would be well received by my colony of three checkered, I would like to have a white female Extra Homer pigeon. My pigeons are in fine order and doing well.— Mrs. H. C., Georgia.
LOST ONLY ONE SQUAB IN FIVE MONTHS. Five months since, come the 12th, I received of you, by express, 13 pairs of your Plymouth Rock Homers. Up to date I have lost but one squab (and I think he was killed by a dislocation of the neck), possibly 10 eggs, several by frost. I have 54 squabs, most of them able to take care of themselves, and seven pairs of eggs. Three pairs of young ones have hatched and begun to build their nests. Now I wish to ask you if you think they are doing well. I do, and Iam proud of my intelligent birds. I am now preparing to remove all young ones from the pen except those that are mated and then as fast as the others mate, to do as you say, put them into the breeding pen. I shall also build on another unit to my breeding pen in a short time, as I figure on 110 birds in my present house.
I wish I was financially able to put in a good plant as these birds have demonstrated their fecundity. I notice you say that there is little liability of nest-makers mating. ~ have not discovered any with the few I have. I have just gone through the nest boxes with whitewash containing a good per cent of
carbolic acid and vitriol solution. I clean out houses often and so far have not had a sick bird. Occasionally I put ginger in the drinking fount and I firmly believe it is by following your plain and definite instruction that they keep as well.
I hope I am not trespassing on your valu- able time but cannot resist telling you how I am getting on with your stock—wW. G. P., Wisconsin.
CONVINCED AFTER TRIAL. I have de- layed in writing you as I wanted to see how the birds were going to turn out. Can say now, I am more than pleased with the birds. I have now 18 squabs and five pairs of eggs. Three squabs died and six eggs went to waste. That is all over with now. Don’t expect that to happen again. As far as I can see squab raising looks to be very simple and profitable. I have a nice clean house and running water so the time spent is nothing. Enclosed you will find my check for 12 pair Extra more.— J. S., Washington.
GETTING FOUR DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR SQUABS. Please send me as speedily as possible 25 pairs of Extra Blue Homer Pigeons. Ihave now about 125 pairs of birds bred from the original 20 pairs I bought from you about 18 months ago and am selling squabs at $4.00 a dozen. I am building a coop 48 feet by 14 feet which will accom- modate about 600 birds and if successful will enlarge my plant shortly.
Will you kindly supply me with the name of the large Commission house in New York mentioned in your circular? The_ original birds were bought from you in November 1904 and shipped to my partner in the busi- ness.—H. B., New Jersey.
QUICK TIME. I have read a large num- ber of your testimonials, none like this how- ever. Now I will make an affidavit that I received the 38 pairs Saturday morning, put them in the pen by tena.m. I gave them a few tobacco stems from a crock on the floor in the corner. At) five p.m. a hen laid an egg. She laid her second egg to-day, Monday, and is now setting. Can any of your cus- tomers beat this?—S. H., Illinois.
THINKS WE ARE TRUE BLUE. I am giving my pigeons occasionally lettuce or some raw cabbage, which they most heartily enjoy. Is this conduct prudent? The last batch of birds you sent me ‘‘Extra selected’’ were magnificent. You people (The Ply- mouth Rock Squab Company) seem to be “true blue.” I like to deal with your kind; don’t find them all the time. Please answer
Is there anybody in your town who has failed at squab raising? Some play at pigeons
as they would with a new toy, then they give them up.
172
with them and not with the pigeons.
If they bought of us, the trouble is
1906
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
the above and return to me. Yours well satisfied with your treatment.—O. J., Illinois.
SUCCESS IN TEXAS. In October 1905 I purchased from you 25 pairs of birds and since that time I have had fair success in raising squabs. I have about 175 young birds on hand at present. They are all strong and healthy, having had the best of care, and a great many of them are mating now.—W. B., Texas.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER. I received the birds all O.K. The last ones were every one all right, as were the first. A thousand thanks for your kind, courteous, and prompt treatment in all our business dealings and you will be sure to hear from us again. If our letter will help you any, you are perfectly welcome to use it. Thank you again.— J. C. H., Michigan.
SELLING MANURE. Some time ago I bought 24 pairs Homer Pigeons from you. T have had fairly good luck with them, having increased my flock to about 200 pairs. I want to write you in regard the manure. You state in your National Standard Squab Book, that the Leather Trust :used it for tanning purposes. Now I have considerable on hand and I wrote them. They said in reply, that they did not use it at all, which was a surprise to me as I have been careful in saving it.—W. H. H., Pennsylvania.
Answer. The trust does use pigeon manure or did, the last we knew. We shipped to one of the Lowell plants of the American Hide and Leather Co. for three years. Perhaps your letter was directed to one of the plants of the trust which does not use pigeon manure. We have printed so long the fact that pigeon manure is salable to tanneries of the trust that the New York office of the trust has been bombarded with pigeon manure letters for the last five years to such an extent that they are sick of the topic there and give an in- quirer poor satisfaction. For some time we have been selling our pigeon manure to leather men whose factories are within ten miles of our Melrose plant. Their teams call for it and take it away with very little trouble to us. We get sixty cents a bushel for it, same as usual. If any customer of ours wishes to ship manure to New Jersey or New York, we will help him to find a buyer there, as we have letters from tanneries in both States on file asking us to sell them “pigeon pure.”
HIS FLOCK GROWING. About a year ago I bought some birds from you, some $2.00 per pair and some .$2.50. My flock is
growing and seems to be getting along pretty good, having now 180 birds—will soon have 200 birds. I thought I would try and sell some now. They are all good birds. I want to try and sell what I raise now and if possible make a business of the squabs if there is enough in it to warrant putting up more buildings and getting more stock.
It costs me about $1.90 per week for feed for this amount. Am I feeding enough?— M. N., Massachusetts.
BUILT NEW HOUSE. I have built a new house for my pigeons. Have increased my flock from the original six pairs to 50, besides selling 30 pairs of squabs. Could I have done any better than that?
Have been having some trouble bya few going light and have followed your advice and think have got the better of the difficulty. I lay the trouble to the poor quality of wheat they have been furnishing me. It seems to be all shrunk up and they don’t eat half of it. —A. D. V., Pennsylvania.
Answer. More pigeon troubles are caused by wheat, or too much of it, than almost any- thing else. Squabs which are thin and dark are caused by too much wheat in the ration. Pigeons fed on too much wheat get thin, with sharp breastbones, and will not lay as they ought to. A good ration of Canada peas and hempseed is necessary to bring eggs and keep the flock in condition. A pigeon will not thrive if not kept in condition by nourishing food. The results of too much wheat are loose. droppings, stupid and non-productive birds. Pigeons should be active and eager.
IN FINE CONDITION. My birds I bought a little over a year ago (12 pairs) are still doing fine; have sold several small lots of squabs. Ihave been following your manual’s instructions as close as possible. Ihave about sixty pairs. They are in fine condition and have lots of eggs and youngsters.—C. W. H., North Carolina.
SQUABS WEIGHING NEARLY A POUND APIECE WHEN ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD. Please send me your price list on birds and supplies as I intend to get about ten more pairs of Extra Homers and want to get them of you. The birds I have now, which I got from you, are doing fine and I have doubled my flock. I could sell all the squabs Ihave but want them for breeders.
Would you kindly advise me if oats are good for breeding pigeons if fed moderately. Also do you think it wise to sell my squabs when they are from two and one half to three weeks old, as some of them will weigh about fourteen ounces at that age.—A. P., Ohio.
Look up the standing and character of the concern with which you contemplate dealing.
Your bank will find out the facts for -you. tion are worthless.
Avoid advertisers whom you find out by investiga- Have their ratings looked up for you.
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LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.
1906 THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
Answer. Pigeons do not care much for oats. Pigeons in the street eat them, as they eat peanuts or bread. Of course if you have oats handy and cheap, you can feed some, but pigeons will eat almost every other grain in preference. When squabs weigh 14 ounces they can be killed, no matter what their age.
MOVE THEM AS YOU PROPOSE. Ihave pigeon breeders in unit numbers one and three. Squabs in unit number two, from one to three months old. I wish to put num- ber three with number one. Number three is breeding right along. Will it hurt to move nest, pigeons and squabs out of number three into unit number one? Will it damage eggs and squabs to do so? If rot I can move them through unit number two, as I can let number two in flying pen while I am moving number three. :
I shall want more pigeons by fall. I got 13 pairs from you last year, and I have 100 pairs in all now, so you see I have done well with them. I wish you would answer as soon as possible as I do not wish to molest them before I hear from you.—J. P. M., Michigan.
Answer. Move them as you propose, putting the nests in the same relative posi- tions in the new nest-boxes. You will lose few, if any.
INCREASED STOCK. In May, 1903, you sent C. I. Bruce forty (40) pairs of your
igeons at $2.50 a pair, and in 1904, twelve fi3) females. We have sold and increased stock since then by breeding, until, at present, we have about three hundred (300) birds.— Miss H. J., Connecticut.
BEST HOMERS HE EVER SAW. You: favor of the 12th June, answering my inquir 7 ot the 9th June, was duly received. Thank for the information. I had fully intended t»5 visit your plant, but, just as 1 am ready to start, my wife, who was to accompany me on a two weeks visit tc the New England coast is taken sick. I have seen the birds which you sent to my neighbor, Mr. P. C. Evans, and they appear to be all you claim for them, tie best specimens of Homers I have yet had the pleasure of seeing.
If you can let me have a small lot of one- half dozen pairs, at same price as paid by Mr. Evans, you may enter my order for same, with dozen bowls, for early delivery —G. W. G., Pennsylvania.
FLOCK WENT TO WORK QUICKLY. Out of the seven pairs of Extra Homers you shipped me June 2, 1906, I have already (August 10) got twelve squabs. I am very much pleased over having such good success
We were the first. widely imitated. you our birds. We have no agents.
but I have no way of marking them. “You will please send me an outfit for marking them by mail. Send about what yo. think a beginner ought to have. As the business grows, will send you a larger order.—L. L., Nebraska.
A WOMAN’S WORK. I have 90 pigeons on hand, bred from the 26 my husband bought aes a year ago last April.—Mrs. H. C.,
inois.
STRICTLY ALL RIGHT. A friend of mine of this city recommended you to me as being strictly all right. I will thank you to send me your literature explaining the cost of starting a squab farm of about 250 pairs, raising and marketing same, as I contemplate going in that business. Thank you in ad- vance for any information that you may give me.—W. M. A., Alabama.
RESULTS TELL THE STORY. As all of my birds secured from you in May this year have their second pairs of young ones and I think will continue to multiply as fast, will you kindly forward me a list of commission men as stated in your letter of recent date. Am perfectly satisfied with the results ob- tained from your birds. If you have any inquiries for birds in this locality I will be glad to attend to them for you.—J. L. T., Indiana.
SIZE OF SQUABS A REVELATION. We are pleased to advise you that we ate our first squab from the lot of birds you shipped in May last Sunday and wish to state that the size of these squabs is a revelation to us, being almost twice as large as any we have ever been able to secure.
The enclosed tist will give you an idea as to their productiveness. I also would like to have you answer the questions contained therein.—H. B. R. Illinois.
OUR BIRDS BETTER THAN WE CLAIM. My birds reached me in good order and was glad to see them when I got home from work safe and sound. I think the American Express Co. is about the best there is. Every- body that sees your birds say they are the finest they ever saw. I think when anybody is look- ing for good birds they don’t need to look any further than your place and I know they will go ahead of any birds in this town for looks and flying. I thinle we wil! stay here till we get a good flock of birds then we will move outside of town. The next time I send for birds I will try and send you a bigger order.
Your birds are better than you claim for them. Some of them have eggs before their young ones are two weeks old. They get so
Our birds and methods revolutionized the squab industry and are But imitators who copy or find fault with our printed matter cannot give
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1906
’ STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906 THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
big they just about can’t sit in the nest. I think if you would put an advertisement in some of the evening papers you would get some more trade. I am advertising your birds to everybody I know.—J. S., Wisconsin.
COMPLIMENTED BY AN EXPERIENCED JUDGE. One of my hens made her nest and I thought she was ready to lay but she sat all one day and part of the next and did not, but had her mouth open panting and seemed very sick. Itelephoned to Mr. M. to come and tell me what to do. When he came he held her in warm water for 15 minutes and then fast- ened her in her nest. In ten minutes she laid her egg and got all right.
Mr. holds the world’s record for three hundred miles and has some of the most val- uable birds in Chicago, and he said my birds were very fine, in fact he said he could have hardly told them from his own, they resembled them so much.
When so good a judge will compliment them so highly I feel very proud of them.— A. B., Illinois.
SQUABS WEIGHING ONE POUND AT TWO WEEKS. I thought you might like to hear from the birds you sent us a year ago. They have been working overtime since. We have 54 birds now with several nesting. Every one is a solid color the same as the old ones.
The squabs we have weighed have averaged a pound at three weeks old. One weighed a pound at two weeks.
There is a party here getting birds of all kinds and colors and claims they are better than what we got for Extras on account of the bands.—J. W., South Dakota.
Answer. It is quite common for parties selling poor Homers +o put bands on their legs, some of them quite ornamental, in an endeav- or to enhance their value, same as putting a gaudy label on cheap goods. It is the pig- eons that count, not the bands. Bands are useful to number the birds, that is all.
NO. 1 PLYMOUTH ROCKS ARE GOOD HOMERS. It will probably be fall before I get my house built and give you an order for more birds. If money is not too scarce the order will be for your best birds, for the No. 1 Plymouth Rocks are doing even better than the Manual claims them to. Your Extra birds must be wonderful.—W. H. W., Massa- chusetts.
WE “ SHOW THEM ” OUT IN MISSOURI. I received the grits and oyster shell all O. K. My birds jump on to the grits and hemp seed inahurry. They are doing well. I will have about sixty squabs this month and quite a
number mating this week. I had an order for 100 squabs this morning. It made me sick to think I could not fill it, but my time came aftera while. I will build another house soon and I want 100 more of your birds. Mr. Hall’s birds look well. They came through nice. He is well pleased and I think he will order more. There are two more people talk- ing of going into the squab business. I will try to get an order for you.u—J. W. H., Mis- souri.
HAS NEVER SOLD ANY SQUABS LESS THAN NINE POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. About three years ago I purchased of you six pair of Homer pigeons for which I paid $2.50 per pair. My flock are all from the stock I bought of you and I have some nice birds. I have never sold any squabs under nine pounds to the dozen at four weeks old. I never sell my birds after they have left the nest for squabs. Will you send me your price list for grains, that is, Kaffir corn and red wheat. I would like the address of Boston dealers.— C. E. W., Rhode Island.
LETTING BIRDS FLY. I would like to have your opinion and advice on a matter that is very important to me. I have a beautiful start with your birds, have followed your book exactly and the result has been very gratifying. Now what I want to do is to buy about three hundred more old birds from you and pen them. Will the young birds be as prolific, mate and hatch as well if properly fed, watered etc., exactly as my pens are, if I allow them to run loose on my farm? There is no danger of them being shot and I would much prefer allowing them the run of the farm. I have the buildings that I could convert into com- fortable houses at once, and I will appreciate your thoughtful opinion and advice in the matter for I know you are headquarters.—
W.., Tennessee.
Answer. Birds which you raise you can let fly because they know no home but yours, but Homers which you buy you cannot let fly safely because they know another home (their old home) and their instinct and desire to go home may lead them to leave you.
NEW JERSEY NEIGHBORS ALL AGREED. The six pairs of birds received from you the first day of May are still doing fine (July). One pair has her third pair of young at this writing—less than three months. The rest will hatch this week. Mr. Tevis (the neighbor I spoke to you about in a former letter) came over after me to see the birds that he had just received from you. They are fine birds and he is very much pleased with them and sorry that he did not take my advice and send
ES
The squab industry is growing every year. Prices were better and they are going to be as good or better in 1907.
before. t squab eating is growing in every section.
More squabs were bred in 1906 than ever The habit of
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1906 STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
1906
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
to you in the first place, but he bought about 60 pairs from a New Jersey dealer. He showed him a letter that was supposed to have come from a man that bought birds of you, saying that he didn’t want any more of them. But now he sees the difference when he has them side by side. Mr. Webster, my next door neighbor, is so well pleased with the way mine are doing that he is going to send for a few pairs this fall. I would if I could, and had the room.
T now have 16 pairs of the Plymouth Rock birds. My pen is open to any one that wants to see the birds before they send to you for breeders. I thank you for the fine birds you sent to Mr. Tevis. It shows that I didn’t exaggerate your ability, to send six pairs or 100 pairs of fine birds.—D. C. T., New Jersey.
FINEST FLOCK HE HAD EVER SEEN. A year ago to-day we received eighteen pairs of your Homers. Our flock now numbers nearly 100 pairs and all are doing fine. We have sold a few pairs at $1.25 per pair, and have had any amount of inquiries after squabs. We have had a number of fanciers up to look at the flock, and all seem to think they are an exceptionally fine lot of birds. One gentleman who keeps an excellent lot of imported birds said they were the finest flock he had ever seen, which speaks well for your birds.—B. B., Michigan.
BEST BIRDS IN HIS CITY. Find en- closed $16.34 for which to send me a dozen of your Homers, a dozen of nest bowls, and two feet of aluminum tubing. Would have liked to send an order sooner but had no place to keep them. My birds are doing fine.. We have moved into a larger place where I can let my birds out in a wire cage. Your birds are the best I ever saw and the only ones I ever intend to keep. I have sold off all my young stock so I have more room for the others —J. B. T., Wisconsin.
SPLENDID WORK WITH SPLENDID BIRDS. I wish to advise you now (August, 1906) of the splendid luck I have had with the six pairs of birds purchased from you last May and which were received at my home on May 17.
These birds, within a week after arrival, commenced to construct their nests and, out of the six pairs, five began hatching within two weeks and every egg produced a squab. Two squabs weighed at the age of four weeks and two days, 16 ounces, after plucking, and the remainder weighed from .eight to 12
ounces. The two squabs, weighing 16 ounces, were the largest I ever saw and I thought you would be interested in knowing the weights.
On account of not having room for any more birds, | am killing the squabs as they mature but would have liked to have mated the two large squabs, as I believe that their offspring would have averaged 16 ounces each.—S. P. N., New Jersey.
DOUBLED IN THREE MONTHS. En- closed find money order for $1.70 for which please send leg band outfit. The birds I bought of you in April are doing fine. They have doubled themselves.—W. A., Missouri.
DOING WELL IN CANADA. Saw your advertisement in R. P. Journal, ‘‘Squab book free.” Anything new in it? I have your book of 1904 with two dozen your Homers. They are doing fine. What would you sell me one dozen more’—P. I. B., Quebec.
ORDERS FOR A FRIEND. I enclose you herewith a check for $30. Please ship to enclosed address 12 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. Be sure to send him some nice ones.
Those we bought of you some time back are doing nicely and if these show up as well I think that I will be able to send you some more orders soon.—S. W. T., Georgia.
HAS DEALT WITH THE FAKIRS. The pigeons that youshipped to us have arrived in fine condition and the best of health. We are shipping back to you, via American Express the wicker basket in which you sent our pigeons. Also our many thanks for the trouble you took in selecting the different colored pairs.
I wish to say that the pigeons are beauti- fully mated, because one pair have started in business already, the hen having laid two eggs, and all the others have showed promis- ing signs of mating. ;
After having dealt with poultry fakirs and receiving their treatment, I fully appreciate your kind treatment which is so unlike that of these fakirs, but your endeavors are not in vain, as I soon expect to order some meore pairs. Your treatment has encouraged me. I have provided an excellent house and pen forthem. Thank you for your interest shown in this matter.—L. J. H., Illinois.
IN THE BLUE GRASS STATE. Could you kindly tell me where I could get some white Homers? The Plymouth Rock Homers
New laws passed a year ago by the legislatures of Massachusetts and New York forbid the
sale of quail except in the months of November and December. for every quail found in the hands of any marketman or restaurant keeper.
The penalty is a heavy fine Quail are no
longer found on bills of fare in these two states except around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Sauabs are on the bills of fare all the year everywhere.
Other states, it is said by sportsmen,
will follow Massachusetts and New York with a similar game law.
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LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
I got from you are doing fine—R. L. J., Kentucky.
HIS SECOND ORDER. Enclosed please find express money order for five dollars for which please send me three pairs of your No. 1 Plymouth Rocks at your earliest convenience. A previous order which I received from you has been doing fine.—J. E. D., Pennsylvania.
PROLIFIC BIRDS. I purchased 12 pairs Homers of you about 18 months ago and they have done fine work for me. I have 50 pairs mated birds, saved the best ones and sold the second class.—-J. A. D., Pennsylvania.
SENT SISTER GOOD BIRDS. I enclose a money order for $17.88 for which please send three dozen nappies and six pairs blue checkers. You sent my sister such fine birds that I would like the order duplicated.—H. S. B., New York.
RECOMMENDS OUR BIRDS TO EVERY- BODY. The birds arrived in good order and Iam pleased with them. I have 14 fine birds from the first ones I bought of you and I think the last four pairs will go to work soon. I recommend your birds to everybody.—J. M. M., Philadelphia.
HE KNOWS OUR TEACHINGS ARE RIGHT. I have read your Manual carefully, studied every point as I went, because I wanted to impress it on my mind. I have found in my own experience that pigeons do just as your Manual says. Your book is worth two or three dollars instead of 40 cents.
I want to thank you for the favor you did at finding the weight and charges of some things for me. Would you kindly tell me what would be the cost of freight charges on one hundred, two hundred and three hundred pounds of grain?—G. A. S., Georgia.
FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR WOULD NOT BUY HIS. Birds came Friday at noon, and accept many thanks for the fine birds you sent to me. My friend says $5.00 per pair would not buy his.—J. P. B., Georgia.
PLEASANT BUSINESS FOR A WOMAN. You will possibly remember that a year ago last April I bought from you twenty-five pairs of your Extra Homers.
I now have some eighty pairs in my house and have used something like two hundred squabs. My birds have done well and I have lost only one of my original stock.
I am thoroughly convinced that there is money raising squabs and it is a very pleasant business for a woman, requiring only a little
time each day to attend to them and one soon becomes very much attached to them—Mrs. M. L., Kentucky.
GENEROUS TREATMENT. The pigeon that I wrote you about a few days ago has died. I think it must have been injured in shipping. It was a female. I think your promise to send another a very generous one, and I would appreciate it very much. In about two or three months I expect to order more birds of you. The others are doing excellently.—A. H. B., Massachusetts.
TRADE BEGETS TRADE. I have been instrumental in making some sales of pigeons for you. Atleast Ihave recommended you to several people who said they would buy of you. Did a doctor of Fairhope buy a lot of pigeons of you? He came over here to see me about what I thought of the business and I recommended you to him strongly. I just sold 30 pair of my pigeons to Dr: O. F. Caw- thon and E. J. Buck and I recommended them to buy 10 or 12 pairs of you. I will continue to advertise you all I can. Later on I want to rearrange my house and build up a big place and I will send to you for what I need. —M. O., Alabama.
GOOD INCREASE IN SIX MONTHS. Yesterday I wrote you for the Manual or National Standard Squab Book, but I forgot to tell you of some of your birds I have seen. Last August or September a doctor friend of mine in Brunswick bought of you six pairs of Homers. In two or three weeks they began to lay and hatch. He sold four or five pairs at $1.00 to $2.00 a pair. He has now between seventy and eighty total. They are beauties and if mine are as pretty and do as well I don’t think I will be disappointed. Please send Manual as quick as possible.—G. S., Georgia.
GOOD RECORD FOR FIRST MONTH. I deem it will be gratifying if you know how the 13 pair of Homers I received from you on May 3d are doing.
There has not been a sick one in the lot and they are very much admired by all who see them, and are pronounced first-class Extra stock,
They are contented and very busy all the time. Eight pairs are breeding now, with three nests each having a pair of nice healthy squabs. I think this a splendid record for the first month in a new home.—S. H. W., Penn- sylvania.
LOST HIS TEXT BOOK. Please find en- closed 50 cents, and send me another Nat- ional Standard Squab Book. I have mis- _
Remember, these are stories told in 1906, by customers who are really raising squabs
with our birds and not merely talking about what they are going to do.
17
satisfactory results day after day.
They are getting
1906
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.
1906 THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
placed my other one and can’t find it. My birds are doing well. I have had 15 pairs of young birds since [had them. I sold one pair of old white birds for three dollars to a bird store.—H. K., Missouri.
ATTRACTING ATTENTION. Please to send some literature to address of gentleman enclosed, descriptive of the squab business, and give him prices on same. I have been talking with him in regard to the business and as he has a couple of farms over in Michigan, IT have no doubt but what he will make an investment.
The pigeons that I purchased of you last spring are doing very nicely. Our_pen is attracting considerable attention. We have about 75 in it now and we are about to build larger accommodations.—T. T., Illinois.
ENLARGING PLANT. Will you kindly advise the address of party who purchases pigeon manure?
My birds are getting along very nicely. Intend putting up a large house for them in the near future and will write you later regard- ing wire for flies —B. T., New York.
SWAMPED WITH SQUAB ORDERS. It is impossible for me to fill the orders that I have for squabs. I am sending you an order. Please get them out as soon as_ possible. When I receive them, I will order another dozen Extras. I now have about 350 pair of breeders. They are doing fine—H. S., Louisiana.
SATISFIED WITH ALL. I two baskets containing 36 birds on Thursday. Pardon delay in not answering sooner, as I was out of town. I am perfectly satisfied with all the birds I bought of you and hope to be able in the future to secure more. Am shipping the two baskets this morning by National express, homeward bound.—J. W.., New York. _
GOOD REPORT. Please find enclosed a money order for which please ship me 12 pair pigeons as I saw some birds which you shipped to Mr. Walter of this town. I received a booklet from your firm some time ago but did not order birds until I saw Mr. Walter report on his. I decided to give you an order if you can send me mixed colors. Ship via Adams express. Wishing you success.—L. D., Pennsylvania.
ONE YEAR’S GOOD TRIAL. OQucte me prices on your No. 1 Homers. Those I bought of you one year ago are doing nicely. —C. M. R., Pennsylvania.
received the,
THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS TO HIS FRIEND IN A NEIGHBORING TOWN. I am pleased to know that you are getting along so nicely with your squab house. Wish you could see the last consignment of birds I received from the Plymouth Rock Squab Co. of Boston. They are beauties, and they commenced building their nests the second day after they arrived. I have no idea where you are going to purchase your birds but I certainly think you will make no mistake if you get them from Mr. Rice, for the ones he sent me are the finest I ever saw.
iam confident if you buy your birds of Mr. Rice he will use you right for he has done the right thing by me.—F. B., New York.
WANTS 500 PAIRS IN THE SPRING. My pigeons are doing very well but they are shedding a great many feathers. I want to make arrangements early in the spring for 500 pairs of your best stock, but before build- ing my houses I want to take a trip to Melrose and look your plant over, in order to get all the ideas about construction, maintenance, etc. I enclose separate slip with a few questions that I would like to have you answer if it is not too much trouble.—J. W., North Carolina.
LOST ONLY ONE BIRD, AND THAT BY ACCIDENT. [I recently bought a few pairs of birds that you sold to a gentleman in this city about March lst. He was moving to St. Louis and had to dispose of the birds. With what I got from you and the seven pairs I bought from him I now have 65 birds. Have never lost but one bird and that was my own fault for I was experimenting on it and accident- ally killed it. Ihave a market in St. Louis for all I can ship at $4.00 per dozen. If not ask- ing too much would you kindly give me the address of a couple of Chicago and New York commission men that handle squabs.—W. E. T., Missouri.
STARTED WELL. I write you in regard to the pigeons you will remember we bought of you (24 pairs) about two years ago this month. Our Homers have done very nicely. I have about 200 pairs. We sold 40 pairs last year. We have quite a nice little plant started.—A. C., Wisconsin.
DOING WELL, GOING TO BUILD. Please send me a plan for your multiple unit house. My pigeons are doing fine.—D. B., Mlinois.
STARTED IN TO MAKE REFORMS. Please find enclosed check for nine dollars
Somebody handling the small, stunted Homers may tell you that eight pounds to the dozen is good weight for squabs and that squabs are not bred to weigh more from Homers.
That is true, from his Homers, Plymouth Rock Homer squabs.
In these pages you will find that eight pounds is low for
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LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906,
tor which kindly send us one dozen drinking fountains. We would like you to get these off as soon as possible.
I was very much pleased with my visit to your plant at Melrose which I made yesterday, especially with your facilities for mating birds up. Got some new ideas along with a lot of good advice from your superintendent, and to-day have started in to make a few new reforms here.—T. H. D., Connecticut.
KNOWS PLYMOUTH -ROCKS BY EX- PERIENCE. I saw your advertisement of Homer Pigeons in a magazine. I would like very much for your company to send me one of your catalogues, and how much you charge for Homers a pair. I know from experience that a Plymouth Rock Homer is a good breeder. A friend of mine got some from your people a short time ago, but I did not inquire as to the price of them. In answer to letter from you, I will send for some, and if they are satisfactory, I will be glad to get more, as I am a great pigeon fancier.—W. A., Illinois.
ONE YEAR’S SATISFACTION. Send one bushel of Kaffir corn and one bushel of Canada peastome. It may interest you to know that the birds I bought from you a year ago are in every way satisfactory. I have doubled the number of workers in that time and have had all I wanted for my own table, and sold quite a number.—J. B. H., Massachusetts.
SOME WEIGH 14 OUNCES WHEN 15 DAYS OLD. I received your pigeons in May when I was in Longueuil. They have done well, as I have had some which weigh 14 ounces at 15 days old. What do you think of a mirror in my squab house? I will be very pleased to receive all your advertising booklets.—G. C., Canada.
SUNFLOWER SEEDS ARE GOUD. Your book doesn’t say anything about feeding pigeons sunflower seeds. Will they eat them or isn’t it good for them tohavethem? Please let me know. The pigeons I got from you are doing pretty well, I think. I may get more next year.—B. J., Vermont.
Answer. Sunflower seeds are a good pigeon food and are used by many of our customers. They are rich and oily and should not be fed in excess, but as a dainty. A good way to feed them is to throw the whole head in front of the birds and let them pick out the seeds themselves with their bills.
BREED WELL IN CALIFORNIA. En- closed find money order for 40 cents for which
kindly send me two feet of your aluminum tubing for bands. Also send one of your price lists, as mine has been mislaid. Twenty-four pairs of Homers purchased of you one year ago are doing fine. Flock now numbers 150.—W. J. M., California.
CONTINUOUS SATISFACTION. Enclosed find check which is to cover enclosed order, All the birds which you have sent me so far are very satisfactory.—G. S., New York.
FINEST BIRDS AROUND. Your birds I bought of you a year ago are going fine—the finest birds around, so my friends say.—Mrs, J. J. M., Massachusetts.
HOTEL KEEPER RAISING HIS TABLE SQUABS. Am very glad to know that you were pleased with our menus and will con- tinue mailing them to you from time to time if you do not object. I hope that the temp- tation will be strong enough to cause you to come to our city and look over our squab farm. I have been quite successful and have a fine lot of birds. It is more than likely, however, that I shall want some additional birds in the very near future. I would like a few show Homers, Dragoons and Runts’ For squab raising purposes, I could not ask anything better than I now have. Will mail you an order for supplies in a few days.—W. S., Georgia.
BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY BIRDS. Will you please quote me the price of your wicker shipping baskets, size for 12 pairs, or kindly forward me the address of the manufacturers of same. Also state in your letter if the drop- pings must be entirely free from straw and feathers, or reasonably so, to satisfy the pur- chasers at the tanneries. The six pairs I pur- chased of you two years ago have increased to 150 or 170, besides what I have killed, and the stock has proven entirely satisfactory in every way. I have taken pains to follow your instructions to the letter so now I have the above number of beautiful, healthy birds.— W. Hz. Y., New York.
Answer. It is impossible to get all straw and feathers entirely out of the manure,
‘Sweep out what you can with a broom before
cleaning the squab-house. The leather peo- ple do not care if some straw and feathers get in but they do not want gravel and tobacca stems. The latter discolor and stain when wet.
BIRDS THAT FLY AWAY. On about April 20, 1905, we bought of you six Plymouth Rock Homer pigeons. Since then they have
For six years we have had a complete monopoly of the fine trade cf the United States. We
sell more Homers every year than all other firms and breeders combined. is that our birds demonstrate their value and make friends wherever they go.
‘we intend to maintain.
The reason for this This supremacy
Loo
1906
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.
1906 THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON iN NINE MONTHS OF 1906.
done exceedingly well, and we have got a pretty good start in pigeons now, but what I write you to-day for is this. This morning at 9 o’clock one of the birds we got of you got out of the flying pen. She flew into the air and started for Boston. This was a brown bird, and we thought she might arrive at her destination, so I wish you to keep a lookout for her and see if-you can tell if she gets there. If she does arrive, would you mind letting me know? I am anxious to know if she gets there. This was a female bird and she left a young bird about a week old in the nest.— RieH, lows.
Answer. No Homer would fly that dis- tance. We receive many letters like the above: Customers snould watch the doors of squab-house and pens and not let their birds get away.
LARGE, HEAVY AND FULL-BREASTED. Enclosed find money order for one more dozen pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.
I did not rush a letter down to you the same afternoon I received the other birds for the reason that I wanted to try them out first. The dozen pair of Plymouth Rocks, on their arrival weighed exactly 22 pounds, while a few days later I received another dozen pair from another company and they weighed only 17 pounds. They were not full-breasted like your birds.
I received first shipment on the 2nd of March. They are now working like good fellows. Have three nests with eggs in.
You will: hear from me occasionally with further orders.—A. P. S., Michigan.
WANTS TO BUY SOME GOOD ONES. Kindly send your catalogue and any other printed matter you have about pigeons. An acquaintance wants to buy some good birds and he is going to look at my lot that I received last Thursday, i feel sure I can land him as a customer for you.—H. D. C., Pennsylvania.
GOING SLOWLY. Please send free book, “How to Make Money with Squabs.’’ The birds bought of you are doing well now and some of their young are hatching. enough now to ship a dozen a month now.— W.M., Maryland.
JUST THE BIRDS. I thought I would Jet you know how my birds are getting along. They arrived on Tuesday, May Ist, as I wrote you. Thursday of the same week one pair had commenced to build. At this writing four pairs have eggs. The others are build- ing. That is what I call going right to work.
Have °
I am very much pleased with them. There was a party here this morning looking at them. He talks of putting in one hundred pair, and says they are just the birds that he wants. He is coming up to see your plant. Of course I showed him my birds and told him just what they were doing and where they came from so I think he will be a cus- tomer for you. I shall advertise the Plymouth Rock birds wherever I havea chance. Thank you for your kindness.—J. C., New Jersey.
SQUABS WEIGHING ONE POUND APIECE WHEN ONE MONTH OLD. I received my pigeons from you April 20, 1905. I have one pair that has hatched eleven (11) times up to the 22nd day of April, 1906, so you can see that they have had fairly good care. I now have 110 birds and am getting them fast now and will commence shipping when I get 70 or 80 pairs. I have weighed a number of birds four weeks old that weighed 16 ounces and I think that is very good.—L. F., Iowa.
QUICKLY AT WORK. Please pardon my delay in acknowledging the receipt (right side up) of the pigeons you shipped to me at Harpers Ferry, W. Va., which place I left before the shipment arrived. My wife informed me that they were all in good shape and the finest specimens she ever saw. Also thought they had returned the baskets to you. As soon as I go home, which will be in a few days, will send you another order. My wife’s third letter tells me that 16 pairs cut of the 18 have gone to setting. Don’t think you can beat that athome. We have everything good to feed them, peas, kaffir corn, wheat and millet, and we intend to make a success of the business.—W. S., Virginia.
SQUABS HAVE AVERAGED ONE POUND APIECE. Enclosed please find certified check for $173.98 for which kindly send me birds and supplies as enclosed. Kindly send the shipment of birds as soon as possible as I would like to receive them before Tuesday. All my birds are doing nicely. My squabs, under your system of feeding, have averaged a pound apiece and I expect from the present outlook of things to make them average a good deal more.—E,. H. M., Pennsylvania.
THIS WOMAN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA KNOWS WHAT A FINE HOMER IS. A week ago I wrote you complaining of non- acknowledgment of my remittance sent in with my order. As I was beginning to wonder if it had miscarried, I am pleased to be able to inform you that I received the best possible answer to my letter in arrival of the birds I ordered from you. They arrived
The equipment at our farm for mating birds cost $2000 and no expense was spared to
make it perfect.
A thousand mating coops are in constant use.
The principal mating house
is heated by hot water so as to get the best and quickest results in the cold months,
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LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. SS
about the same time as your letter (May Ist). All of them are in first-class condition and I am very pleased with, them, as I consider that they are a fine lot of birds, and I think I know what a fine Homer is when I see it, as _ my father and brothers have bred and sold trained flying Homers for years in Lancashire, England, some of them worth twenty-five dollars a pair. Although I never heard of squab raising before I came to Canada three years ago, when I first saw your book adver- tised in Munsey’s I thought it was some kind of game bird reared in captivity, and sent for your book more out_of curiosity than any- thing else. I think I shall like the business very much and shall probably be sending another order in a month or two when I see how I go on with the birds I have got. Thank you very much for the two pairs extra you sent, also nest bowls. They were a very agreeable surprise to me as I did not expect anything like that on such a small order. The express charges were six dollars, and 25 cents duty on nest bowls. If you would write me from time to time giving me your prices I shall be much obliged.—Mrs A. R., Canada.
SQUABS WEIGHING FROM 13 TO 16 OUNCES. Please send me at your earliest convenience the names of reliable merchants to whom I can ship squabs, in New York. The 80-pairs I bought of you last fall are doing well. I sold squabs that weighed from 13 ounces to almost one pound apiece. I have over 1C0 pairs of young ones that I am sav- ing for stock.—H. J., Ohio.
WORTH THEIR PRICE. Sorne time ago I sent you an order for three pairs No. 1 and three pairs Extra Homers, stating that I wished to compare with Homers a friend of mine was ordering at a very much lower figure. In a word, after due comparison, I order six more pairs Extras. Please send me fine birds.—C. J., Illinois.
SQUABS WEIGHING 16 TO 17 OUNCES EACH. Please find enclosed remittance for which send me 12 pairs and supplies noted. The dozen pairs you sent me started ix to do business last month, having been moulting up to that time. The first two pairs squabs hatched, at one month old, weighed one pound each, with one that was 17 ounces. That is very good, is it not? Iam well pleased with them. Make this dozen as good and I shall be more pleased.—C. B. G., Connecticut.
HIS FOURTH ORDER. Enclosed you will please find money order for which you will please send me as soon as possible one dozen
Our whole time and energies are given to squabs. c handled—promptly, courteously and thoroughly, with every detail attended to. It is a business with us, pushed steadily every day in the year except Sune
answered at once.
pairs Extra bred Homers (fourth order.)—L C., Louisiana.
SUPERIOR IN LOOKS AND WORKS. The birds (60 pairs) arrived on the late train from St. Paul on Sunday night last, and remained in the depot here until early on the following morning when we took them home, Outside of the injured ones mentioned, I will say that the birds arrived in perfect condition and are fully up to what we expected them to be. They are now ‘at home” and present a beautiful appearance. The birds which you sent me last November (nine months ago) are entirely satisfactory. and “ out-class” any I received from the— or these which my friend here received from the same people. Mine are plump, his are “ cranish,” long-legged and long-necked. I would not keep that kind of birds. My triend has not accommodations for pigeons, and wanted to sell out. A doctor who for several years rented offices in my law office building here, looked them over with the view of purchasing the outfit, and I advised him to do so, to get a start in the business. He visited my lofts, and saw my birds, wanted to buy some from me, and after he saw mine, he would not buy of my friend. I gave him your address, but have not seen him since, and do not know whether he has made a pur- chase or not. I have none to sell at this time as we are trying to increase the flock to at least 1200, for which we have ample accommo- dations, then we will begin to sell.
There is no mistake in saying that the birds which I received from you, out-class those which the— have sent here. If your Mr. Rice should ever come to this country I would be pleased to have him stay with me and look over the ‘‘ greatest ”’ farming coun- try on earth.
My elder boy (17 years of age) visited the great Minnesota State Fair. Saw Dan Patch break his record, reducing it to 1.55 flat. He looked the pigeons over as a matter of course, and he tells me that he could find no Homers there which compared with ours. He intends to exhibit some at the fair next fall.—H. M., Minnesota.
MADE A SUCCESS AND GOING AHEAD ON A BIG PLANT. I havea party that wants to go into the squab business with me, and it is possible that I will call on you during Nov- ember for 2000 breeders. I have done very well with the 800 I have, encouraging enough to put in quite an extensive plant. I would like to have your personal opinion as to whether 2000 birds will do as well in 20 units of 100 birds each with one fly 12x48x200 as they would in 20 units with 20 flies 10x12x48. On
We handle trade as it ought to be Letters are
jays and holidays, and not a side issue or an amusement,
181
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906 THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. Sn nS
account of labor I would prefer the one large fly, but I want no experiments and leave the matter with you. I can get $4.00 per dozen for a large portion of my squabs, and would like to have an opinion as to what 5000 of your breeders would net us yearly when we raise our own feed on the farm.
WE SUPPLY HENS TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM. After recommending your firm to A. F. Kennelley of this city and he being a purchaser from you recently, I find that he is well pleased with treatment accord- ed him. Enclosed please find $5.00 for five female birds to be used as breeders. I bought some birds from a friend of mine and he had five odd cocks which I want to mate wp. You will forward these by first express to my address.—H. E. W., Ohio..
BEST BIRDS HE EVER SAW. The Homers ordered from you reached me in due time and in excellent condition, They certainly are the finest birds I ever saw. I really believe they are a finer lot than the first consignment, if that be possible. The second day after their arrival they commenced building their nests, which I imagine is a pretty good record.
Some of my friends have secured birds from other parties and although I have not seen their birds, I am confident they can’t tell me that they have a finer lot than mine.
If I have an opportunity of securing you any customers I shall be only too glad to do so.—B. Y., New York.
BEST HOMERS IN CALIFORNIA. Birds received in Al condition. Your birds have stirred up quite some interest here and what I hear from people who know is that your birds are the best in the colony. As it is I am well pleased with the bunch. I have a house 12 x 32 feet divided into four pens 8x9 feet with a three-foot passage running the length and everything up to date. That also has opened their eyes in the building and arrange- ments in an up-to-date squab house. I have had the birds less than a week and am pretty well advertised already. The market here is strong at $3.00 to $3.50 and the demand far exceeds the supply.—C. H., California.
SOLD YOUNGSTERS FOR $2 A PAIR IN KANSAS. Enclosed find remittance for one leg band outfit. My pigeons have been doing fine, and are keeping busy all the time. Have sold off the young pigeons at eight weeks old for $2.00 per pair. What is the difference in Canada peas and the peas we raise here? Will the common peas do to feed to the pigeons?—G, W. S., Kansas.
These are strong letters.
Read them over.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK MARKET; HIGH PRICES WHICH ARE GOING HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAW FORBIDDING ENTIRELY THE SALE OF QUAIL EXCEPT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. I take the liberty of asking you for a little more advice for the birds I bought from you last November. Of sick- ness I have not seen any sign of it. I lost only two of them, one of apoplexy I think, because it, fell like shot dead, the other one died of diarrhcea. Of the young squabs, the cas- ualties have been a little higher, but out of 50 I did not lose more than six, or 12 per 100.
Now I wish you would give me your opinion how I have progressed, if I am on the regular average or if I am under it.
The prices for squabs on the New York market have been very high all winter—have reached as high as $6.50 a dozen for squabs of over 10 pound a dozen, and $4.50 for birds of near eight pound or so. Of course private trade is better and I have been able to sell squabs for 50 cents apiece easily.
I have a set ot birds that give me three eggs and have hatched them successfully with three days late for the extra one. Does that happen often?—H. G., New York.
WILL NOT BUY ANY HOMERS BU? PLYMOUTH ROCKS. Last May I ordered from you twelve Plymouth Rock Homers. They arrived on the eighth of May and on the twelfth of the same month the first €gg was laid. Five pairs of them went to work almost immediately and have been at work ever since. I raised the squabs during the summer. T have now 13 pairs of mature pigeons. Twelve pairs work constantly and I am very much pleased with them and want to thank you for them and as you are so kind as to offer to answer questions and to help we people who do not know all about raising squabs I shall be so much obliged if you will give me a little help. My present ambition is to increase my plant. I want to buy some Extras from you as soon as I can raise the capital. I can buy Homers nearer home but yours have done so well for me that whatever new stock I get I would like to get from you. You say in your book that you will give your patrons the address of a good New York buyer. Will you please send me the address?—C, O., New
Jersey.
BRANCHING OUT. Please quote me your best figures on the following: Homer pigeons in pairs ready to go to work in lots of 20, 50 and 100 pair lots. Hempseed in bushel lots. Health grit in 100 pound lots. I have your prices of last year but presume there are some changes. I purchased 12 pairs of Homers from you last spring and they raised me about
You want some assurance, when you buy
pigeons, that you will be treated right, as these customers were,
182
£906
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS
1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906 a
60 young ones by the first of November.— R. W. H., Iowa.
BLOOD AND HIGH BREEDING COUNT. Enclosed find draft for which you will send by Pacific express, Extra Homers, as per memorandum, Several weeks ago I ordered 15 pairs of . When the birds came I did not think they were much more than common birds. A friend in our town wanted some breeders and I got him to try your birds. They came last night. There is a big differ- ence between the birds. My first birds do not show any white on bill to amount to any- thing and they are most all white or very light color. Yours show their high breeding. Blood tells, when you put them together. I sold mine at half price to-day to get shut of them. What I want is blooded stock or nothing. Please send me a good collection of assorted colors, blues, reds and checkers. I ordered one of your squab books some time ago and I think it the best I ever read on pigeons.—J. A., Missouri.
TRIFLING DEATH LOSSES. In January of this year I purchased 12 pairs of your Extras. They are now (April) in fine condi- tion and have hatched out 24 young ones, 22 of which are living and doing fine.—W. J., Massachusetts.
SEVEN PAIRS WORTH $25, THIS ARKANSAS CUSTOMER THINKS. Writing you a few lines to let you know that I got the pigeons all O.K. They were all well. I got them two weeks to-day and out of the seven pairs, four pairs of them have built and are setting on eggs already. I would have written you sooner but wanted to see what they were going to do. I would not take $25 for the seven pairs. Sending the basket back this evening with the letter. You can put this letter on your list. I think it is the only one from Arkansas.—C. W., Arkansas.
GOOD SHOWING AFTER THEIR 3000- MILE JOURNEY. Enclosed please find Wells Fargo Express money order for $1.70 for which please send me by mail post paid, one leg band outfit at your very earliest convenience. My birds received from you March 17 are doing fine. They got right to work and one month from the day I received them I had three pairs of squabs hatch. Since then one more pair has hatched and two more pairs are setting and two pairs building. I think that is a pretty good showing in six weeks for 10 pairs after travelling 3000 miles. I lost one hen. She got sick and I could not find what was the trouble. She did not have diarrhea, but just seemed to droop and die. The remainder of them are as fine as could be.
Will you please quote me prices on nine pait Extra Homers to be delivered in June or July. Caunot tell yet just when I will be ready fcr them, but either June or July sure. Best wishes for your continued success.—E. M., California.
ARKANSAS CUSTOMER IS PLEASED WITH SQUARENESS. I received your Man- ual-a day after I wrote that letter, and J received another one. I have sold both of them, and find enclosed $1.00 to pay for your extra one and another one for myself. You people treated me so well I won’t buy any Homers from anybody else. I was surprised at your squareness and have told every one about it and got them all a-going in the right direction. I was very, very much pleased with your Manual.—G. R., Arkansas,
HIS MONEY TALKS FOR HIM. Last August U purchased 124 pairs of your Extras and am now in the market for about 375 pairs more. Iam also in need of some extra hens of the same quality. Can you supply same? Also let me know if you can furnish these birds in pairs in the following colors: blues, blue checkers and red checkers in any number I may desire. Please state your very lowest price on above number of pairs. Let me hear from you by return mail, as I am in a great rush for the birds.—S. T., Indiana.
CANNOT SAY TOO MUCH IN PRAISE OF OUR HEALTH GRIT. Enclosed find $2.00 for 100 pounds of health grit. I find this grit the best on the market for pigeons. I cannot say too much for it as it keeps the pigeons in fine health. Although the price is high I would never be without it. I have quite a few people that want to get this grit from me. Can you let me have it cheaper, so that I can make something out of it? Answer and let me know.—R. O., New Jersey.
BIG SQUAB FARM WHOSE OWNER BOUGHT HIS BREEDERS OF US. _I visited a squab farm last Sunday and before I left found that the owner bought his breeders of your company, five hundred pairs. He has 1100 pairs at present and is making a fortune. After seeing this farm I was more than cone vinced that the Plymouth Rock Squab Co. is O. K. If I get as good a lot of birds as he has I certainly will be pleased.
Iam sorry that I did not figure on handling more birds than I did. Have built house to accommodate 100 birds. Enciosed find stamps for which please send plans and specifications for squab houses. No doubt you will receive a larger order from me in a short time. Will notify you in a few days when to ship birds.
a TR a a re TE Beware of anybody who tries to make a sale to you by running down the Plymouth Rock
Squab Co.
Insist that he show you letters like these in proof of his claims. 183
1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906
STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW.
THEY WERE RECEIVED BY
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. —-—__—_———————————
I want to have everything complete before I have them shipped.—I. S., New York. ;
HAS TRIED THEM AND KNOWS. I am at present debating with myself and with some of my relations in regard to starting in the pigeon business. My folks are trying to persuade me that it is going to cost too much to start, and that I will not realize any great profits very soon. As I see, and at the best I can figure it out, it will take about $100 to start in with fifty pairs of breeders and builda home to accommodate them, getting the price of building down as low as possible with lum- ber at its present price. What I want to know is, do you think it would pay me to start and about how long do you think it would take to get back the amount paid out if I relied entirely on the birds?
I think I could get it back in four months at the most, because I have three pairs I pur- chased of you in January, besides the young ones Ihave raised. I have watched and studied their ways and know something about them. I know how fast they breed, etc. Now am I right in my estimation as to the time it would take to regain my money and would you advise me to start if possible? My birds I have now are doing fine.—S. A., Massachusetts.
MANURE FOR SALE. Will you please give me the address of some firm to which I can sell my pigeon manure? My pigeons are doing well this spring.—T. O., New York.
RHODE ISLAND SUCCESS. I am enclos- ing money order for which kindly send me enclosed supplies. If this money order does not cover cost do not delay the grain but send me bill for extra. My birds are all doing finely.—B. O., Rhode Island.
THIS IS THE KIND OF PLAIN TALK ONE LIKES TO HEAR. I am finding out for my- self if there was money in squabs and I have found it to be true by other squab breeders, I was to a man’s place this afternoon and he said he had no trouble in selling his squabs for a good price. I guess the only trouble is people are sleeping half the time. That’s why they don’t know much about squab breeding. If a fellow doesn’t believe in squab breeding, all he has to do is to open his eyes and look around. I’ve been to a couple of bird shows and have seen nothing to go ahead of your birds yet. My friend was saying what nice birds they had at the show, and TI thought I would go down with him. We had to pay 25 cents to get in. After we looked at the birds, he said that mine would get the first prize if I would take them down. Then I found out that I have some of the biggest birds
in town. I would like to get some pictures taken and show you some of the birds I got from yours. I found your book to be a book anybody can read and knows what he is read- ing about. Everything is so plain—what a beginner wants to know about breeding birds. I was thinking of sending you my third order. If I do, it will be next week. Hoping vou are doing a good business. My birds are doing fine. Your birds are the best breeders and I won't take any others.—S. C. H., Wisconsin.
NEST BOWLS ALL RIGHT. Please find a money order for one dozen more of your nest bowls. They are O. K. Put them in the house one evening and on going in the next found that a pair had already taken posses- sion and started a nest. Have 11 pair setting on eggs and they are doing fine. I intend to purchase more from you later as I am going to build a unit to start this spring and enclose money for your plans for squab houses. Wishing you every success.—W. A., Massa- chusetts.
ENLARGING. Enclosed find check for which please send me seven pairs of your Extra Homers and one dozen fibre nests. Send by American express. This time I would like to have different colored birds. The birds and supplies you sent me in Janu- ary came in good shape. I was well pleased with same. Am thinking some of putting in 50 or 100 pairs more this summer if I can arrange for another house.—H. B., Indiana.
BEST EVER SEEN IN OKLAHOMA.
Enclosed please find money order for which send me your best Extra Homers as specified. Send all blue-speckled birds, as shown on tight of special offer sheet. Your last ship- ment of birds are fine ones and every one that has seen them say they are the finest they ever saw. Trusting these will be the same or better and that I may receive them at your earliest convenience.—W. H., Oklahoma.
BUYING MORE AFTER ONE YEAR’S EXPERIENCE. A little over a year ago, I bought 24 pairs of your pigeons. Now I wish to buy 300 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and am fixing a house for them and will be in shape to receive 75 pairs a month, say March 1, April 1, May 1 and June 1. I see that $1.70 per pair is your price in lots of 300 pairs and upwards. I should want the best birds as I believe they are the cheapest. Now if this arrangement is all right, you can let me_know and I will send yeu $127.50 for the first 75 pairs. I want your best birds.—E. F., Ohio.
Is there anybody in your town who has failed at squab raising? Some play at: pigeons
as they would with a new toy, then give them up.
184
them and not with the pigeons,
If they bought of us the trouble is with
ee
APPENDIX D
(Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice)
Squab market prospects for 1908 and 1909 are excellent, as encouraging as they ever have been — always a hungry demand.
To keep the subject up to date we give on the following pages a fresh lot of facts bearing on the industry.
We have pictures mostly contributed by customers to whom we have sold breeding stock.
During the past ten years the demand for squabs has more than kept pace with the supply and this is true today (January, 1908) although the supply has been systemized by us and enormously increased, for in this period we have sold over half a million Homers, and we estimate that now there are breeding on the Western Continent, from these Plymouth Rock Homers, at least two million pairs of Homers. The squabs from these Homers bred from stock originally sold by us are in every market on this continent where poultry is sold.
These figures show what we have done for the squab industry, and they are conservative. In fact, before we began shipping breeding stock, the squab business was of no volume. Our methods and our birds have created this new vast industry. Our efforts, of course, would have been useless without the co-operation of a large and enthusiastic body of customers, whose Joyalty is our pride and satisfaction.
Let the good work goon. More people are going to eat squabs. Squabs for dinner are now a settled habit with hundreds of thousands of families. Our advertising constantly in the best periodicals suggests every week to many new people that squabs are a new delicacy for their tables, and thus the demand grows.
We print on left-hand pages immediately following letters received in December, 1907, from three representative New York squab buyers, Messrs. Silz, McLaughlin and Heineman. We have selected these to show the present eager market for squabs bred from our birds. They were written by these dealers when prices for everything were temporarily set back by the short-term panic. Prices for squabs during 1908 and 1909 will be as high or higher than in any previous year.
We have selected these New York marketmen for reference because they have been largely instrumental in working with us to standardize and develop the national squab market. Mr. McLaughlin’s system of grading by weight per dozen is now in common use not only in his own city but all over the United States. Refuse to ship your squabs to anybody who offers you a small price based on count. Grade your squabs by weight and get what you are entitled to for the big squabs bred from our birds. Weigh them yourself and you will know just what you will get from the dealer.
You will see in Mr. Silz’s letter that he is pleased to get squabs from our birds because they are so much better. Mr. McLaughlin advises our breeders, and to keep free from other kinds. Messrs. Heineman advise the use of nothing but our best breed of birds. This is expert testi- mony by practical business men who control the squab trade in the largest city in America,
Knapp & Van Nostrand, 208 to 243 Washington street, New York City, write us under date of December 4, 1907, stating that they are paying the following prices for squabs. (This firm divides with the three others above mentioned the greater part of the enormous New York squab trade). ‘‘ Ten to twelve pounds to the dozen, $4.50; nine pounds to the dozen, $4.00: eight pounds, $3.25.” Their letter continues: ‘‘ We receive and sell hundreds of dozens every week. Squabs from shippers mentioning your company compare favorably with general receipts. Sales have increased in New York.”
When customers of curs wish to begin shipping squabs to the four firms above mentioned. or any other New York squab dealer, we give letters of introduction which will smooth the way for them. ;
185
1907. MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
No matter in what part of the United States or Canada you live, we will put you in touch with your nearest best squab buyer, provided of course you have not a private trade of your own, which always pays best. In Pittsburg, for example. there is a concern which has a very large trade and is constantly after good squabs. They write us: ‘‘For eight-pound squabs we are paying $3.00 a dozen, nine-pound $4.25 a dozen. When communicating with your custom- ers, kindly let them quote us price on the different sizes. We would like to get in touch with some shippers who can supply us the year around with what squabs we want. We can use 100 pounds to 150 pounds per week. Kindly put us in touch with some good shippers.”
A correspondent living in West 36th street, New York, writes us under date of October 12 1907, after personal investigation of the New York City markets: ‘“‘I am studying up the squab business, with the intention of going at it up at my home in Pennsylvania, when I can con- veniently see my way to it. Your statement about the market for the product in 1902-1903 still seems to hold good here in New York. I was down at Washington Market not long ago to inquire of commission men how the call for squabs runs. They all said that the supply hardly equals the demand. Many of them were selling or offering for sale little bony, discolored ne that would hardly tempt a starved cat. So when I am ready I shall talk business with you.”
In the first part of our Manual we quote prices in a great many cities in force in 1903 or thereabouts. We have not the space to follow the quotations in these cities year by year. What is true of New York is true of Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Fran- cisco, Seattle, Portland, all the large places. The demand everywhere continues eager at high prices as vou can readily find out for yourself if you live neara city. In your nearest city you will An Plymouth Rock squabs going in regularly to the dealers there and dominating the market.
We quote as follows the prices prevailing in New York City from the summer of 1907 to the end of the year. These quotations are not retail prices, remember, but are what a dealer paid breeders for supplying him with squabs. The first quotation, in each case, is for squabs weigh- ing ten pounds to the dozen. The second figure is for squabs weighing nine pounds to the
dozen. The third figure is for squabs weighing eight pounds to the dozen:
July Tc atvhle tayo oak pie gs Dest OO. $4.00 $3.20 July DD eats thas eee Wistar te 4.40 Binh el August Dewey eon g ence ath ewteierer ie 4.20 3.50 3.00 September On eivnn mien eie eeeco oF D0 PRT) September G0 tis ssler sq) etieria csi 1s 200) Seiko 3.00 October TAs stcayeeg Gait Seana actonae patean anh) 3.85 3.25 Novermbet. 4 ainsi aka recele saat oe 00) 4.00 telat) November. 183.5. ah sears ows «tiecantelo 4.00 3.50 December’ Weacegens peciewemeaee ena 3.60 3.20 Mecember (Qc wutqsd cs wossciere shee os 4.20 3.40 OeZo
The reader of all the quotations we print must be impressed that the chorus for the big squabs grows each year larger in volume and more insistent, Dealers want the big ones and to get them they offer the very attractive bait of substantially-increased prices. It is folly for anybody to start breeding squabs now with inferior birds, for his squabs (weighing six or seven pounds to the dozen) will be crowded to the back of the counter in every market and_ the breeder will have to be content with a price which will pay for the grain, perhaps, but little more. This is not unsupported talk by us, unfounded sayso, but, in the words of our ex-Presi- dent, is a condition and not a theory. We have actually supplied the breeding stock whose squabs now constitute the squab markets of the country and are making the weights and prices. Before we introduced the Plymouth Rock Extra Homers, there were in the New York or Philadelphia, or any markets, no Squabs weighing over eight pounds to the dozen. No such squabs were traded in because no such squabs existed, in commercial quantity. Now they are a the markets every day by thousands of dozens weighing from eight to twelve pounds to the
ozen.
The letters which we print on the following pages are selections from a large number received by us in 1907. These show a great many facts bearing upon all sides of the industry and we recommend their reading for the news they contain. Many of the writers note ways of their own showing original thinking and adaptation. We withhold the names and addresses of the writers for the business reasons stated so many times by us, but we assure new friends as well as old, that all are genuine, every one, written by real customers not connected with us in any way except by the sale of our birds and supplies to them. The original letters are filed at our office in Boston, where we will show them to anybody. If some one is holding back an order from us thinking that any letter here is ‘‘ made up,” and cannot come in person to Boston %o see these letters, as many do, we will pay the fee of his representative living in or near Boston for examining our files and reporting. Write us first. and we will convince you if given the opportunity.
y
a er a aay eet LETTERS RECEIVED FROM acta ay PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
READ THIS STORY OF SUCCESS BY A MAN 80 YEARS OLD. HE HAS DONE SOME ORIGINAL AND EFFECTIVE THINKING. NO BUILDINGS FOR HIM. HE USES AN ATTIC ROOM AND GETSTHERE.” Being old (80 years), failing sitht drove me out of a mechanical business and the prospect before me was to live and lean on my children. I had always been a lover and keeper of pigeons from boyhood until a few years since when the telephone, etc. came, and I killed all off. My daughter saw your advertisement in a magazine and sent for your booklet. I saw at a glance the chance offered. I knew you were telling only what was the exact truth about pigeons, and the pictures showed them to be the best kind for the purpose. Had I been 20 years younger, I would have gone into it with all my means, so as it was I made a very modest beginning.
In February, April and June you sent me three small lots, 40 in all, not your Extras. I put them in an attic where I had bitds before with nest-boxes, some hung up, some on the floor, any way to keep them apart. They soon began to work. Six pairs had eggs in a week. When squabs began to come six, seven or eight at a time, a butcher took them, and since then we have given him over three dozen in one week. He first paid at rate of $3 per dozen and has risen twice since to now, $3.75, and has not been pushed. My daughter takes them in and gets the cash as if they were gold or wheat. The butcher says it is not the size but a plump breast that tells; so they go large and small many times, between seven and eight pounds to the dozen, bled and dressed. Of course my stock has been increased by some getting out of nest, or saving some peculiar color. I keep those with odd markings and know them personally.
The first year the 18 pairs averaged eight pairs each. I do not keep them to be a month old as they would all be on the floor then and butcher looks for wool on head. Seeing none he says: ‘‘ How long has this been flying?’ So I send them at 24 or 25 days. The younger they go, the faster the old ones breed, as well as saving of feed. So since May, 1905, when I began with 18 pairs, I have sold 805 squabs and increased stock from 18 pairs to 56 pairs, and no stint of feed. Isell no manure.
You are right on feed question. Cabbage is good. I give (when I have it) lettuce, parsley and even marshmallow weed and sunflower seeds, but my birds avoid wheat, eating very fittle: They know me personally, come in from outside when I go in and get down under my
ects
My attic where I breed is a queer shape, with two places for them to get outside, and feed boxes on floor to give them a chance to hide from the others at times. The other 20 pairs are in an old wagon-house with the boxes over head to be away from rats, and a cat there most of the time. I suffer some from the makeshift pens I have. I need the arrangement you have, though I have a third place for the young unmated. When a pair in that place gets young, say 14 days old, I move pair (box and all) at night into one of the regular units and that fetches them.
But here comes what few and those only that know me will believe. In the course of this April and May seven pairs have had three eggs each. Three pairs hatched all and are gone to butcher. Two more are hatched and doing well and of the two to come, all eggs are good. Some have had one smaller than other two, then I take the small one and give it to another which has younger or some of same size. I am raising them all. The books say pigeons often have only one, but nothing about three. Are we getting a new breed? I have none for sale alive so this is no advertisement.
For squabs I have received in money just double what I spend for feed.—D. G. L., New York.
Note. There is a great deal of sound sense and experience in the ahove story of this valued customer, written by himself. Eighty years old, and with failing sight! Not much; he is young and keen. First, he had confidence that he was being tuld the truth by us and would get good birds, for he had known pigeons all his life. That is half the battle. He sold his squabs when they were plump, even if only three weeks old, before they had a chance to walk around and train off fat. He treated his birds so that they loved him.
His butcher had customers which evidently did not weigh the squabs. A small plump squab is good but a big, plump squab is what 99 dealers out of 100 are after, because they get much more money for them. The educated markets oncesupplied with the big ones do not fancy the smaller ones. Our customer if he had started with our Extras would not have been content to sell to the butcher, but would have looked up the butcher’s customers and received also the 50 per cent profit made by the butcher.
As to three squabs in a nest, this comes to pass, but we never knew so many cases in a flock
of this size at the same time. That was extraordinary. : : _ His practice of changing the smaller squab in a nest for a squab of size equal to the one remain- ing is common. With two squabs in the nest, if one grows larger than the other, this means he is stronger and is continually stealing the share of the parents’ food belonging to the little one.- Take the little one to another nest where there is a squab of its own size, bringing back a larger squab equal in size to the one in the first nest.
His story of success is that of a small flock. He simply makes a small lot, housed in a crude way, pay in profits a share of the running expenses of the home.
aS LETTERS RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMERS BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 187
CABLE ADDRESS
SiLzZ NCW YORK, pa
TELEPHONE Sas "4900 CHELS ER,
Mr. Elmer C. Rice,
Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Masse Dear Sir:-
In reply to your letter of Nov. 27th, the present prices on Squabs you will find on the enclosed card.
There will not be any let-up in the demand for Squabs if the prices remain normal. The season for all game closes with the end of this month so there will naturally be a better demand for Squabs after that time to take the place of game. We use from 175 dozen to 200 dozen stuabs each daye
Your Squabs are very much better than others, and I think you have accomplished wonders for the Squab industry, and every Squab raiser should feel grateful for your efforts in this line, and you could very appropriately be termed * KING ”" of the Squab business.
Wishing to assist you in your continued efforts to put the Squab business ahead, we are,
Very truly yours, A. SILZ, Ince, ~
T/B aos
188
It aa
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
THIS IS THE BREEDER OF WHOM WE WRITE AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 56 OF OUR MANUAL. HE FED WRONGLY AT THE START AND BLAMED US FOR NO RESULTS, BUT HE IS A GOOD FRIEND NOW AND HAS SEEN A GREAT LIGHT. I received the new Manual O.K. Accept my thanks. I think that it is up-to-date in every respect and in no way far-fetched, nothing but sensible, hard, experienced facts. I notice that you speak of a California breeder using nothing but wheat and a handful of hemp with no return for six months. I presume it was me yourefer to. Well, I deserved it, for “a guilty conscience needs no accuser.”’ I did not feed them enough to keep them alive. : }
Now, Mr. Rice, money will not buy the birds. They are beauties, so plump, bright and active; working all the time. Even now (September 11, 1907) they are in full force nest build- ing. I can point out lot of pairs which are now on their eighth lots of eggs. 1 would like to have any one show me that they have as good birds as [have. It would be a very hard matter to convince me that there are any birds as good as the Plymouth Rock Homers of Boston. In short, any one who fails with those birds should not blame the birds or Mr, Rice, for it is up to them to handle them right. Do not think, Mr. Rice, that I am “ fishing ”’ for something. Far from it. I am only speaking as my true conscience dictates, that there are no better birds
than yours. ounces. How is that? the goods.
We have just weighed six squabs and they tipped the scales at five pounds, 13 Some will say that Homers cannot do as well as that but I can show The only trouble is the best I can get is $3 a dozen and a private trade at that.
Have not had a chance to save over one dozen for breeders.
As regards move birds.
\ _I certainly want more of your birds and will want only Extras, as I will use the Extras exclusively for raising my breeding stock. for them, as I am going to build four more houses.
I will not be ready until spring Then I promise you a picture of my house
worthy to goin your book. All I ask of you is to wait until I have completed my plans.
Mr. Rice, I have some Maltese hen pigeons I wish to dispose of. are mated pairs and the rest young ones ranging from two months to seven months. could trade me your Homers for them, or find me a customer I should thank you.
onmiy kept them for fancy,
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN _ CALI- FORNIA WELL PLEASED. The four pairs of Homers shipped to me on October 2, 1907, arrived to-day in apparently first-class con- dition. The birds appear to be satisfactory in every respect. I than!< you for the extra pair; also for the supplies included. After the birds get to work I shall furnish you with a further report, and if I have occasion to order again, shall not forget your prompt and liberal treatment.—C. W. L., Register, United States Land Office, Department of the Interior, California.
BETTER AT $1.50 A PAIR THAN WHAT HE PAID OTHERS $2.50 A PAIR. SIX MORE ORDERS FOLLOW. I have received your Plymouth Rock pigeons which you sent me in perfect order. I am very much pleased with them. They are as good as the ones I bought of and for $2.50 per pair.—P. P., New York.
_ Note. The above customer has sent us in 1907 up to date (November) six orders.
ONE HUNDRED MILES IN FIVE HOURS
IN A STORM. Please send me one of your .
1907 catalogues. The birds that I received in April, 1906, are doing finely.. I broke them in at my loft. I flew one of them 100 miles, making the distance in five hours, in rain and storms. I will ship him 200 miles in. a few weeks with others of my birds. I think he will do fine in his 200-mile race.—J. M., Texas.
There are about 20. Three If you I have
Now I will close, wishing you the best of luck.—J. B. W., California.
SATISFIED AND BUYS MORE. Some time ago I ordered a half-dozen pairs of pig- eons from you; at the same time I! ordered six pairs from the I wish to say that I have now received all the birds and I have concluded that yours are the best. As soon as I get a little more ready money I expect to order more birds of you. It is my intention to build up a large flock just as soon as I can. lam perfectly satisfied in my dealing with you. You can publish any part of the above letter if you want to except the name of the other company.
(Later). Enclosed find check for $18 for pores pairs of your Carneaux.—L. T. P., New
ork,
FIVE PAIRS OUT OF SIX IN TWO WEEKS AFTER ARRIVAL PROVES FAST MATINGS. Received pigeons two weeks ago. I think the Extras are far ahead of anything I have ever seen. I have had mine only two weeks and five pairs have already gone to work.
Enclosed please find stamps for 37 cents for which send me by mail two feet of alum- inum tubing.—T. J. S., Iowa.
BREEDING WELL IN TEXAS. I am doing fine with my pigeons and I think they are the best kind. I started with 14 in November and now (June, 1907), I have about 66. They are doing fine. J have sc many that I will have to order some wood- fibre nestbowls. Find enclosed $3.84 for which send me four dozen wood-fibre nest- bowls.—W. P. C., Texas.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 189
TEL. 1288 FRANKLIN, References:—All Commercial Agencies.
Win. R. McLaughlin
COMMISSION MERCHANT
Poultry, Eggs, Game, Squabs, Calves Etc. 362 GREENWICH STREET
NEW YORK November 29, 1907 Elmer C. Rice, Esq., Treasurer Plymouth Reck Squab CO., Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 27th duly received. I am pleased to hear from you once more. If beginners will stick to your breeders, they will have no cause to complain as to size, quantity and quality of squabs, and net profits they receive from same.
The demand is still good for all the fancy white large squabs we can get, and the market’ has kept at uniform price for a long time.
In fact, since the new season started, there has been very little change in price.
The small and mixed lots we must sell to out of town trade where everything looking like a@ squab zoes at a price; while the city trade want the larger bird and are willing to pay for them.
Many do not buy enpugh breeders at the start so that they can ship a fair sized lot.
I can use daily all the squabs I can get and do not look for prices to go any lower during the winter,---if anything, quite some advance.
I think if any two need any praising as to results brought about, and profits to raisers, it is you and myself, as I was the first to in- troduce selling by weight according to size, and was laughed at for trying, even by those who would not now admit the change more than doubled their output. The one who does not like the change is the speculator who got the large birds for nothing, and the small birds at their actual value, and made the extra profit when selling to consumers.
I would advise beginners to get a quantity of your breeders; keep free from other kinds. They will have no cause to find fault with results, and will always have a market and demand at gocd prices, for they can raise and ship at any time of the year. Send me the names of* your customers yourself and I will post them as to the market, and send shipping cards.
Yours truly,
Lf OM Zinghl
190
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
STARTED WITH 12 PAIRS AND BRED THEM TO 100 PAIRS. ENLARGING BUILDINGS STEADILY. HAS COMPARED PLYMOUTH ROCKS WITH MANY AND FOUND NONE SUPERIOR. Your letter of October 24, 1907, received, and wish to thank you for the informa- tion furnished. Two years ago I built a pigeon house ten feet by 20 feet, nine feet high with a 20-foot fly, dividing the house and fly with wire screen, making two compartments. I purchased six pairs of your Homers in September and six pairs more of you in February. To my surprise, three of these pairs started building their nests the day after their arrival, and, in fact, the 12 pairs went into the business of raising squabs and have been in the business ever since. I now have 100 pairs of the finest birds in the country; no question about that, as I have made it a point to visit quite a number of places to compare birds. and I am satisfied with my birds, if they are with theirs.
Last winter I built another house of the same dimensions as given above, building at the lower end of the.original fly. I took the wire screen from the end of the fly, and with it divided the fly into four parts, thus saving the expense of building a fly for the new house, and the birds do just as well with a ten-foot as with a 20-foot fly, I imagine. The total cost of the two houses and birds was about $175.
It is my intention to sell squabs this winter (1907-1908) while prices are high, keeping the squabs hatched during the summer months for breeders, and saving the squabs from my best record birds as breeders, as I believe I will get even better results from them.
In my opinion the squab business is similar to other business enterprises, requiring patience and hard work at the start, and if a man is a “ quitter ”” he will make no more money in the squab business than in any other line,
I started in the business for the reason that I think there is good money in it. My ‘' feathered race-horses ’’ look good to me, and I am placing my money so that they come under the wire winners.
My advice to one starting in the squab business is to secure your birds and your Manual and then they will have started right. Will try and send you a picture of my place in the near
uture.—F. B., New York.
MAKES HIS HOBBY PAY WITH TEN- POUND SQUABS. My success with your birds is the resuit of following the instructions in your Manual. When I enter my squab- house, I always whistle so as not to frighten them too suddenly, and do not often take strangers into the loft. Am not troubled with lice. I disinfect about every two weeks.
My squabs will weigh one pound apiece, or from 10 to 12 pounds to the dozen. Of course, I do not ever expect tu be an extensive breeder, as I have not the room, but I can accommodate about 75 pairs, and make a uttle money on the side, and enjoy taking care of them. Pigeon keeping was always my hobby ever since I was ten years old. will say a good word for you and your birds at any time.—D. E. A., Illinois.
SMALL ORDER JUSTIFIES A LARGER ONE. The 13 pairs birds that you shipped to me in May have done su well that I feel justified in ordering four dozen more of your
xtra Homers and 17 1-3 dozen nestbowls for which I enclose check, Your birds have been here nine weeks last Saturday and I now have twenty-five squabs, one having died.—F. M. J., New York.
INTEREST SHOWN IN WELFARE OF CUSTOMERS. I am very much obliged for the information given me. Once again, I cannot too highly praise you for your prompt- ness and interest shown in the welfare of your customers. I intend ordering some more birds from you and would like to know the best time to get them.—M. A. C., New York.
ee LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPA
BETTER THAN ANY OTHER ST. LOUIS FLOCKS. I take this means to show you that I appreciate a fair, square deal such as you gave me. The birds are as you advertised them and are far superior in some respects to what you advertised. They are perfect pets and to my surprise they began building nests the second day after their arrival.
They are far superior to any flocks which I have seen in St. Louis and as soon as I can find a suitable site, will erect some modern build- ings according to your Manual and stock it with your birds. It will take several months to carry out my plans.—W. E. P., Missouri.
FOURTEEN-FOLD INCREASE IN ONE YEAR IN NEBRASKA. About a year ago my father, who lives in Crete, Nebraska, purchased ten pairs Extra Plymouth Rock pigeons from you. They have increased to over twelve dozen pairs. I wish to get the whole flock if it is practical to ship them here, so I am writing to you for advice on the subiect. Can you furnish shipping crates ?— C. B., Vermont.
HAS KEPT PIGEONS BEFORE AND KNOWS A GOOD LOT. The pigeons you shipped me arrived all right on Friday morn- ing. I notice the pairs were broken up (from the separation, I suppose) for four days, but they are now mating again. As I have kept pigeons before, I know a little about them. This is a good lot of pigeons and IL thank you for your promptness in shipping.— J. R.S., Maryland.
191
Telephone Call, 8261 Cortlandt.
Himeman J Ce,
COMMISSION MERCHANTS
Bruits, Produce and Poultry,
~ Southern Gegetables a Specialty. 273 & 275 WASHINGTON STREET.
AN York, December 4, 1921
Mr. HRimer C. Rice, Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir,
We wish to advise you on prices and general run of Squabs which a goodly number of breeders of your fancy Homer pigeons are shipping us. They are now selling from between $3.75 to $4.50 per dozen and, in all probability will go higher, as the winter advances. There igs a good demand for this kind of birds and we are receiving quite a deal of them. We can handle anywhere from one thousand to two thousand dozen a week ag bur trade constantly inquires for them. We can assure you that the breed of birds we get from our shippers are very fine and we notice @ large majority of these same shippers mention your hame.
The market at present wants squabs weighing between 9 and 11 lbs. to the dozen, and we would advise any beginner to use nothing but your best breed of birds, as they are the cheapest in the end to hin.
We thank you for your kind consideration and
past favors. We are
Very truly vours,
192
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
HOW TO PRESERVE, COLLECT, BAG AND SELL THE MANURE. HOW TO USE TOBACCO DUST FOR BOTH PIGEONS AND POULTRY. I have several hundred Homer pigeons raised entirely from stock purchased of you a little more than three years ago. I wish to write you to obtain information in regard to selling the manure. I have your National Standard Squab Book in which you say you ship to the tannery and obtain 60 cents a bushel. I would like to know how you ship it. In bags or barrels? The manure has always been used on our farm, but I have recently been deprived of my husband and need the money very much, and as I cannot do the farming that he has done, feel obliged to sell the manure. It is free from sand or sawdust. The most foreign substance will be feathers and some little nesting material that they have scattered around, as of course I should not try to sell the old nests that would be nearly all nesting material. The packing will have to be done by my daughter and myself. I have been told that it is bought by the bushel, but it would be a hard task to measure it all, as I am considerably over 60 years of age and very lame. I find the freight will be 21 cents per 100 from here and if I ship by weight it will be easier to measure it all by the bushel and they would have to take the freight agent’s figures instead of my measure. I have quite a quantity. Haye measured up one bushel and found the weight .36 pounds, which at that rate would take only three bushels to weigh a little more than 100 pounds and
I think I have 30 bushels or more.—Mrs. M. W., Rhode Island.
Answer.
Feathers and common nesting material in the manure will not hurt it any in the
estimation of the tanners, but they like it free from gravel and from tobacco stems. The
stems will discolor the hides in the vats. of moisture in it. measure and use it.
It should be dried and then bagged. two bushels to a bag. Always ship in bags and get the bags back empty. ‘They are worth at
The manure varies in weight according to the amount
Buy a bushel
least five cents apiece even if second hand, as burlap has gone up. Squab raisers who use tobacco stems for nesting material cannot sell the manure to tanneries.
The only reason for using tobacco stems is to ward off possible lice.
The same result may
be attained when straw or pine needles are used by dusting the nests now and then with tobacco
dust.
pounds of tobacco powder for $2.
SOME AGREEABLE DISAPPOINTMENTS I have not written you since receipt of birds, consequently will send you a word at this time. My first agreeable disappointment
was the promptness with which you filled my order. I live 500 miles from Boston. I mailed my order for the pigeons at eight o’clock Wednesday morning and at five o’clock Friday evening the birds were waiting for me at the express office, just about 53 hours from the time I mailed my order until shipment was received. I had not expected to receive the shipment before eight days. The birds reached me in first-class condition— except fora few broken tail feathers you would have thought they had never been out of their native loft. They lost very little time in getting climated, for three days after turning them loose they were nesting and soon all were hatching.
In comparison with other Homers I have seen, everything is in favor of the Plymouth Rock breed. They are cleaner, better pro- portioned and less shy than any others I have seen. The squabs from these birds are everything an epicure could desire, big, fleshy and meat the whitest. I have only words of commendation for the stock of breeders you handle. I can only wish you increased sales of your excellent money makers. You are at liberty to use this letter to interest prospective customers or my name as a reference.—P. F., Pennsylvania.
We sell tobacco dust for 11 cents a pound. than many fancy lice powders selling for two or three times that price. In smaller quantities 11 cents a pound. powder will not injure the manure for tanneries.
It is equally good for poultry and is better We will supply 25 The use of this
TEN PAIRS OUT OF THIRTEEN SPLEN- DID PAIRS QUICKLY AT WORK. Our cheese maker at Aldenville, Penn., ordered thirteen pairs of Homers from you. We have encouraged his going into the business for the reason that several months of the year they are not busy at the trade and could just ag well care for a nice flock of Homers.
The thirteen pairs received from you a few weeks ago are splendid specimens and ten pairs are at work at present. Not being contented, we wanted to mix the blood and ordered thir- teen pairs from an imitation squab company. The birds came yesterday and we are so badly disappointed in them that we would like yery much to return them, and not mix with our high-class birds received from you. We want
-eventually to put in a few hundred pairs of
the party and will want from twenty to twenty-five pairs of your selected birds in a few weeks time. What will be the price and
can you give us a fine lot?—G. S., Penn- sylvania. RAPID BREEDING IN MICHIGAN. I pur:
chased of you last year three pairs Extra Piymouth Rock Homers and at this writing I have had them just one year and seven days and instead of having three pairs I now have 24 pairs that can fly besides a dozen squabs and as many eggs. What do you think about that? As I am in need of nestbowls, please send me three dozen of your wood fibre nest bowls.—R. E. F., Michigan.
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM CUSTOMERS BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 193
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1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
HIS FRIEND PURCHASED 12 PAIRS OF US THREE YEARS AGO, IS NOW SHIPPING SQUABS FROM 300 PAIRS AND CLEARED $1000 LAST YEAR, A HIRED MAN DOING THE
ORK. You uiave been recommended to me by a friend who three years ago purchased 12 pairs of Homers from you and he has to-day 300 pairs and cleared $1000 last year without any labor on his part. He simply instructed a common laborer.
I am very much interested in squab raising. I am now attending the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. I live in Chicago and it seems to me that would be a good market. The first six months I intend to raise for breeding purposes, and then if I succeed can put $200 or $300 more in squab raising. Do you consider this plan practical as I have outlined it?—G. C., Iowa.
Answer. Remarkable successes are being made by customers of ours who started with 12 pairs to 50 pairs and raised up their own birds. It is not wise, however, to start with less than 12 pairs of birds, unless your stock of patience is large and you can stand waiting for two or three years before getting returns for your money. The trouble with beginners who have
failed is that they have tried to do too much too fast.
RATS AND DIARRHOEA. As I am sure you are very good authority on the pigeon question, being first in the business and revolutionizing it, I hope you will not count it amiss or intruding for me to appeal to you (to use court language) for help and advice. We have lots of mice in our pigeon house. What could one use or do to kill or frighten them away with perfect safety? The second troublesome thing is what I call the shivers. The pigeons get to shaking violently and seem to lose nearly all interest in everything.
Your birds beat anything we have from else- where at most every “turn,” I might say. Indeed, some we have from another near by who gave us a written guarantee “ for health, good workers, heavy squabs, no canker and all mated birds,’’ proved in nearly every instance a sham, for they were not even mated except a few pairs, out of a hundred pairs, and died right along, and they were not mated for over a year after they came.
Yours are tame also, they will eat out of our hands. I think those broad-shouldered, thick-legged blue (with black broad bars over wings) are very good ones, We raised some nice breeders from them. A friend of ours at Marlton, New Jersey, spoke of getting nice birds of you. I have made interesting visits among the pigeon keepers in New Jersey.— Miss M. H. B., Pennsylvania.
Answer. Rats and mice, as we have ex- plained so many times, must be kept out by elevating the building. If it is impossible to do this, take one-inch mesh wire netting and bury it completely in the dirt floor, six inches deep. At the sides and corners bring it up above the sills of the building and fasten it with staples. This will give you a wire-net-
- ting carpet for your squab house (buried six inches under the ground), and through this barrier it is impossible for rats or mice to get. It is a hard task to exterminate them by poison or traps after they have once got in to an improperly-arranged place, and if you succeed they are bound to come again. Do it right by elevatine your building or burying wire netting and that will end the bother.
What this customer calls the shivers is diarrhcea caused by feeding too much wheat.
TWO PAIRS ONLY. I am going into the squab industry in a very small way to raise a few birds for our own use and find a pleasur- able occupation as an aside. I shall later want a few pairs of your birds. I bought some time ago ten pairs of another company, but so far am sure of only two pairs in the lot and they have given'me no little trouble.— Rev. G. B. L., Vermont.
NINE AND ONE-HALF POUNDS TO THE DOZEN AND SOLD FOR FOUR DOLLARS. Will you kindly inform me to whom to write about disposing of pigeon droppings. I made the first sale of squabs last week. They weighed nine and one-half pounds to the dozen, plucked, bled, empty crops. I received four dollars for them. Howis that?—F.H.S., Ohio.
GENERAL VERDICT. Please send me addresses of New York squab dealers. I received the three pairs of Extra Plymouths; all were in fine condition. My friends all say they never saw a nicer lot of Homers. I also thank you for the prompt shipment. I expect to send for another lot in about a month,—J. B. S., Pennsylvania.
SQUABS TWO WEEKS OLD WEIGHING THREE-QUARTERS OF A POUND IN COLORADO. Birds ordered of you some days ago reached me in pretty fair shape, with the exception of one male dead. Thank you for your splendid treatment to my order. Squabs from the first lot at two weeks weighed three-quarters of a pound. How is that? Will return baskets in a few days.— J. F. B., Colorado.
BEST BOOK ON BIRDS HE EVER READ. I received your Manual and find it just what you say. It is the best book on birds 1 ever read. I have a large plant of common pigeons but since I read your book I have built one of the prettiest pigeon houses and flying pens in which to put the pigecns J am ordering of you to-day. If your birds are as fine as you say I will get rid of all my common pigeons.—C. E. G., North Carolina.
essai ee LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 190
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
A GOOD-LOOKING ILLINOIS PLANT.
These are two of the buildings of the breeder whose letter is printed on this page. Notice his handsome white Homers.
LOST MONEY BY NOT KNOWING PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. NOW HE IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK. HE IS A TRAVELING SALESMAN AND HIS DAUGHTER DOES MOST OF THE WORK ON THiS BIG PLANT. SQUABS WEIGH ii POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. I have just completed my new squab unit according to your plans. Please find enclosed Adams Express money order for birds to fill same.
Other parties have been working on me for this order and I told them I would buy nothing but Extra Plymouth Rocks. (A burnt child dreads the fire.) I lost enough by experimenting with cheap birds when I began. Since I began buying of you I have had no trouble. The last three shipments I received from you cannot be beat for size, beauty and breeding qualities. About one-third of all the squabs I have sold in the past 12 months have averaged a little over 11 pounds to the dozen. We have quite a lot of squabs that weighed a full sixteen ounces each,
Now, Mr. Rice, as long as you continue to ship me in the future as fine stock as you have in the past, I am with you and the Plymouth Rock Co., and “‘ the other fellow ” might just as well save his postage stamps and breath.
I have not lost a single old bird by death or disease in 14 months. We had three or four squabs picked badly. I found by taking the squabs away at three weeks of age and placing them in a small feeding pen and feeding hempseed for a week that they fatten awfully fast. What is your idea about that?
TI hope you will excuse this long letter. Every time I think about my experience at the start with all kinds of mixed up birds, I have “ brain storms ”’ and you can rest assured my talk over the country will be for nothing but Plymouth Rock birds. As you know I am a traveling man and ought to be a good talker. Consequently in order to repay you for favors in the past I often tell my experiences and how I lost money by not knowing Elmer Rice.
My oldest daughter does all our feeding and taking care of our birds and she is getting to be an expert pigeon keeper and delights in the pastime. We are figuring on increasing our flocks just as fast as we can until we get 2000 pairs.—S. S. H., Illinois.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 196
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
POOR WHEAT SET HIM BACK. HE SELLS ALL HE RAISES, THE SQUABS BEING ENGAGED BY CUSTOMERS EVEN WHILE THEY ARE ON THE NEST. I write to you for information concerning my flock of birds. I got my stock from you in 1904, and have been building up my flock. I got along finely with them until the latter part of last summer when I had the bad luck to lose about 20 or 25 of the old birds, which broke the mated pairs up. I would like to increase my flock to the full capacity of the house built from your unit plan, 12 by 16. I lay the loss of my birds to some poor wheat I got from the mill here that must have contained a good deal of erget that caused the females to die. I wrote to Mr. Rice at the time and he told me it was the wheat, at least I have had no more trouble since I commenced feeding first quality grain. The squabs weigh 12 to 14 pounds a dozen.
I herewith send an order for 12 females to balance my flock.
My original purchase of you in 1904 was six pairs Extra Plymouth Rocks. The birds arrived all safe and in good condition and attracted a good deal of attention at the time, for some of my friends put on a broad smile and have been expecting me to bust up in the pigeon business, but have been at it now for over two years and the order accompanying this don’t look much like it for I can sell all the squabs I can raise. They are even engaged before they are fit to take off the nest. I get 50 cents a pair just killed, and if I dress them ready for the oven I get 75 cents a pair in the local market. My squabs will weigh 12 or 14 pounds per dozen, and think it is on account of the way I am handling and feeding, for I find you cannot make meat unless you feed for it.
I make my own grit of glass and it has been very satisfactory. I keep a counle of bricks of salt cat in the house, also a codfish occasionally, and they are doing fine now, if I did have some bad luck, but then one must expect drawbacks in any kind of business.—A. D. D., Pennsylvania.
Note. You will never have sickness of any kind with pigeons if you provide sound grain and clean water. If your grain dealer needs watching, and has not vour interests at heart, examine especially the wheat and corn, tasting both. Some grain dealers will take whole corn which has germinated and make cracked corn of it. You can always tell sour grain by smell, taste and sight.
It is quite true, as this customer states, that feed is a facter in the weight of the squabs. Too much wheat keeps the old birds thin, and the sauabs dark and thin. Plenty of corn and peas makes the squabs fat.
DISPOSING OF THE SQUABS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN THEY REACH THE AGE OF 23 DAYS. RECEIVING THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN. Our order for 17 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers was placed with you early in March (1907) and the birds arrived and were placed in our pen about the 20th. They were all in good shape, having stood the trans- portation well, and made themselves entirely at home in their new quarters. The day follow- ing their arrival one of the hens laid, and from that time until now (June 24) the flock, as a whole, has worked splendidly, and results have far exceeded our expectations. At the present time 15 of the 17 pairs are at work, having either eggs or young squabs. We believe that every pair would have been at work, but two of our hens escaped, and we had to order two more to replace these, and this accident upset our flock considerably.
We find that the squabs will weigh from three-quarters to seven-eighths of a pound when they are three weeks and two or three days old, and we have been disposing of them at that age. No doubt, this fast growing is due to the equable climate which we have in South Carolina. We have no trouble in disposing of all our birds at that age at 25 cents apiece.
The pigeons do not require much of our time, and we are so thoroughly satisfied with our experience that we are considering ordering 20 more pairs in the next few days.—Mrs. C. B., South Carolina.
SQUABS WEIGHING FOURTEEN TO SIXTEEN OUNCES. It is now July, 1907, six months since we purchased from you 44 pairs of your Extra Homers. (Ccven pairs met with accidents, because they were disturbed several times on account of the plant not being finished. The remaining 37 pairs are in every way satisfactory. We have at present 11 pairs on eggs and 21 squabs. On account of not having too much room for the birds and also to answer the many demands of our sick, we are killing the squabs at three to four weeks when we find them to weigh 14 to 16 ounces, and at which time the mature birds are again breeding.—S. E.,*Illinois.
RECEIVES $4.20 A DOZEN. My squabs from your birds weigh when dressed nine pounds to the dozen and I receive at the rate
of $4.20 per dozen for them. I have fed corn, wheat, peas and millet, buckwheat and bread. I have had success by letting the squabs on the floor when they are four weeks old, that is, when I am going to keep them for breeders. They are not troubled by the other birds and they feed themselves sooner and the old birds get to work earlier. I have had no sickness or lice. Your Manual is all right and is good for the starter and experienced.—P. E. D., Dis- trict of Columbia.
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SHOWING CONSTRUCTION IN FLORIDA.
This buildine, part of the plant of a Florida customer, is built of only one thickness of lumber. Only the roof is shingled. No glass windows are needed, The climate of the South is exceptionally good for squab breeding.
SUCCESSFUL FLORIDA SQUAB FARMER SAYS THE CLIMATE OF HIS STATE CANNOT BE BEAT. LIKES THE CARNEAUX. The Carneaux arrived here yesterday. I am much pleased with them. They show more white than the birds which my mother sent me from France and are larger. The more I see of the Carneaux, the more I like them, and wish I had nothing but them in my squab farm. I believe there is going to be a tremendous run on them as breeders.
My Homers are mated and all hard at work. I was fool enough last spring of 1906 to band the mated birds of that season with colored bands, blue for cocks, red for hens. The bands I bought from —————, who guarznteed that they would last a lifetime. I note at least one- third have broken and come off. I shall have to reband 300 pairs over again. No more colored bands for me.
Enclosed find check, for which send as specified. You will be glad to hear that Iam making a success of the squab business, and now have 700 mated pairs. As soon as the fall commences and the price of eight to nine pound squabs advances from its present low standing here, I am thinking of starting to ship to the New York markets. In this Southern climate our birds work better and faster, produce far better grade of squabs in the winter and spring months than in the summer; while I understand with you the summer is your best time. I believe ovr Florida climate cannot be beat for squab farming.
Tf I like and find out that the Carneau is all it is cracked up to be, 50 per cent of my Homers will be replaced gradually by them,—W. B. W., Florida.
HEALTHY, RUGGED BIRDS. Enclosed HIS FATHER IN IOWA LIKES THEM. please find draft for $11.52 for one gross of My father at Des Moines, Iowa, is breeding your nappies. The birds I got of you last your birds and likes them very much. Please spring are all right. I have not lost a one send me present price on 10 and 20 pairs with sickness or any other cause.—A. M. J., Homers. I want the best that I can get Iowa. regardless of cost.—C. H. D., Illinois.
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KNOWS BY EXPERIENCE THERE IS MONEY IN PIGEONS. MANUAL “ AWFUL GOOD.” I trust you will pardon my tardi- ness in answering your letter with reference to the new National Standard Squab Book. Of course I want this book. I do not send for these books through any idle curiosity. I have kept pigeons and I know there is money in them if they are properly looked after. I want to get back in the pigeon business after the first of the year, and intend to do so, and I want to start with the best birds I can get. I think the National Standard Squab Book very fine. It is ‘“‘ awful good.” More
leasure and satisfaction than I can express.
on’t know of any improvements you could make, unless you went ahead and said the same thing over again. I enclose 20 cents in stamps for your new 1907-1908 Manual. I also send by this mail, under separate cover, the old Manual.
I intended to purchase some of your birds when I sent for your book, but conditions have been such that it has been impossible. Can’t say exactly when, but will buy some of your birds soon.
The main reason I haven’t bought some of your birds is because I haven’t had any place to keep them. I have kept pigeons all my life, know a great deal about their habits, and above all, I am very fond of them. How- ever, I had to dispose of all the birds I had about 18 months ago, and since that time I haven’t had the room to keep them. I had to dispose of them on account of having to leave Atlanta. My lease on my present home runs out about January 10, 1908, at which time I expect to buy me a place with large premises, where I can keep pigeons, as I made a good deal of money on then during my school days, and believe I can do so now as a side line if nothing more,—M. R. L., Georgia,
PLEASED WITH YOUR BUSINESS METHODS AND BUYING STEADILY. I have never seen a more likely lot of pigeons, and as I have room enough for another 10 pairs, I enclose P. O. order and I hope that before the next batch arrives I shall be ready for fifty more pairs. am very much pleased with the manner in which the Ply- mouth Rock Squab Co. does business.— R. W. J., Virginia.
MAKING THEM PAY AS HE GOES ALONG. I now have seventy. One year ago last March I bought six pairs from you. I want a better start before I sell very many, but I make them pav for their feed.. Your Manual is ‘‘the goods.’”’—D. E., Illinois.
HIS HOMERS LOOK LIKE PYGMIES ALONGSIDE PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS. I have 60 Homers, but they look like pygmies alongside of your birds —F. W. D.
OUR HOMERS MORE THAN WE CLAIM FOR THEM. Your Homers are more than you claim for them. At least mine are.
hey are models of beauty and are very large. I was skeptical at first, but I am thoroughly convinced that the Homer is the only bird. Some of my Homers are as large as the white Italian birds that I purchased from you. The squabs are fine large fellows and I am sure that a nice flock of Homers beats a drove of chickens for meat, either for home or market use. I shall take pleasure in recom- mending your birds to my friends and prospective buyers. Please find enclosed 50 cents for another Manual.—M. A., Kansas.
HOMER HEN SITTING ON EGGS.
PIGEONS CRAVE GREEN FOOD. I bought of you June 20, 1906, 24 pairs of your Homers. I have lost three birds, all of my raising, and now have 100 pairs (April, 1907). They all seem to crave something green to eat. What would you advise? Shall I feed them any green foods? I am giving them kaffir corn, a few peas, wheat and cracked corn.—F., M. P., Georgia.
Answer. Yes, throw some lettuce or any green leaves on to the squab-house floor occasionally, say twice a week, and let them peck away at them to suit themselves.
WISHES TO GET PIGEONS OF SUPERIOR QUALITY. You may hear from a gentleman, Mr John Fyle. Send him some of yort literature, as I will always recommend your stock to all who expect to go into the squab ‘usiness. This Mr. Fyle has pigeons, but of an inferior quality, and having been_ told. about mine, wants some like I have.—R. S., Maryland.
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LIGHTED BY ELECTRICITY AND HEATED BY STEAM.
This shows part of the up-to-date plant of the ‘customer in New York State whose letter is printed on this page. The birds hanging in front of the brown paper are squabs just killed to-get them into the picture.
PAYING PLANT IN HANDSOME BUILD- INGS. I enclose photograph showing my four units and office room. The building is made of matched lumber so that they are ab- solutely air-tight if so desired. It is equipped with steam heat, electric light, hot and cold water and both telephone systems. In the office room the grain bins are zinc-lined and moisture proof. The top is upholstered so that when the lid is down the room has a very pleasant appearance.
I have today broken ground for two more units, as my young birds are coming on so fast that I must make room for them. Be- sides supplying the Elmira market, I am sav- ing my most promising young ones in order to increase my flock.
T have bought from you exclusively because I liked your business methods and believe you are fair and square. Your birds are good breeders and throw heavy, white-skinned squabs. Business is good and as fast as I make oy I enlarge my plant.—L. S. W., New Yor
SOME AT WORK AFTER LONG JOUR- NEY. The pigeons (dozen pairs) arrived, August 12, in good condition with the excep- tion that two of them had each one wing hurt. I have waited to see how badly they were hurt before writing, but think they will pull through all right for one of them has taken a mate and is building on the floor of the pigeon house. Five pairs of them are building and three pairs are driving, while several others are paired off.—B. V., State of Washington.
FINEST BIRDS PERFECTLY MATED. CHANGED HIS HOUSES. I want to tell you about my birds. I received them the Satur- day of the week you shipped them, turned them out on Monday and they went right to building. I have got three setting and I see the others are starting to build. They went right to work without any trouble. They go into the house every night just as if they were raised there. They are the finest birds I ever saw. I have just finished another large pigeon house and flying pen and I have put my white ones into it. Since I read your Manual I have changed most all my pigeon houses. I find they are so much better than mine. If any one is going into the pigeon business I would advise them to get one of your books on birds. I am sorry I did not get one longago. Just as soon as I can get rid of my common pigeons I want to replace them with yours. I have got to build another pigeon house and it will be about October before I get through with it, and I shall need nestbowls and other supplies.—C. E. G., North Carolina,
SMALL ORDER FOLLOWED BY LARGER. Enclosed you will find an express money order, for which please ship me the following: 12 pairs Extra Homers, one dozen wood-fibre bowls, 25 pounds hempseed, 100 pounds Canada peas. Please ship as soon as possible. The three pairs of Extra Homers you sent Tuesday reached here Thursday in fine condition. Thank you for your prompt shipment.—G. J. A., New Jersey.
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NEW JERSEY WOMAN RECEIVES $4.00 TO $7.00 A DOZEN FOR SQUABS FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS. From the six pairs of birds I bought from you in 1905 and the extra pair you kindly gave me I have raised 215 birds. My squabs average 11 pounds to the dozen, sometimes more. The birds work all the time. They breed on the average of mine pairs every year.
I have never had to give them a drop of medicine since I have had themas they keep in perfect health. ‘
I have lost about five pairs of squabs from the rats getting them, but never any from sickness.
I have built my coops after your suggestions in your book, The National Standard Squab Book, and am not troubled any more from rats. I have never seen any birds to compare with mine in size. I have seen hundreds of pigeons but every one praises mine upand remarks how iarge, full and broad they are across the breast.
So far I have been selling my squabs here in town. They bring from $4.00 to $7.00 per dozen, according to the time of year. This price I get for them right out of the nest without killing or picking.
I feed kaffir corn, cracked corn and wheat every morning, and every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday I give them hemp seed and Canada peas (on trays) as much as they will eat. They have fresh water twice a day in summer and once in winter and once every week I scalA out their drinking fountains with hot water to keep them sweet and clean.
I have one box of grit and one of oyster shells in the coop all the time and instead of putting it on the yard floor I put it in boxes. I also have a lump of rock salt and a salt-cat in each coop made as directed in your Manual. Once a week I clean their coops and take the white- wash pail in with me and whitewash the boxes out and sprinkle slaked lime on the floors of the coops and the yards.
Your book has been a great help to me, and I have read it over many times and try to follow its directions in every particular. ,
I am thoroughly satisfied with my birds and feel I have had great success with them and would not have any other breed or kind were they to be given to me free. I am now ordering 30 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, same as I got before in 1905, making $75.00 worth, at the rate of $2.50 per pair. I enclose check for same, $75.00.—Mrs. S. V. F., New Jersey.
QUICK START BY A 700-PAIR FLOCK. In January and February, 1907, a customer in the Mississippi valley bought 700 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. On arrival of the birds he wrote: “ They are as fine a lot of thoroughbreds as Jeversaw. You deserve the success you enjoy for your business methods.”’
The last consignment left us February 4 and reached him February 8. Nineteen days later he wrote us: “Our birds are doing very well. Have 400 pairs of eggs and squabs in the house, and probably 50 pairs driving. If the market will take all of our supply next month, we will put up another house at once and buy the birds of you, for you have always been fair and just with me.”
On March 5 he wrote: ‘‘ Our squab house is a mass of squabs and eggs. The birds were at work within three days after placing them in their rooms, which shows that the wood fibre bowls and surroundings suited them, and that they were properly mated. The special lot of 50 pairs is the most remarkable pen we have ever seen. In 30 days after their arrival, there were 40 pairs on eggs. We feel it our duty to compliment you on your fair, honorable and just dealings with us.”
SIX DOLLARS A DOZEN IN CANADA FOR SQUABS WEIGHING NEARLY ONE POUND EACH. About two years ago I purchased |from you 15 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. They have given excellent satisfaction in every way. All the squabs raised in two summers weighed 10-12 pounds to the dozen and at all times I was able to get $6.00 per dozen for them, indeed, I could not nearly supply the demand. I had offers to supply one of the largest hotels in Canada if I had enough stock,
I think I am as enthusiastic a squab raiser as can be found. I have always kept fancy pigeons for pleasure, but never until I raised these from you have I raised squabs to sell.—A. M.,
anada.
INCREASE TWENTY-ONE FOLD IN TWO YEARS IN OKLAHOMA. Would you please inform me where to ship the pigeon manure to a tannery? We have 200 pairs and we have burned 15 bushels this year. As I heard that you shipped the manure, I thought that I would write to you for my information. We are thinking of getting some more pigeons from you. Two years ago the 15th of February we got 11 pairs from your Company and now we have 231 pairs from those 11 pairs.—C. O. L., OkJahoma.
BIG FLOCK IN KANSAS BRED FROM SMALL BEGINNING. Some two years ago I pur- chased from you 38 Homer pigeons. I now havea pen of 500 of the nicest birds in this locality. {i am expecting to build larger pens and divide the bunch, and I wish to get all the printed matter I can on the subject of squab breeding, also all the information you can give me by letter regarding the mating of birds, even if I have to pay a reasonable fee. Please let me hear from you by return mail and oblige —G. G., Kansas.
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ON A POLE AT TOP OF FLYING PEN. INDIANA WOMAN WON FIRST PRIZE AT HER FAIR. QUICK INCREASE IN SMALL
FLOCK. HOW SHE FEEDS THEM AND CARES FOR THEM. In the spring of 1907 I bought 15 pairs of your Plymouth Rock Homers. In March they started to build their nests. At present (October) I have 82 young squabs with eight pairs on eggs. When the squabs are four weeks old they weigh 14 to 16 ounces apiece. They are very rich eating. One pair of birds raised me from six to seven pairs of young squabs (in less than eight months). When the squabs are two weeks old I clean their nestbowls out twice a week. Twice a week I sprinkle slaked lime around. I use tobacco stems, Also every day I give my coop a good cleaning. I have no kind of lice. I sprinkle a little slaked lime on the floor. I have a good many visitors. They say, how can you keep it so clean? Mr. Kline, Mr. Martin and several others were here to fook at my birds. They thought they were fine. Some of my young birds are larger than some of the old birds. Some of the young birds have raised some young squabs for the second time, of which the first eggs were no good. I feed my birds in the morning. I give cracked corn, wheat, kaffir corn, buckwheat and barley, all mixed together and feed fresh water, plenty of it. Also their morning bath. This is their morning feed. At noon they get lettuce or cabbage leaves or Swiss chard. They are very fond of dry bread or cake. In the evening I feed the same as the morning feed except I scald a little oats; when cold, I mix it with the other feed. I put a teaspoonful of carbolic acid in their drinking water once a month. Iam feeding sunflower seed once a week. When my young birds are six weeks old I pull their tail feathers out. I find out they do better. It seems to help them to shed their feathers quicker. I band my birds when four weeks old and place them in another coop, My coop is 16 feet long, 12 feet high, 10 feet wide, with a double floor with tar paper between, also it is lined with tar paper and has three large windows in it. I have 132 nest boxes. They are 12 inches square. I build them like you have them in your squab book. I would like to send you a picture of the squab house, but I planted lima beans and spun them up the wire. I will send you a picture later on. I got first prize at the fair. I have seen several kinds of pigeons but they don’t compare with mine in size and weight.
We eat squabs about every Sunday. I make pot pie, also I have soup. I make what you might call noodle soup. They are the best stuffed with dressing made with one egg, one onion cut fine, little parsley, pinch of salt and pepper, a little grated nutmeg, the hearts and gizzards of the birds and bread broken in small pieces, water enough to moisten., This is enough for three birds to dress.—Mrs. 8. B.. Indiana.
MOVED HIS FLOCK, BUYING MORE. About a year ago, I purchased 12 pairs of Homer pigeons from you. At that time I was located at Lowder, Ill. About February 15. this year (1907) I moved them from Lowder to Waverly, which is about eight miles. I now have 34 pairs. Will be in the market for more birds at once. Also quote me prices on supplies.—G. C. H., Illinois.
ONE-POUND SQUABS. NEVER LESS THAN $3 AND AS HIGH AS $4.50 A DOZEN OBTAINED IN SOUTH DAKOTA. In Sep- tember, 1905, I bought some Homer pigeons from you. Most all squabs that I have raised from your Extra Homers weigh one pound at five weeks old and I have got as high as $4.50 per dozen for them, never less than $3 per dozen. You may use this information as it is correct.—J. H. K., South Dakota.
NO AILING PIGEONS. Well, it has been some time since I received the 13 pairs pigeons from you and I will say I am quite well satisfied with them. They are all work- ing but two pair and I have quite a bunch of good healthy young ones in my rearing pen and think I] would have had more if I had given them more time and care, but I have too much other work.
I keep the house clean and have it white- washed, and don’t believe I have an ailing pigeon in the loft. I think I have some lice but they are not bad. I spray my lofts once or twice a week, being careful to choose a bright, warm day.—C. R., Illinois.
VERY FINE FLOCK. I purchased some of your Plymouth Rock Homers a few years ago. I have a very fine flock of birds now.— J. M. W., Pennsylvania.
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1907
FIRST PRIZE ON ONE PAIR, FIRST PRIZE ON COOP OF FOUR PAIRS, COMPETITION LIVELY AMONG SEVERAL HUNDRED BIRDS. I promised to write you about the birds when the Fair was over. I will do so now. (September, 1907.) I took first money on one pair, the speckled wing birds, and first prize ribbon on coop of four pairs. Three of the pairs I secured from you and one pair from my pen. The judge said that the hen bird was fine, but cock not so good. Of course I did not have time to trim them or fix them up for the occasion. I had to go up against several pigeon fanciers but came out with flying colors all the same. We had several hundred hirds of different kinds at the Fair. I informed several where those birds came from and how long Ihadthem. Hoping this will be as satisfactory to you as it is to me.— A. C. M., Maryland.
TOOK ONE PAIR TO EXHIBITION, WON FIRST PRIZE, WAS OFFERED FIVE DOLLARS FOR THEM, TURNED DOWN OFFER. It has been a long time since you have heard from me. In the first place, I must let you know that my birds are getting along very nicely..' 1 am very well pleased. I have 15 pairs of old birds and 75 young birds. I took one pair to the County Fair. They were red checkers. I received first prize. I was offered $5 for the pair of birds. I told that man that I would not sell my birds and that if he wanted any birds I would give him your address so he could buy some.—Mrs. B. A., Indiana.
BEST PAIR OF HOMERS IN THIS ALABAMA COUNTY EXHIBITION. ORDERS MORE BIRDS. Your favor of October 19, 1907, was duly received. In answer to your quesy about our winning the prize on our Homers at the County Fair, we will state your information is correct. We won the prize for the best pair of Homers with a pair of blacks we got from you.
We expect to make a better display at the next Annual Fair and if we see that we have a lot of prize winners we will probably enter them at the State Fair at Birmingham. We hope you will assist us in our efforts by sending us extra good birds in our next order.—C. O., Alabama.
TOOK 18 TO THE CENTRAL MAINE FAIR AND WON 11 PREMIUMS. I have over 100 pigeons on hand. _ I purchased three pairs of you at $2.50 per pair and bought two pairs of C. E. Melvin at $2 a pair, and this is the product of the two kinds. I took 18 of them to the Central Maine Fair at Waterville the past week (September, 1907) and got 11 premiums on the 18 birds. The others are all about the same, good, healthy birds.—S. A. P., Maine.
FIRST AND SECOND PREMIUMS AND SPECIAL COMMENDATION AT THIS ILLINOIS POULTRY SHOW. The pigeons you sent me obtained the first and second premiums at the poultry show with special commendation. I was informed the judges stated that one pair in particular would be very hard to beat anywhere. I thoroughly demonstrated that ‘‘ blood
tells.’—O. J., Illinois.
ANOTHER WON FIRST PRIZE AT AN ILLINOIS COUNTY FAIR. They have won first prize at the County Fair.
Homers bought. They are fine. for pigeon houses.—T. H. W., Illinois.
ONE CUSTOMER WON THE PRIZES AT THE FAIR WITH OUR BIRDS AND HIS NEIGHBOR WISHES TO GET SOMETHING TO BEAT THAT. Enclosed you will find money order for which please send me three pairs No. 1 Homers, one drinker and six bowls. Colors, one pair blue checkers, one pair reds and one pair blacks. Please send mated birds. Send some good birds because I want to beat your customer Mr. N. in the poultry show here soon. He got the prize at the Fair. I have some blue barred hens. Please send me all the circulars that you send out because I want to start in the business right.—B. R., Alabama.
COW PEAS SUBSTITUTED FOR CANADA PEAS. I enclose you what they call ‘‘ cow peas ”’ here to ask you if they are what you call “‘ Canada peas.’”? The pigeons I got of you are satisfactory in every respect. Will probably get more March 1.—D. H., Iilinois.
Answer. Cow peas are not Canada peas but they are fed largely to pigeons and if they are plentiful in your State, feed them.
I have some of your Send plans
BETTER BIRDS THAN ANY IN THE BIG POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW IN MONTANA. WANTED SOMEBODY HE COULD RELY ON FOR THE GENUINE. I am very well pleased with the stock I received to-day. They are the finest lot of pigeons I ever saw. I received your letter and direc- tions this mcrning and the pigeons this after- noon. Thank you for the prompt and careful selection you gave me. Many thanks for the extra pair of pigeons. They seemed glad to get out of the box. They look fine for the long trip and all perfectly well. I did not expect to see such fine birds for I did not know how they wouid get through the snow blockade in the Dakotas. Although I have seen only one letter from your customers in Montana, I think that if I follow your direc- tions closely, I can make a success of it. There ought to be a good market here and in the big poultry and piceon show there were none could stand beside these. The “ National Standard Squab Book ” convinced me that T wanted somebody I could rely upon for the genuine.—M. G. S., Montana.
NGS SE LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SOQUAB COMPANY 2038 ;
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
CHEAPEST POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION. Single boarding, covered with roofing, no shingles. The long, shallow wood trough is for the birds to bathe in.
The water enters from a faucet in the foreground. After the birds have bathed, the water is emptied by pulling a plug at the end. The trough is cleaned with a broom. The man who sends this photograph writes: “TI raised 1650 young ones from March 1, 1907 to July 1, 1907 (four months) from 450 pairs of breeders in this building.’’
MADE A TRIP SOUTH AS FAR AS VIRGINIA AND FOUND OUR BIRDS THE BEST ALL ALONG THE LINE. NONE OTHERS ANYWHERE NEAR THEIR EQUAL FOR SIZE AND
UALITY. I have sold lots of squabs this summer. i average about 800 a month. Besides that I have worked up a little side trade in selling mated birds, but only the very large ones, such as I raise myself. Such orders bring me $3 a pair. I can’t raise them fast enough to supply my trade, but I guarantee to do what is right by them all.
I can say the credit is yours for supplying me with the old birds, as you did, but I only wish I had sense enough to have held on to all I ever got from you. Mr. Rice, I claim to have raised the largest Homers that any man can raise.
I visited a plant in Pennsylvania. While I was there I was also down to Philadelphia and Delaware as far as Virginia and I saw your fine birds all along as I went, but none others were anywhere near their equal as far as size and quality went.
I will take the largest Homers you have to-day and breed them in my coops and raise the young ones myself, and the young birds will be larger than the old ones, but that is experience that does that.—L. Y., Connecticut.
WHY WE HAVE MADE A SUCCESS. I CANADA CUSTOMER FINDS PROFIT-
wish to thank you very much for the nice selection both in size and perfect marking. I readily see why it is you have made a success of Homer breeding. I have long since found a satisfied customer is by far the best advertis- ing medium in building a substantial business. T will give you my future orders. I hope to add frequently to my nice loft of birds. No ofi-color or inferior birds can exist in my pens. Wishing you success —W. B. T., Texas.
ABLE OCCUPATION. About six months ago I purchased from you seven pairs of your Extra mated adult Plymouth Rock Homer pigeons. Have had very good success with them. Starting with seven pairs, J have now (June, 4, 1907) fifty-six hardy Homers. I also got a Manual from you and find it very helpful. On the whole, I think squab rais- ing is one of the most profitable industries pursued to-day. You can publish this letter if you wish.—J. M., B. C., Canada.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
204
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
CONNECTICUT WOMAN’S BIRDS BREED BETTER THAN MANUAL STATES. SHE HAS SEEN ONLY ONE LOFT OF BIRDS AS GOOD AS HERS AND THAT MAN BOUGHT HIS STOCK OF US. I will give you a statement of the birds I received from you the 23d of April, 1907. My birds do very much better than you state in your Manual.
They arrived in perfect condition and are very large and beautiful, have always been perfectly healthy. There has never been only one that was sick and that wa’s caused from moulting and raising birds too fast. I took her away until she had recovered and her mate cared for the young birds. These birds lay when their young are from 12 to 21 days old.
Some of them are sitting on their fifth lot of eggs. They have hatched 48 young birds in four months and just three weeks, and expect more will hatch this week. Some of the young, ones are beautiful.
I have never had young birds remain in their nests over three weeks.
One pair build on the floor and-their birds leave their nest at 17 days old. These weigh at three weeks 14 ounces, others at ten days weigh one-half pound each, some at three weeks weigh one pound. erie
I have some that are very delicate from which I shall use for flying. These birds do not weigh but 14 ounces at four weeks old.
I have seen but one loft of birds as large and handsome as these birds, and those were owned by a Mr. Cornwell of Milford. He bought his first birds of you and claims that they raise 11 pairs of birds a year. One of my neighbors who was watching my birds said: ‘‘ In all the birds ‘I have éver seen these’are the largest and most lovely.”
I have followed your advice in the care of them and would like to know if mine are doing as well as the average youhear from. If I amsuccessful in flying the birds will let you know. Enclosed you will find money order for 50 pounds of health grit.—Miss A. A. W., Connecticut.
CHAIR SEATS USED FOR THE BOTTOMS OF NEST-BOXES, CHEAPER THAN LUMBER. HOW TO CHOP UP STRAW FOR NESTING MATERIAL. I note you say use long boards for bottoms of nests and short pieces perpendicular. I reversed this before seeing your plans by standing up long boards 12 inches apart, toenailed to wall. These boards have three-quarter- inch by three-quarter-inch cleats for bottoms. I use 12-inch three-plv perforated seats. These seats are varnished, are light and strong, as your excellent bowls. They are slightly concave in center, just fitting the nestbowl, and the perforations do not extend beyond margin of bowl. I fasten bowls to them with stove bolts. I can remove nut in a moment and have bowl and base separate for cleaning, and they are cheaper than good lumber, which costs five to six cents a square foot. Seats 12 inches square can be bought for three cents each. They come 10, 11 and 12 inches square.
You suggest no easy way for chopping straw in proper length for nests. I have stumbled onto a cheap and easy plan for small fellows like me. Use a common mitrebox and saw. Place mitrebox on table near end anda receptacle beneath. One or two strokes will-cut thtougk a big handful of straws and as you move up for next cut, the short ends drop into receptacle.
I hope you do not consider all this didactic (or what not) for to tell the truth I have gotter more pleasure and information out of your Manual than I could have gathered with endless. and expensive experimenting, and I want to help if I can in any small way.—P. O. L., Neu Jersey.
HIS BATH-PANS ARE MOUNTED ON A PIPE AND HE EMPTIES ALL WITH ONE TURN OF ACRANK. FILLS ALL BY TURNING ONE VALVE. My self-feeder is just perfect. Two of the ranches about here are fitting up with it. I also have all my windows raised or lowered at the same time and with only one motion. One or as many as you like can be detached . and remain closed. I can stand in my feed room and do the whole thing without taking a step,
My bath-pans are all mounted on a one-inch pipe running through the flying pen. The erank is just outside the end of the pen. It locks when the pans are up for bathing. The water is turned on by a faucet outside the flying pens. Now to empty this, no going inside the pens, frightening the birds and swashing the dirty water onto your hands. You just unlock the crank, rock the pans to and fro two or three times, turn down your crank and every pan dumps its dirty water onto a drip board running outside the pen. Leave your pans down and no snow, ice, or droppings can get into them.
ey drinking fountains all work from the passageway. Not a particle of filth can get into thein.
Now I have not written this. in any spirit of egotism. I consider it just common sense economy of my own construction.—J. W., New Jersey. .
THIS FLORIDA CUSTOMER BEGAN WITH TWELVE PAIRS OF OUR EXTRAS IN 1903. We now (September, 1907), have about 400 to 500 birds and during winter and spring have killed on an average of 25 squabs per week. To be accurate in this I cannot, as no account was kept, but must say the birds have proven very satisfactory indeed. Will give Mrs. B. your letter upon her return and she can answer it also.—J. C. W., Florida.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 205
1907
SQUABS SHOULD NOT BE SOLD DRAWN. THE COOK IS THE ONE WHO DRAWS THEM. The six pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers have increased to about 60 since last May 20, breeding right on all the time, just the same now (January, 1907), as last summer, all large youngsters, which weigh with feet off, head off, entrails removed. just over half a pound. Please let me know whether commission men weigh them that way, or if they leave the feet and head on ?— P. A. W., Pennsylvania.
Answer. Squab dealers always weigh them with the head and feet on and undrawn. Never draw your squabs before selling them. They will not keep so well in the markets, and the marketmen do not take them that way. The heads, feet and insides are removed by the cook.
THE START. In this barn, the customer whose picture is printed
on this page made his start. It is still in use but the greater part of his breeding is done in a long multiple unit house nearby.
AFTER ONE YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL TRIAL HE BUILDS A HOUSE FOR THREE ‘HUNDRED PAIRS. The pigeons I got of you a little over a year ago have been doinz finely. Am now (April, 1907) building a house to accommodate three hundred pairs. Enclosed find check for $23.04 for which please send me two gross of the fibre nest- bowls. I will have a picture of my new house taken a little later on and send to you. I could not give you any definite figures as to what your birds have dore for me, as 1 had some other birds in with them. How- ever, the ones got of you are the best and largest. One pair especially has raised a pair of saquabs almost every month. I expect to put some of your birds to themselves as soon as my new house is ready, and may be able to give you figures on them later on.—H.'B., Indiana.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
GRAIN AND SUPPLIES TO THE GULF STATES BY STEAMSHIP. Please quote me price on 200 pounds of mixed feed but with- out chops. I cannot get wheat or hemp seed, and I find my birds do better on your mixed feed. The birds I ordered from you some time ago are doing finely. I am very much pleased with them.—B. E., Mississippi.
Note. We ship a great deal of grain and other supplies to customers living in Gulf tates by hoat from New York to Mobile, New Orleans, Galveston and other ports, a quick and cheap route, much faster than rail, and more satisfactory. The shipments get less handling.
THIS CUSTOMER
Started with a dozen pairs of our birds and has run them up to 800 pairs, paying a handsome profit. This is spare time work for him, as he is regularly ainployed at his trade.
WONDERFUL MATINGS. MORE SALES PROMISED. I received the 12 pairs of birds O. K. in fine shape April 11, 7 p.m., 1907. They are a nice-looking lot of breeders and all you claim them to be, as two of them laid eggs while in transit and two more laid to-day, April 13, so you see there is some- thing doing. The other six pairs are doing well. All laid but one vair, and I think they are coming along ail right. J assure you that such fair treatment means a continuation of sales wit: me and I shall recommend the Plymouth Rock Squab Co. to those who are buying breeders. Will return baskets to-day. You can use this as a testimonial if you wish. —W. B. H., Massachusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 206
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF SPLASHES. The second bird on the left and the last bird on the right are types of oddly-marked Plymouth Rock Homers
FEEDS HIS BIRDS LOCUST LEAVES AND PEPPER GRASS.
BOSTON DEALER
ALWAYS GIVES HIM MORE THAN THE MARKET QUOTATIONS BECAUSE HIS SQUABS
ARE WORTH MORE.
I purchased 12 pairs Extra Homers of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company, in February. 1906, the best stock I could buy. to January 1907, when I began to ship the squabs.
and I receive from $3 to $4 per dozen for them.
Isaved all my squabs for breeders up They average 9 pounds to the dozen, I ship to the Boston market.
I feed my birds on wheat, cracked corn and kaffir corn in equal parts, with peas and hemp-
seed as dainties.
I feed them in wooden traps, not finding any self-feeder which I like. A
box containing grit, oyster shells and charcoal is kept before them all the time and the flying
pen outside covered with coarse sand.
I find pine needles to be the best nesting material,
the birds building a small, neat, compact nest with them.
I sell the pigeon manure to parties in town at 50 cents per bushel. feet long by 14 wide, with a passageway three feet wide on one side. My flying pen is 36 feet wide, 18 feet long and ten
by fountains placed in the passageway. feet high, divided into three parts.
I find my birds to be very fond of locust leaves and pepper grass, eating it like grain. like peas and hempseed so well that they will fly on to my hand for them.
My squab house is 36 The birds are watered
They My birds are mostly
blue checkers, with a few reds and silvers among them. \ ; I ship nearly every week to a large commission dealer in Faneuil Hall Market, who always
gives me more than the market quotations.
among them, and are raising big, fat squabs at the present time.
Massachusetts.
MOVING, GOING INTO THE BUSINESS ON A LARGER SCALE. Our Homers have done fine since we have had them. We have doubled. So far we have lost only one pair of squabs and we think the parents smothered them. Then one of our young birds of our first pair got out and away and we think he was frozen or caught by a cat, for the night was a cold one. Now we ate going to move and take a place where we can go into the business on a larger scale, so we will hope to send for more birds as soon as we get coops ready.—Miss H. L. A., New Jersey.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS BEST IN MEMPHIS. I have lost only one bird from sickness. I have had no trouble with lice at all. My birds keep very clean and are also very tame. I go to see ali the pigeons around Men phis but find none as fine looking as yours. Your Manual is a fine teacher, why it is worth a dollar. I hope to have success by following your Manual as I have done so far.—W. A., Tennessee.
My birds are all in fine condition, no poor ones
(June, 1907.)—E. B. K.,
SQUABS TEN POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. GOING TO SHIP TO NEW YORK FROM IOWA. If you remember I bought some fine Homers of you a year ago. last September. They were the Extras. They have done well. Must have now 150 birds; fine large ones at that. I can send squabs to New York from here for $1.50 per 50 pounds. That is what I want to do eventually. I weighed 12 squabs just as they came, one month old. They weighed a trifle over 10 pounds. One pair weighed two pounds exact.—J. C., Iowa.
SUPERIOR HOMERS BREEDING EX- TREMELY LARGE SQUABS. Accept my thanks for your fair treatment with regard to my order of June. The birds are breeding extremely large squabs. Since then I have had given to me twelve pairs pedigreed Homers, but yours are superior in every way. Finclosed find P. O. money order, for which tlease send me six pairs Extra mated adult I{omers and twelve wood-fibre nestbowls.— », R. M., Massachusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 207
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
PLYMOUTH ROCK BLUE BARS AND BLUE CHECKERS,
BOY IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY 13 YEARS OLD GOT RID OF HIS FLOCK OF COMMON BIRDS AS SOON AS HE SAW PLYMOUTH ROCKS AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO. The nappies ordered of you came on time. My pigeons put them to use as soon as they arrived. I bought six pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers in January, 1907. I now (July) have 32 large, full-breasted birds. Some of the young ones are going to work now. Iam 13 years old and was anxious to do something to make a little money while going to school, and saw an advertisement of your Homers and made up my mind to try them. Iam more than satisfied with my investment and within the next year I expect to have a very nice little income.
In your Manual you show a diagram of a self-feeder, and I had one made which is very satisfactory, as it saves so much work and attention. I can get all the grain recommended by you except the buckwheat and hempseed, and I use red (instead of white) wheat, and my birds are thriving and doing well.
I hope to be able to dispose of all I can raise here in my home market, as they-are so large and fine. In fact, there is all the difference in the world between my Homer squabs and the ordinary scrub squab, and it will pay any one wanting to go in the business to get the best to start on. I weighed some of my squabs this morning (just three weeks old) and they average one pound each, or two pounds to the pair. I had a flock of common birds and the squabs were dark skinned and weighed about eight ounces, and when I read of your birds I at once sold out and ordered from you, and I certainly feel that I made a good trade. I expect to order six pairs more soon. Thank you for the promptness and care taken of my orders.— L. G., Indian Territory.
THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR PLY- LARGEST EVER SEEN IN ONTARIO. MOUTH ROCK SQUABS IN ARKANSAS. The weather has been very cold here, 30 Please send six more pairs of your Extra degrees below zero, so I have kept a coal oil Plymouth Rock Homers and one dozen nest- stove going most of the time. Your birds bowls. We are able to get $3 a dozen for have been greatly admired. They are the our squabs at the hotels here-—W. A. T., biggest that have ever been seen here.— Arkansas. G. S. B., Ontario. en es
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 208
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1907
ON A RUNNING BOARD IN THE SUN.
.*
NESTBOWLS VERY PRACTICAL AND ARE A NECESSITY. BUSINESS SHEET OF A BEGINNER WITH SQUABS IN CANADA. On May 5, 1906, I received your lot of seven pairs Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, one pair out of the seven being free, aS some nestbowls were bought previously, to allow for the express charges on them. I may say that these bowls are very practical, as none of my squabs have suffered from sprawled feet as is noticed when earthen- Ware nappies are used.
The breeders were put in the pigeon house the same night and it was not long before they became acquainted with theirnew home. Full instructions were sent before the pigeons reached here and as these were clear it was very easy to follow them. Sixteen days after their arrival there were two eggs in a nest. This was an event, as many friends were interested. They . were much surprised to see these three-week-old squabs weighing 14 ounces and even more than 16 ounces at four weeks. Their common pigeons were looking very small against my Plymouth Rock Homers which were looking so fine. It was really funny to hear them taking
notice of the wonderful difference. Mine were looking so fine with their large breasts, their bright-looking eyes, their wings which look to be detached from them. The opinion of my friends was that they were the ‘finest birds they ever saw.
At the end of the first month there were four squabs and six eggs, at the end of October 12 pairs of eggs had been !aid and hatched, making a total of 22 pairs of squabs at the end of six months. All the squabs of the first August were eaten at a family dinner and proclaimed the finest squabs that were ever served on such an occasion. Since that time we disposed of the squabs for breeding purposes and for eating. Last winter I had 15 pairs of squabs laid but as the winter was very cold some of the squabs died because the parents were not acclimated, but Iam sure that this winter will not be so fatal as they will be acclimated. Since April, 1907, I have had 29 pairs of eggs, of which 26 pairs of squabs have been eaten. In consequence, pigeon keeping in Quebec has proved to be a success, a paying business, when proper birds are used—that is, the Plymouth Rock Squab Company Homers.
Business Sheet of an Amateur Squab Breeder.
May 5, 1906 to September 1, 1907. Total of eggs laid, 66 pairs. Total of pounds of grains, 638, at a cost of $11.47.
Rations of Grains for Feeding Purposes.
Winter Summer Peas .. 30 lbs. 30 lbs. Red Wheat. 15 Ibs. 25 Ibs. Buckwheat ... 15 lbs. 15 lbs. Cracked corn (not sifted). . 40 Ibs. 30 lbs.
During September and Owais I fed 30 eet ei arieat and 40 pounds peas.
The pigeons are sold in Montreal for: 50—70 cents per pair in winter, 45—55 cents per pair in autumn, 30—40 cents per pair in spring, 25—35 cents per pair in summer. Average price, 40 cents per pair —G. G.. Canada.
KNOW WHERE TO BUY,.WHEN THEY WANT THE PIGEONS WHICH ARE THE VERY BEST IN EVERY RESPECT. In February, 1906, I bought pigeons from you from which I am raising the finest flock of Pigeons that I ever saw. I am sending to you herewith with hopes of getting more from you that are equally as good if not better than the ones I got last year. The enclosed order is partly for myself and partly for Mr. Ritter, who has been corresponding with you recen tly. We want pigeons that are the very best in every respect.—W. A. G., Ohio.
BEAUTIES, EXCELLENT LAYERS, VERY HEALTHY. In September, 1904, I purchased from you 12 pairs of birds. We have in- creased our flock to over 100 pairs so at present (October, 1907) I am obliged to sell some of our young birds for the need of making room ‘or others. They are beauties and give good satisfaction. They are excellent layers, hatching fine, large squabs weighing, from eight to 12 ounces and are very healthy. Perhaps next year I shall be situated so I can order about 50 pairs of your first-class breeders.—E. E. H., New Jersey.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS el aA ae ae PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
INTERIOR OF MASSACHUSETTS CUSTOMER’S HOUSE.
Wire netting is used always to separate the units, not board partitions.
This breeder has not set nest boxes
up against the wire netting, but this is done in almost every case.
NEVER HAD A SICK BIRD AMONG OURS, BUT BIRDS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE ARE WEAK AND POOR BREEDERS, HANDLED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. You will probably remember me as having bought two dozen pairs of Plymouth Rock pigeons from you
last November. one got away and one cock bird I killed.
what they would do, so I bought two dozen pairs from
Out of the 25 pairs you sent me, I have 20 pairs working. I thought I would try some one else’s birds to see
One bird died,
I built a new house
exactly the same as I put your birds in, and have given them the same treatment, but they
are not doing as well as your birds.
They do not seem strong and vigorous like your birds.
I would like you to send me 24 pairs of your very best Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I am not particular as to color so long as the quality is there. I have kept the birds I got from the other man in a pen by themselves as I want to give
them a fair chance. young as they should do. : they do not seem as vigorous as your birds.
They may be young birds, as they do not seem to care for their eggs and I give them exactly the same treatment as I give the others, but I have never had a sick bird among yours, since
I got them, only the one that died soon after J received them.—J. W., West Virginia.
NEWS OF OUR SUCCESS CARRIED TO INDIA. Having heard something of your wonderful success in this business from a gentleman from America, I should very much like to hear full particulars. I have some young nephews in California whom 1 should like to help make a start in some way. M. C. H., Bombay, India.
LOST ONLY TWO YOUNG SQUABS. Will you be so kind as to tell me where I can get a good cut of a pair of Homer pigeons? My birds which I bought of you are doing well. I have not lost any but two young squabs before they were grown. They are certainly nice.—L. L. D., Georgia.
GOOD MATINGS. FOUR NESTS SIX DAYS AFTER REACHING KENTUCKY. Homers received in splendid condition on March 8. They are surely a beautifui lot of birds. Am very much pleased with them and hope to duplicate order in a short time. They have bui!t four nests already. (March 14.) —I.P. Y., Kentucky.
ONE HUNDRED SQUABS A MONTH WEIGHING ELEVEN TO FOURTEEN OUNCES. IT have nothing but your Extra stock exclusively and am now turning out 100 or more fine squabs weighing 11 to 14 ounces and over every four weeks.—E. M., South Carolina.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 210
1907
SIX SQUABS WEIGHEP A LITTLE OVER FOUR AND .ONE HALF POUNDS. I am sending you by mail a photo of one of my pigeon houses. I caunot have both houses taken in the same picture because they are too far apart. This picture was taken when I had only 25 pairs of birds in it. I now have 45 pairs in it, all your birds, and they are doing fine. The birds are not quite through the moult yet but they have been breeding right along. I killed six squabs to-day and they weighed a little over four and one-half pounds after they were picked; so that’s not so bad, considering that they are moulting. Please let me know if you can let me have two pairs of good Carneaux, something you can recommend, as I would like to get good ones.—W. I. L., West Virginia.
WOMEN ENJOY SQUAB RAISING.
HE HAS THE LARGEST HOMERS IN HIS PENNSYLVANIA TOWN. I think it is time to let you know about my birds which I got from you in April, 1906. Well, they are doing all right. You know IJ got three pairs. Now (May, 1907) I have 386. About 16 young ones died last winter on account of the very cold weather we had. I must thank you very much for the birds which you sold me. We have quite a lot of people that have ‘Homer pigeons around here, but I have the largest of them all, so I am well satisfied and shall always recommend your squab farm and your Homers.—H. D, K., Pennsylvania.
EXTRA POCKET MONEY. I thought I would write and tell you how my birds are getting about. I have raised squabs enough to pay for their expenses and extra pocket money.—J. D., Massachusetts.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCKS SUPERIOR TO ANY RUNT CROSSES AT MUCH LESS COST. I have been interested in your advertisements for some time, and if you will favor me with any suggestions regarding my own birds, I will be grateful. About two years ago, I got some Runt-Homer crosses of the best strain, thinking them best for heavy squabs.. They are as prolific as can be, but the squabs weigh only 14 or 15 ounces at four weeks old. The surroundings, feeding, etc., are all right, as I am only keeping a few pairs for pleasure of it. Would like to be put aright.—P. A. R., California.
Answer. The strain of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers we have developed are superior in weight of squabs and rate of breeding to any Runt cross, at one-fourth the cost of Runts. The only birds superior to our Extra Homers are our Carneaux. These breed squabs weighing 12 pounds and more to the dozen, and breed faster than Homers.
NO LET-UP IN BREEDING IN STATE OF WASHINGTON. FINE, FAT SQUABS. Since last August I have been a very sick man; in fact, came very close to the divide, but have not crossed over yet. (April, 1907.) About my pigeons, I have not noticed any let up about their breeding since they com- menced last May. I have about 150 all told now, fine big fellows. I have fed them red wheat, kaffir corn, hemp seed and the small yellow seed you recommended, have forgotten its: name, with grit, clam shell from the beach, salt and charcoal once in a while, fountain of water in the house and running water in the yard. The birds do not like strangers. They are not afraid of me. I have some fine fat squabs. You can im- prove on your hopper feeder by nailing a lath on the inch piece to which the feeding holes are nailed. Let it stand up one-half to three-quarters inches above the one-inch piece. It does not allow them to pull out the grain so fast. I send you a picture of the house and yard with a few of the pigeons on roosts.—G. H., State of Washington.
TWELVE PAIRS OUT OF THIRTEEN PAIRS AT WORK IN TWELVE DAYS AFTER RECEIPT. I thought-it might be of interest to you to know how my little flock of birds are getting along. It has been just twelve days since they arrived and I now have twelve pairs out of the baker’s dozen at work. It strikes me that there is “ something doing.” I have a nice, roomy home for them and do everything that I can to make them happy, and enjoy the care of them very much. I feel now as though I will succeed and if I do I will build me a unit plant next spring and will stock it with your Homers. I go East about once a year as far as New York, and the next time I go, I will go over to Boston and visit your plant.—B. A., Georgia.
—————————————————————————E————————_—_—_—_—— ee LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 211
1907 MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
AT THE BACK OF A BARN.
Showing how a New York customer made a handsome home for his birds without doing any building. (This flying pen is shown in detail on next illustrated page.)
THAT THE WORK IS NOT BEYOND THE PERSON OF AVERAGE ABILITY IS PROVED BY THE SUCCESS OF THIS 15-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND NO GUIDE BUT THE MANUAL. Please send me prices on pigeon supplies, also prices on breeding stock, as I have mislaid those that I received from you about a year ago when I purchased pigeons of you. I am only a boy of 15 and must wait until I can earn enough from the ones I have. My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers have done very well. My brother bought six pairs of you and he sold them to me immediately after they began work before winter was half way begun. One pair died, so that left me only five pairs of breeders. I was so interested in these that I forgot about the pair that died. They worked fine until cold weather set in, having averaged a pair of squabs from each pair every seven weeks, but during the cold weather we raised less. Our loft being upstairs, in an old granary, was pretty cold.
This spring (1907) they began work in earnest again, laying their eggs again before the squabs were two weeks old. One young pair only four months old raised a pair of squabs weighing one and one-half pounds. I have now about seventy-five (75) birds old and young and lots of eggs.
We got 50 cents a pair for the squabs we sold, but I did not wish to sell many because I am to raise them for breeders.
It certainly pays to buy the Extras, for everybody who sees them says they are splendid, but I believe your Manual is just as necessary to make it a paying business. I do not see how i could raise them without it. Perhaps I will want some more breeders if I get the building ready this summer.—G. L. G., Wisconsin,
ONE SALE LED TO ANOTHER. No OUTGROWN THE COOP. Please send me doubt you are acquainted with Carlton five dozen nestbowls and one drinking Daniel, who is a first cousin of mine. His fountain by express. My coop has got too pigeons looked so fine that they encouraged small to hold the birds. The dozen pairs me to buy of you. I don’t think mine can be you sent me have increased to 125 birds.— beaten.—F. W., Indiana. F. C. W., Massachusetts.
ee EEUU EEE EE SESE LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 212
1907 ___ MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS 1908
SHIPSHAPE FLYING PEN.
This is the flying pen of the place illustrated on preceding page. By the use of inch boards the owner has finished off the timbers so that the effect is permanent and beautiful.
THIS NEW JERSEY BREEDER RECEIVES $4.50 A DOZEN FOR HIS SQUABS AND THE DEMAND IS SO GREAT THAT HE CANNOT FILL HIS ORDERS, SO BUYS MORE BIRDS. In sending my second order (January, 1907) for your Extra mated birds, I would like to put in a few words in regard to the birds I received from you in 1904. My birds have done finely. I sent to Boston $30 fur 12 pairs. The birds arrived in the finest shape that was ever seen in this part of New Jersey. I reccived the birds in May, 1904, and had eight pairs cf squabs in July. I then went to work and kept all the squabs for a short time unti! they got six to seven months old, then I went to mating them the way you show in your Manual. J now in January, 1907, have 200 birds which is only one-fourth of the birds I raised, but the demand for squabs was so great that I could not get the chance to save any for breeding. That is the reason why I send an order for 50 pairs of your best birds. 5
My house is 12 feet wide and 26 feet long with a hall three feet wide, one window on the north side and three windows on the south side, with 200 nests. My first house was 12 feet by 12 feet, but I found out that when handling Plymouth Rock Homers it does not take long for them to make money for a larger house, and to get a start in a business of our own.
I would like to tell you that I put one advertisement in a paper of our town some time ago, not to sell my squabs for I had more orders than I could fill, but to let my friends know that I meant that there was money in handling your birds. The advertisement brought me so many orders that I didn’t know what to do.
The demand for squabs is so great that I get $4.50 per dozen. My squabs average nine to 12 pounds to the dozen.
I am going to build house No. 3 this spring and then I will need more of your fine birds.
I would like to tell you a few words in regard to the Manual. It is the finest I have ever read for the reason you show how to run a successful squab business.
I use the self-feeder which you show in your Manual. I always find the feed clean and dry, which is the main part of the feeding part. I feed cracked corn, red wheat, Canada peas and hempseed. The feed bill will not exceed 85 cents a year per breeding pair. I can figure on nine pairs of squabs per year at 75 cents per pair, which leaves me a net profit of $5.20 per year for each pair of breeders.
I am perfectly satisfied with the results obtained from your birds and wish you continued success.—A. N., New Jersey.
VALUES HIS BIRDS AT FIVE DOLLARS USUAL STORY FROM IOWA. The birds - A PAIR. I would not sell my birds for five received from you last winter are doing dollars a pair now.—C. E., New Jersey. finely.—E. R. W., Iowa.
“LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 213
1907
BIRDS FED ONLY CRACKED BARLEY. KNOWS WHERE TO GET MORE BIRDS. I have some fine birds and am ctuck on that last basketful you sent—those nice dark checkers, and some of the nicest sky blue I ever saw. I have some young birds from the last ones you sent me that will mate in two or three weeks, so you can see they did not lose much time after shedding feathers. There was a man at my place, whose name I forget. He said his birds~were from your place and that my birds were livelier than his. I told him if he would follow your book he would be all right. I told him he was feeding too much, or he was not giving them the right feed, and he said he was feeding cracked barley so he cannot expect much from his birds.
I went to the market to find out what they are paying for birds. They are paying 25 cents apiece for old common birds and he said that they pay more for Homer squabs.
My birds are getting along finely. I am going to get 60 cents a bushel for manure with straw in it, which I think is a good price.
If I want any more birds I know where to get them and that is from your place.—J. C., Wisconsin.
READY SALE IN LOUISIANA FOR ALL SQUABS THAT CAN BE PRODUCED. PRICES ARE GOOD, RANGING FROM $2.50 TO $4.00 A DOZEN. I received your National Standard Squab Book on the evening of the 5th inst. and have studied same over carefully several times and will say that I am perfectly satisfied with it and consider your Manual one of much value and indis- pensable to one who intends to raise squabs. I expect to order from you in half dozen and dozen lots, until I get me a good flock of breeders. (This I will have to do on account of my limited means and again I am not at my home. I am employed by the railroad company as foreman and my house is 25 miles from my work. However, I am con- fident that I will be in a position to quit railroading in 12 months from now if I have good luck with birds.) I have an ideal place for a squab plant containing 12 acres of good land and nice dwelling and out buildings. I have also investigated the marketing of squabs in this territory and find that I can get ready sale for all that I can produce at from $2.50 to $4.50 per dozen, according to weight and plumpness.—T. H., Louisiana.
THIS ILLINOIS YOUNG WOMAN HAS GIVEN US HALF A DOZEN ORDERS FOR BIRDS BETWEEN 1903 AND 1908. Please find enclosed two post-office money orders for $125 and send me 50 pairs Extra Plymouth Rocks. My mother’s. sickness interfered with my plans. JI have lost many orders by not having enough breeders. I think it safe to try now.—Miss J. M., Tlinois.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
HAS KEPT PIGEONS FOR YEARS. PLYMOUTH ROCKS DO BETTER THAN ANY HE EVER BRED. I had 35 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers to start with. They are fine birds and very good breeders. I have kept pigeons for years, but yours do as well and in some respects better than any I ever had. I intended to breed them for squabs, but there is such a call for good breeders that I have not had any chance to sel! squabs.—A. T. K., Massa- chusetts.
FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY EARNING POCKET MONEY FOR TWO _ YEARS. About two years ago I bought three pairs of your best Homer breeders and they are getting along very nicely. I am only 15 years old. I am running my business the way described in your National Standard Squab Book. Have you a 1907 copy of this book?—J. A. M., Wisconsin.
NEST OF STRAW AND FEATHERS.
Some birds build a scanty nest, using only a few wisps of straw, with perhaps a feather or two.
nestbowl is an absolute necessity for such pairs, otherwise the eggs soon roll apart or out of the nest box. In April, 1907, a Missouri woman wrote us as follows: “Enclosed find draft for $11.52, for which please send me one gross of nestbowls. One year ago I started with 40 pairs of Homers. Now I have something over 400 birds. I have iost a great number of eggs, and feel like I must have the nestbowls, as they pre- vent the eggs from rolling out. Send them at once.”
GETTING RID OF COMMON PIGEONS AND PURCHASING PLYMOUTH ROCKS. THE MOST WEIGHTY BIRDS HE EVER SAW. I have a number of common birds which I am either going to sell, or kill them for my own use, but I will exert every effort to sell them and purchase more birds of you, as I think yours are the most weighty birds I ever saw. As soon as I am rid of what common birds I have on hand now, you may expect my order for some more of your breeders.—T. W., New York.
—EEE—————————— ee ee ee LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 214
1907
UICK WORK BY THE NEW FLOCK OF A NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY. I should _per- haps have written you earlier of my boy’s success with the Plymouth Rock Homers which you sent. One pair were nesting in three days and inside of three weeks there are, I think, ten of the thirteen pairs at work, and if my recollection serves me, inside of four weeks he had ten or a dozen squabs hatched.
It is now nearly five weeks since he had them and some of the scuabs are nearly large enough to market. I consider this a pretty good record.—H. C., New York.
Note. The above gentleman known business New Yorker. only nine years old.
is a well- His boy is
DIFFERENT SIZES. This shows two squabs, one of which is growing
faster than the other. This means that it is pushing its smaller mate out of the way at feeding time and getting more feed from the parents. In such cases, the bigger one will grow fast and the smaller one will be stunted. The latter should be helped by being taken out of the nest and put alongside a squab of its own size in another nest, the larger squab there being brought back to grow up with a mate of its own size. The parents in both cases do not neglect the new comer.
MARYLAND CUSTOMER SATISFIED AND ENLARGING. On November 27, 1906, I received from you 50 pairs of Plymouth Rock pigeons. I put them into what I considered an up-to-date house, using nappies for nests. I am starting another pen and expect before fall to have 150 pairs of good stock. I feed cracked corn and wheat and I also give the Canada peas when I can get them, a little hemp and rice once in awhile. 1 am entirely satisfied and when I am in the market for more birds, Elmer Rice’s birds will do for me. Thank you for your many kindnesses.—W. B. C., Maryland.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
UICK BEGINNING BY MATED PAIRS. ALL AT WORK WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER DELIVERY AND A PAIR OF SQUABS ON HIS TABLE WITHIN SEVEN WEEKS. MORE ORDERS FOLLOW. Within seven weeks from the date of receipt of the birds I ordered from you, I have had a pair of broiled squabs on my table, and such squabs I never saw before. A few days before they were four weeks old, they weighed a pound each. :
Some of my pairs went to work within five days. and all of them within two weeks after their receipt. Jt has been less than three months since I received the seven pairs, and I have killed two pairs squabs, and my flock has more than doubled. I think this is a good record. I can readily sell my young pigeons here for breeding purposes at good prices, but as I ordered them to raise squabs for my own table, have,so far, declined to sell any.
Two of my neighbors have duplicated my order since they have seen mine, and I am sure other orders will follow.
I am delighted with the business and take a great interest in my birds, which have learned my voice, and when I go out to the fly, come fluttering at my call. I prefer squabs to chickens, and they are much less trouble, and so much easier to raise.—J. M., Mississippi.
BEST THESIS HE EVER READ ON ANY SUBJECT. I have the pleasure of acknowl- edging receipt of your National Standard Squab Book and having read it once through and made notations of details (not indexed) at the sides of the pages, I can get the meat of any subject promptly. I want to say (which, of course, must have been said a great many times to you) that ‘“‘ it is bully,”’ it is the best thesis I ever read on any subject. I have tried to think of questions that sug- gested themselves to me I would lke an- swered, but in vain. You have answered everything. I want to state to any one interested in squabs, surely your Manual is worth its weight in gold.—W. C., Wisconsin.
NEVER WAS TREATED MORE FAIRLY. My birds arrived October 1 in first-class condition, earlier than I expected. Never spent money for anything better. They are regular beauties. I thank you for the extra pair; I never was treated more fairly. Hope to give you a larger order next time.—P. M., New Orleans.
MAN OF FORTY YEARS’ EXPERIENCE HAS NEVER SEEN BETTER HOMERS THAN OURS. The birds came safe last night. I told you before, I had some of that sort (a few pairs) continuously, for over forty years. I never had any better and many inferior in fancy points. Accept my thanks.— L. O., New York.
. LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 215
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
MATED PAIRS START QUICKLY. BEST BREEDERS IN A LIFE-TIME OF EXPERI- ENCE. SUGGESTION FOR CITY PEOPLE. SURE WAY OF MATING. I have received yours of the 18th and am following out your request. About the color, either a blue or a red checker cock will do. I should like to know how I am to get him. I started in just one month ago with my shipment of 12 birds and about five days later, in which time they had to pick up from the fatigue of the journey, a pair of blues were sitting on eggs.
his was kept up at intervals by the others until now when J have ten young ones and two eggs, which are being hatched by a pair of flights.
Barring one sick one I can honestly call this a good investment because I have had pigeons since I was ten years old and in that time I have not seen any better done. Should they keep this up, I find the market good, I shall buy some more this spring. You said the Eagle and Sun had quotations on squabs, but unless it is somewhere else than on the market page, neither of these papers has them. They want a dollar a pair for them in butcher shops.
The Manual is all right, but if you want suggestions I should say that the way you describe for having pigeons in the city is very seldom used. The most popular way is putting a coop and screen on a flat roof or on poles in the yard. This is the way you will see most coops in Brooklyn and New York. However, the way you describe is a very good advice for those with peaked roofs, as I know many people would have pigeons if their roofs weren’t peaked. On mating birds I should also tell of a very effectual way I have for mating stubborn pigeons who absolutely refuse to mate. This is to put them in a box or something so that they cannot get any light and leave them so until you think they ought to be taken out and then put them together and in most cases they will be so glad to get back to light and see another pigeon that they will mate right away. Should they still refuse repeat the method until they do, but this method has worked so that I have yet to come across the aoe could not mate this way.—H. H.. New
ork,
FIRST SQUABS WHEN TWO WEEKS OLD WEIGHED TWELVE AND FOURTEEN OUNCES. Perhaps you will be interested to know that the first pair of squabs at two weeks weigh 12 and 14 ounces respectively. Am pleased with the weight—A. T. V., New Hampshire.
ONE YEAR OF PROGRESS. Enclosed find money order for which please send me six dozen wood-fibre nestbowls by freight. The Homers I got from you about a year ago are working splendidly.—E. A., Pennsylvania.
MONEY-MAKING STORY BRIEFLY TOLD. BIG FLOCK RAISED FROM SMALL PURCHASE. PROLIFIC BREEDERS, If you remember, I bought from you in the autumn of 1906 12 pairs of squab breeders. One pair went to work the second day after arrival, the others following in close order. In two weeks every pair but one had eggs. I now have (October, 1907) 576 pigeons, two pairs having raised li pairs per year, the others nine and ten. I feed cracked corn, whole wheat, hemp seed, barley, kaffir corn and rice. During the moulting season I feed a good quantity of hemp seed. I think the squab business is a very good money making enterprise if well attended to.— R. F.S., New York.
AN INEXPENSIVE START.
TWO YEARS’ SUCCESS. GOING TO SHIP TO BIGGER MARKET. I am now raising more squabs than our local market demands at reasonable price and in order to obtain good prices must find market elsewhere. Can you put me in the way of same? I bought my first Homers of you in August, 1905, and have had remarkable success with pigeons, having lost but 15 that were able to fly, in all the time since then. I will feel very grateful for any information you may be able to give me. Also kindly quote me price on 50 pairs Plymouth Rock Homers, as I think of adding another loft.— C. H., Wisconsin.
ALL PAIRS AT WORK QUICKLY. PLY- MOUTH ROCKS RECOMMENDED ABOVE ALL IN DELAWARE. My Homers arrived safe and I am certainly pleased with them. They are all mated and I expect eggs soon. { recommend your birds above all. I told several parties about my birds and I think they will give youan order.—R. W., Delaware.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 216
1907
LAYING AND HATCHING WITH TEM- PERATURE FIFTEEN DEGREES BELOW ZERO. My first pair laid and hatched out squabs which grew the fastest of anything I ever saw. When the eggs were laid and the birds were hatched it was 15 degrees below zero half of the nights (February, 1907) and the water in the fountain in the squab-house froze hard every night. My first young birds are about as large as the old birds (April) and are flying just as easily, I think, as the old birds.—M. S. B., New York. ‘
Note. The old pigeons protect both the eggs and the squabs more closely in cold weather. They adapt their attention to the climate. Do not fear that you cannot raise winter squabs, even if you live in the coldest parts of Canada.
NOT ONE SICK. NO LICE. My pigeons are getting along very nicely. You sent me 13 pairs last December and now (July, 1907) I have about 30 pairs. Not a one has been the least sick, and have not been troubled with mites nor lice among them as yet. Will soon have to double the size of my house. I attend to them myself.—M. V. B., South Carolina.
A ROW OF BEAUTIES.
SELLING IN ST. LOUIS FOR $4.50 A DOZEN. You will find enclosed herewith an order with remittance for 55 pairs of your Extra Homer pigeons, which I hope to receive as soon as possible. You will find also that I send order for yarious other supplies which, if you think it will be cheaper, you will please send by freight.
The pigeons I purchased of you last year are doing nicely and have produced some fine, large squabs. They are selling in St. Louis for $4.50 per dozen. Thank you for fair dealing in the past and wish you success in the future.—R. C. H., Missouri.
THREE ORDERS FROM ONE TOWN. Enclosed herewith I send you check for which please send me seve1 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers. I ordered seven pairs from you a short time ago, and also had Mr McRaven duplicate my order.—J. B., Mississippi.
GOING TO TRY IT AGAIN. Please send
e your printed matter as soon as you can. P had some of your Homers a year ago and they did very well. I expect to buy some more.—J. J. R., District of Columbia.
MORE STORIES OF- SUCCESS
1908
CHICAGO MAN REPLACING HIS FIRST BIRDS WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS AND BUILDING A LARGE PLANT. Your letter of October 28 at hand. Please send me the female as soon as possible as I can mate her with the other male. I still have the birds in the crate but will empty it Saturday. I am building now to accommodate 500 pairs of birds and have torn down my old coop so I have not had place to keep my birds. I am vuilding.it in units of 50 pairs to each unit. Am getting rid of my common birds as fast as possible.
From March first to the present time (October) I have 38 youngsters from my original six pairs, three pairs of which were No. land three pairs Extra. Both birds bred alike, with the exception of the Extras breeding a much larger squab. Eleven pairs of youngsters have eggs at present. I have lost none and with the exception of the moulting season, I think I have done fairly well. I have not sold any as yet, but have been asked to. _Not wishing to sell any until I have 50 pair, I had to refuse the order, but referred him to you. People who have seen my Homers think well of them and I believe I have a few interested.—A. S. C., Chicago.
TRIED TO GET ALONG WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTION BOOK AT FIRST. I have bought two sets of Extra Homers of you, but have had bad luck. I do not have any now. Iam going to read up on the care of pigeons before going into it again. I have your National Standard Squeb Bsok of 1905 and think that it is very well written and it con- tains some very sound advice, which if I had followed I never would have failed. Is the 1907 edition different?—T. H. O., Jowa.
EVERY PAIR BREEDING SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVAL IN FAR WEST. I received seven pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers the first part of April and now (May 20) have five pairs of squabs a week old and the other two pairs are setting. I am well pleased. Strong, healthy birds. It is a wonder the way the young sauabs grow.—R. R., State of Washington,
LITTLE LOT GAVE HIM CONFIDENCE TO BUILD AND ORDER MORE BIRDS. The three pairs of pigeons I received from you in January are doing finely (April, 1907), and I would like to have you send me one of your plans for building, and as soon as I have the plans I will send to you for some more pigeons.—R. S., Chicago.
EXACTLY AS REPRESENTED. The breeders I got from you are first-class and exactly as you said they would be, and are well. Please send me prices on grit and other supplies, also on 12 pairs breeders.—W. J. W., Pennsylvania.
nD LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 217
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
TWO CUSTOMERS WHICH HAVE BRED LARGE FLOCKS FROM SMALL BEGIN- NINGS. Mr. Bartholemew of this place has about 250 birds which he has bred from six pairs of Ne. 1 Plymouth Rock Homers which he says he got of you. I notice the difference between the Extra and No. 1 Homers. Mrs. Virkler has about 150 birds of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers bred from six pairs.—C. W. B., New York.
EATING FROM HIS HAND. The California man who owns these pigeons writes:
“They are beauties and breed fine squabs. ! have bred squabs from your Homers weighing a pound apiece. Your Manual is straight and true.”
RECOMMENDED VERY HIGHLY BY A LOUISIANA FRIEND. Enclosed you will find a money order for which you will please send me by express six pairs Plymouth Rock Homers No. 1 mated. I trust you will make me a good selection, as I am expecting to raise pigeons and wish the best. You have been recommended very highly to me by Mr. Joseph Malbrough, as he has ordered the Plymouth Rocks from you.—H. H., Louisiana.
SQUABS WEIGHING FROM SIXTEEN OUNCES TO NINETEEN OUNCES EACH. OUR STOCK AND OUR SELF-FEEDER GET THIS RESULT IN TEXAS. 1 bought six pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers from you last November, and I now (May, 1907) have 31 in all, and 17 youngsters. Four pairs have eggs. Out of the 17 squabs, I lost only one, the death of that being caused by one of the parent birds stepping on one the day he was hatched. My squabs have weighed one pound to a pound and three ounces.
I have built a pen for my young squabs as you advise to do, and I find that they do very much better.
The things that I find most necessary are, to have a clean house, water and feed, so I clean my squab house every two weeks, and have clean water and feed always. I use your self-feeder so the pigeons can feed their young whenever they choose.
The ground of my flypens is covered with sand, and I renew it every month. I also use oyster grit and rock. It is placed in the squab-house, where they can get it any time they want it. I feed wheat and kaffir corn and a little cracked corn now and then, but they do not need much corn as the weather here in Texas is warm nearly all the year around.
I think your Homers are the best I ever saw, and every one that sees them says the same thing about them.
Any one starting into squab raising should buy your Manual. I have been trying to follow it as nearly as possible and by doing so I think I will succeed in raising squabs.
I intend to order more pigeons of you at once.—F. S., Texas.
SUCCESSFUL BREEDING BY THE SISTERS OF <A CHICAGO CATHOLIC HOSPITAL. Please send us 36 pairs (Janu- uary, 1907) the same as you did the four pairs a short while ago. Kindly send the very best breed only.—Sister M. M., [llinois.
Note. In September, 1907, we shipped 36 pairs more Extra Plymouth Rock Homers to the above customer, who is the sister superior of a well-known hospital in Chicago.
NEW JERSEY FRIENDS SATISFIED. Enclosed please find check to cover order for 24 pairs Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and supply of feed. We know your dealings have been square with friends of ours in New Jersey. We have plenty of ground here and everything going right. Will soon have the
other houses finished up.—G. M., Massa- chusetts. INCREASED FIVE-FOLD IN SIX
MONTHS. Regarding the ten pairs of birds I bought from you last spring, I now (Novem- ber, 1907), have 52 pairs.—C. V., Ontario.
aa ee) LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 218
1907
WISCONSIN HOTEL PAYING $3.50. SQUABS WEIGHING TEN AND THREE- FOURTHS POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. I thought I would write you a few lines. I want to buy some more birds from you, seeing I am getting along so nicely with the others you sent me. I am getting $3.50 a dozen at the Plankaton House. Thev weigh ten and three-fourths pounds to the dozen. He said they were some of the best squabs he had ever seen. He wants me to come down some night to have a little talk with me. I want to get a basket of birds from you in about a week and about three dozen of nest bowls and a couple of weeks later, some more birds, if everything goes all right. I have some fine young birds, some of them weighing a pound apiece. I find out that you are a nice man to deal with and that everything you say is all right and that the birds cannot be praised too much. Guess I will close, hoping everything is going good. —S. H., Wisconsin,
STEADY GROWTH IN THREE YEARS. ORDERS FOR SQUABS OUTRUN BIRDS, SO MORE ARE BOUGHT. I am going to send soon, before February (1907), probably in a week, for 50 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homer squab breeders, and want to engage them at once, before the February trade begins.
I bought of you six pairs three years ago, since then 12 pairs, 18 pairs and 12 pairs again. (Four orders.)
I do not yet have enough for the orders. The birds are doing better. constantly. Their houses are better, and I know more how to care for them, and what things are important. Have almost finished a house—all but nests and a littie finishing of yard. It seems as if it would be a good plan to get birds now before the really cold’ weather comes. I want the Extras, best you have——M. L., Illinois.
LIVELY WORK IN MISSOURI AND THE LARGEST SQUABS EVER SEEN. I am in receipt of my six pairs Extra pigeons and am very thankful to you for the care you have taken in sending these to me. I had them just one week when two pairs had eggs, and
was so surprised, but yesterday I was still more surprised when I went into the pigeon house and found four pairs setting, and two of these had young squabs. Every one of my neighbors is surprised to see the nice Pigeons you sent me. Mr E. C. Rice, I will in every respect recommend your goods very highly and I am sure that you will appreciate it. These squabs are the largest that I have ever seen. I will have one of my friends take a snap shot of my pigeon house and send you a picture——HE. B., Missouri.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
0
MORE ORDERS FOR SQUABS THAN HE CAN FILL. HOW TO FEED SUN- FLOWER SEEDS. I am thinking about planting a batch of sunflower seeds. Will you please let me know if this is a good feed for them, and how to feed it—either fresh from the stalk or pick it and let it dry. I¢ would be a great saving to feed this during the winter for me. The pigeons bought from you are O.K., doing their duty. I have more orders for my squabs than I can fill and getting 35 to 40 cents apiece. I do not do any plucking. My pigeons are doing fine considering being locked in all the time.— W.S., New York.
Note. Sunflower seeds are good for pigeons, being used largely as a substitute for hemp- seed. Cut off the heads when grown and dry them. When you wish to feed a head. throw it into the pen whole and the pigeons will pick out the seeds.
Rees ace Ceateentotes:
READY TO KILL
These squabs are four weeks old. See how plump and broad-breasted they are.
FLORIDA FRIENDS ENTHUSIASTIC OVER PLYMOUTH ROCKS. I have a friend who is very enthusiastic over my pigeons. He will send you an order the first of the coming week for 48 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rocks such as mine Do your best for him. Of course he expects to get two extra pairs thrown in as a premium, My birds are getting along very nicely —W. J. D., Florida.
HAS HEARD FROM HIS FRIENDS. 1 have heard from several of my friends about your birds, stating they were very fine. I want to get some of your stock.—S. W. H., Kentucky.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 219
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
WOULD NOT TRADE HIS PLYMOUTH ROCKS FOR ANY IN HIS MONTANA TOWN. I have had fair luck and in all the Homers in town from different companies, I would not trade the ones I got from you for any of them. Friday noon, April 12, by carelessness, some boy friends in going from the coop let one of my fine red checkers out, which I would not have parted with for $2. He rose into the air and after circling once flew away faster than I ever saw a pigeon fly before. In discussing the matter with some people, they think he will come back, but he has not. Others think he has gone back to you.—M. S., Montana.
Note. Letters like the above come to us constantly. Guard your doors carefully. Have springs on them so they will close with- out attention. Homers which you raise you can safely let fly, because they know no home but yours, but Homers which you buy will fly off.
SQUABS 25 DAYS OLD.
Note that although they have been in the bowl since hatching, it is comparatively free from manure. They back up to the edge of the bowl and void into the nest box. It is the nature of pigeons to try to have clean nests, and they should be given a chance by the use of nestbowls.
NO CONCEPTION OF THE BEAUTY AND SIZE OF OUR EXTRAS. I received the birds last evening, just 24 hours after my order was sent in—prompt work, that. After having read your Manual and a great many testimonials, I was expecting som? fine birds, but find I had no conception of the beauty and size of your Extras. The compact bodies, rich, healthy color and uniformity of size were a thorough surprise. I am going to follow your directions given in the Manual, and you may count on me as a customer to the extent of my means.—Mrs. M. F. C., Massachusetts.
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN DEMAND IN THIS GEORGIA TOWN. L£nclosed find my check. Send me by express six pairs Extra blue-barred Plymouth Rock Homers, mated. I have about got this town started on raising pigeons. Mr. Barnes, my brother- in-law, has just handed me your new circular. He tells me he has ordered 12 pairs from you. I hope you will ship him some nice birds. His son has just bought some birds from the ——————- and I want the birds you ship me and his father to make him regret that he. did not order them from you. I ordered blue-barred birds from another party some time back and they sent me checkers. If I did not think you would send the order as Iam sending it in, I would not send it to you.
You remember I bought a few pairs of birds from you a little over a year ago. I have sold a great many birds and I have about 100 to 125 pairs of working birds on hand now. I am building me another pen that will hold about 200 pairs.—R. H. N., Georgia.
RAISING PLYMOUTH ROCK STOCK ONLY. BEST BIRDS EVER SEEN ANY- WHERE. The birds came yesterday all O. K. and were fine birds, and the hen with a little age will also be on top. Please accept my thanks. What I especially wanted was solid reds and when you do get hold of such a pair that is A No. 1, send them to me and send me the bill. I om raising strictly Plymouth Rock stock and have developed some A No. 1 birds, the best I have ever seen anywhere, and so I swear by E. C. Rice stock. You state that not one in 100 birds are solid reds. I know this to be a fact. When I do go into the show I want to have the best of all colors and they shall be Extra Plymouth Rock stock.—R.B.W., New York.
OUR WHITE HOMERS COMPARED WITH OUR COLORED HOMERS. I do not know cf a man I would trust any quicker than you. I would like to know if you have pure white Homers that are as large, plump birds as your colored ones are.—G. M. L., Vermont.
Answer. We charge $2.75 a pair for our white Homers. They are fine birds, as large as any white Homers in existence, but are not so large as our Extra colored Homers and do not breed so large a squab. ‘They cost more because they are scarcer; we sell a lot of them for pets, for their handsome plumage, and for undertakers.
PROLIFIC PLYMOUTH ROCKS HAVE BRED MORE SQUABS THAN ANY PIGEONS HE HAS. I came down to see you quite awhile ago and bought a pair of your Plymouth Rock Homers. Those Homers have bred more squabs than any other pigeons I have, and I have a good many. Will you please send me your catalogue of prices.—T. C., Massachusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 220
1907
FIVE MONTHS’ WORK. SMALL FLOCK QUADRUPLED. ONE OLD BIRD AND TWO SQUABS ONLY LOST BY DEATH. BREED- ERS OF COMMON PIGEONS MYSTIFIED. I write you a sort of detailed statement of how my four pairs of pigeons have done, that [ bought from you about the middle of May, 1907. One of my birds laid in ahout two weeks after her arrival, but the eggs did not hatch, and she laid again in about ten days after I found her eggs were not good, and that time she hatched all right. Two other pairs commenced work soon after the first, and both of them hatched all right and the first three pairs of squabs did well. lost one of the hens that I bought from you. She died after raising a fine pair of squabs. I have lost two squabs.
I now have 18 birds in all, after deducting the three that Ilost. All of my birds are now (October) at work, some making nests and some sitting.
Mine are the only Homers in this part of the country that I know of, and every one who sees them is charmed with them.
There are one or two parties here who are trying to raise the common pigeons on the same plan, that is by confining them, but are not doing much, and cannot understand why my birds do so much better than theirs. They say that if I make a success of the business they will then try Homers.
I am very fond of the business and find it a great recreation, and very little trouble. I attend to my birds before breakfast in the morning and give them plenty of water, and then at dinner time I feed them again, and that does them until next morning They are less trouble than anything of the kind that I ever had anything to do with, and I believe will be more profitable according to the amount of capital invested.—C. A. F., Mississippi.
SECOND ORDER, BIRDS DOING WELL, ANOTHER ORDER IN PROSPECT. I here- with enclose you $1 in currency, for which please send me 50 open legbands for grown pigeons, numbered one to fifty. The last shipment of pigeons came to hand on the second in good shape, and are a nice lot of birds. I am well pleased with them. My birds are all doing well. I think that I shall give you_another order soon.—F. R., Missis- sippi. (The first shipment to this customer was made in April, 1907, the second in October of the same year).
GREAT DEMAND FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS IN NEW JERSEY. I received on May 27, 1904, one dozen pairs of your birds and I have 200 birds at the present time. There is a great demand for Plymouth Rock squabs in New Jersey. Please send me your price on 50 pairs of your best Extra mated birds.—N. L., New Jersey.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
I have
1908
FAST START IN TWO WEEKS IN NEW JERSEY. On April 22 I wrote you informing you of the arrival of the birds. Now (April 29) there are two nests complete and six others being built, which I should think was pretty good work for birds not vet two weeks in a strange place. The birds have been highly praised for their fine appearance by a number of friends and acquaintances of mine, and of course the natural question was, where did I get them? Andas lama pretty good advertiser for any one that I consider to be worthy of such advertising, I have recommended your company as the right one to go to if they have any idea of investing.— J. H., New Jersey.
IN THE SNOW.
Let them out on sunny winter days. In cold,
stormy weather they are better off inside.
FINEST BIRDS THAT HE EVER SAW IN LOUISIANA, RESULT, MANY MORE ORDERS. I received my birds Saturday evening, November 2, at 7 p.m. Found them all in A 1 shape and are the finest birds I ever saw. Please accept my most sincere thanks for the extra pair and for your nice selection. I will return your basket one day this week, will take bill of lading for same from express agent and forward to you date I return same. I will send you an order for 12 pairs more about the 25th of this month. I want to order a small shipment each month until I get about 100 pairs of breeders.— G. W. T., Louisiana.
PERFECTLY MATED IN WEST VIRGINIA. I write to tell you how well my pigeons are doing. I am very well pleased with them as I believe they were perfectly mated and went right to work after they were in the loft not more than a week.—J. N. M., West Virginia.
UETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 221
1907
EVERY PAIR AT WORK IN DOUBLE- QUICK TIME. BUILDING UP A PLANT. I think a few lines to you is my duty. I expected to be at your office and plant before now. My young son got struck by a trolley car about the time I was going to go to Boston, and just escaped very serious. results, so I have stayed pretty close at home, but pore a vacation in July and will call on you then.
About the birds, they are doing fine. They went to work at once and some of them are now on their third lot of eggs. They held their matings, every pair. I feel very much encouraged and appreciate your fair and honest business principles. You will receive orders from us in the future as we are going to build up quite a plant.—H. I. L., Massa- chusetts.
SQUABS THREE WEEKS OLD.
BRANCHING OUT FROM A _ SMALL BEGINNING AFTER SUCCESSFUL EXPERI- ENCE WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN UTAH. I have decided to go into the squab business on a large scale and when my business interests are cared for will move to Salt Lake City where I hope to work up a good business The birds purchased from you have been very satisfactory in every particular and my business in the future will be done direct with your good company. My health is poor through confinement and I am determined to try squab raising for the
urpose of making a success and money.— W. Bey Witak:
SQUABS AS A SIDE LINE. Please send me two dozen wood-fibre nestbowls by express. The birds I received from you April 1 are all working satisfactorily (May 13, 1907). I do this as a side issue. I work in the factory all day and take care of my pigeons nights and mornings, and find it very pleasant work.—E. D. D., Massachusetts.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
TEN PAIRS OF SQUABS A YEAR FROM ONE PAIR. MARKET BROADENING AND DEMAND INCREASING. The pigeons that I bought from you are doing nicely. Most of them seem to be in good condition and keep steadily at work. One pair raised ten pairs of squabs a year and there are others that aimost equal them. I began last fall to save those from the best breeders. I had to kezp them in the house with the older birds because I had nowhere else for them to stay. They disturbed the pigeons through the winter, but they are mating and getting to work now.
I sell all the squabs I can raise to one of the local marketmen. At first there was no sale for them except in summer when wealthy people from the larger cities are sojourning here, but he bought all I had last winter. (See note below.)
When ready for market they weigh from two pounds to two and one-half pounds a pair. They are white and fat and the dealer has complimented me a number of times about them.
I find the business very interesting and would like to engage in it more extensively if I could get more time to devote to the birds, but it is tmpossible to do so at present. —Miss M. D., Connecticut.
Note. The squab market has broadened tremendously since we first began advertising in the high class periodicals advising people to eat squabs as well as raise them. This habit of eating squabs has a steady hold all the year round on thousands of families who ten years ago did not know what a squab was. This demand is increasing every year. In spite of the steady growth in production of squabs, the prices are as high, and in many cases, higher than ten years ago.
DELAWARE MAN FINDS IN OCTOBER, 1907, THAT NEW YORK MARKETS ARE HOLDING GOOD. PRICES ARE LIKELY TO GO HIGHER. I received your Manual yesterday and am very much pleased with it and stayed up until 1.30 last night reading it. I believe that if I follow your instructions and make up my mind to make a success of it, I will be able to do it. I knew a little about pigeons before, as my brother and I kept a flock of common pigeons when we lived in Long Island City, but had to move to New York City and had to do away with them.
I have a few mongrels on hand now and am experimenting a little, but as soon as able will send you an order. It will not be very large, but if your stock is as good as repre- sented (like your Manual) it will be all right.
I have written to New York markets for prices and find they are still holding up good and I believe next year they will go higher. Hoping you the best of success.—N. H. C., Delaware.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 999
aos
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
OTHER HOMERS HAVE NOT THE ee OF PLYMOUTH ROCK. SQUABS
EIGH FIFTEEN OUNCES, FEATHERS OFF. On December 22, 1906, I bought three pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers from you, and since then have had considerable luck with them. They are the best pigeons for breeding as well as for fancy I have yet seen. I’ve seen other Homers similar to those I have but they have not the quality of the Plymouth Rock. They weigh at the age of four weeks on an average 15 ounces, dressed, and are the finest pigeons for eating purposes that can be had. When I received the pigeons I knew but very little about them; but after following your Manual carefully I found results as stated, and will say it is worth double the amount I paid for it. I also made a feeder as shown in your Manual and think it is the proper thing for pigeons as there is but very little waste in feed. Out of the three old pairs I raised 28 squabs, losing but very few during the winter. I now have six pairs left which I am going to keep for breeders. The others I have been selling to friends here right along. I get from 50 to 75 cents a pair at the age of two months. I now (September, 1907) have a larger and better place for them and find thev are breed- ing a little better. They require but little care and are a great pleasure for pastime.— E. W., Missouri.
NINE HATCHES IN TEN MONTHS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. WOMAN HAS NOT LOST A BIRD, OR HAD ONE SICK. Please find enclosed the sum of $2.90 postal note for which send me three dozen of your wood- fibre nestbowls by Dominion Express Co. Also if you would send me your price list I should be greatly obliged. I am quite well satisfied that your pigeons are all that you claim for them as to breeding qualities. I have one pair of the eight you sent me last May which have had nine hatches in ten months, and the others were never far behind them, and now I have quite a number of the young ones mated up and raising young. For a fine appearance I do not think there is anything in pigeons could beat them. Have followed the directions in your book and I have not lost one bird or had one sick. I quite expected to have sent you an order for more breeders before now, but I have had my husband sick a great deal this winter and funds would not permit of it, but I hope to send you one before long—Mrs. A. O., British Columbia.
EVERY PAIR HAS EITHER EGGS OR SQUABS IN CALIFORNIA. Iam more than pleased with the way my birds are turning out the squabs and intend placing an order for more breeding stock soon. Every pair has either eggs or squabs and some have both. —I. L. T., California.
EARNING POWER OF SMALL FLOCK INCREASING AT NO EXPENSE. We tre- ceived our birds March 24, 1907. We had 25 pairs. They started to work in about three weeks and we had the first squabs about the 10th of May.
We have now (November 7, 1907) 120 young birds, and of these young birds we have five pairs that are working. Two pairs have already had young ones. Our entire
‘expense for feed to date has been $36.52.
Our expense for fitting up has been $140, not including price of birds. We figure that we have not made any money this year, and still we have not lost any, and think with more birds and a better knowledge of the business there would be good money in it.— *, E. B., Connecticut.
SQUABS TWELVE DAYS OLD.
POSTMASTER’S GOOD PROGRESS IN TWELVE MONTHS. I felt like it was my duty to write you a few lines. Just one year ago to day since I received my birds from you, seven pairs Plymouth Rock Homers. I now have 18 squabs, and 40 birds that can fly around in the pen. That makes 58 in all. I think that is doing remarkably weil for 12 months’ time. I am also trying to raise poultry. i have a fine place here for that purpose and thought that I could attend to that between times. I am postmaster here. After I get started and there is good money in it, I will sell out my store and do nothing else but raise squabs and poultry.—F. L. H., Illinois.
USED GRAPE-VINE STICKS FOR NEST- ING MATERIAL. The pigeons bought are doing well. The flying pen is covered with grape vines. I neglected to put in any nesting material. All the pigeons have squabs, so they used great grapevine sticks, some as large as my finger—W. E., Massa- chusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 223
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
STRONG MATINGS LAST TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND SEVEN PAIRS OUT OF FOURTEEN HAVE EGGS WITHIN TWO WEEKS, REST DRIVING. Received your shipment of 14 pairs of Homers about two weeks ago. There are seven pairs of them on eggs today and the rest are all driving. They were all in first-class condition except one cock, which seemed to have had his neck hurt, as he could not hold his head up nor eat anything, and he died. Thank you for your promptness and the two pairs free.— H. G. M., State of Washington.
VERY SUCCESSFUL WISHES TO BUY MORE. Could you tell us of a place where we could sell our pigeon manure? We have some four or five bushels. We have been very successful with our Homers. Starting with 12, we now have about 60 or 70. We want to buy some more breeders.—G. P., Missouri.
SQUABS A FEW DAYS OLD.
KENTUCKY WOMAN’S SUCCESS WITH FAST-BREEDING PLYMOUTH ROCKS. About 18 months ago we purchased from you six pairs of your Extra mated Homers, each pair a different color. These birds have done extra ‘ood work for us and have been more than satisfactory in every way. We have on hand now about 50 mated birds and about 100 youngsters; some of which ought soon to mate. The birds are all in good condition, moulting, but in spite of that some are still at work.—Mrs. C. P. M., Kentucky.
ALL MATED, QUICK IN GETTING TO WORK IN DISTANT TEXAS. The pigeons that I got from you last Thursday are getting along just fine. Two pairs have nests and as far as I can see they are all mated. The Extra hens, it took them just about a week, which is fine. The Wells Fargo would not ship the crate ccllect on delivery, so I paid them ten cents for shipping. I am well pleased with the birds.—G. J. W., Texas.
SQUABS TWICE AS LARGE AS THOSE FROM HOMERS FROM ORDINARY SOURCES. My birds purchased of you have been doing splendidly, under rather adverse circumstances because of the lack of care occasioned by my constant absence from home. Since entering into the business, I have taken special note of different pens in various parts of the State, of pigeons pur- chased elsewhere, and find to my entire satisfaction that none are as fine or finer than my birds. I have been unable to keep an exact tab on the rate at which they breed but I notice that certain pairs exceed others in this capacity and have been exceedingly satisfactory.
As to size of squabs, I can best tell you in the words of one of my customers upon her first purchase: Why, Mr. Cantey, I never saw such large, fat things in my life. I had to stuff and bake them, instead of broiling. They are twice as large as any I have been getting elsewhere. I wouldn’t mind if they were smaller.”” This is her unvarnished statement. I will send you a photograph of my pen in a few days.—H. C., South Carolina.
OUR MATED PAIRS GO RIGHT TO WORK IN KANSAS. _ I have delayed writing in order to see how the birds were going to turn out. Can say that I am very much pleased with them. They were delayed in Junction City from Saturday until Monday, but arrived in good shape. One male had its eyes pecked until it couldn’t see, but I took it out and bathed the swelling and it was all O.K. in a few days. I have four eggs and three more nests are being built, so you see they are going right to work. I have them so tame that I can hardly keep from stepping on them when I gs into the house. I will probably want more the first of the year and if I do I will certainly order from you.— CaE ot. Kansas:
VIRGINIA CUSTOMER <A STEADY BUYER. I enclose check for ten pairs blue and blue checker breeding pigeons. Ship per Adams Express to me. I intend to order in lots until I have 300 pairs. My old birds are doing well. I now have 18 pairs including squabs.—H. T.I., Virginia. (This customer’s first purchase was eight pairs, shipped in June, 1907. At this writing, November, 1907, he has sent in four more orders. His wife gave him a birthday surprise by ordering 20 pairs which we shipped so that they reached him on his anniversary.)
NO SUBSTITUTES WANTED, BUT SOME- THING JUST AS GOOD. I want to make another order by the 25th of this month (October, 1907). The last pigeons vou shipped me were beauties and I would like to have some more just as good.—C. O., Alabama.
ee ES ED LETTERS FROM CUSTOMORS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 224
1907
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
BIRDS WELL-MATED, WENT TO WORK AT ONCE. ONE OF HER SQUABS WEIGHED ONE AND ONE-HALF POUNDS. HER HOUSE WAS ON THE GROUND AND RATS GOT AT THE SQUABS. I bought my first pigeons of you and put them in my house on March 21, 1907. They were in fine shape and eyery one thought them the handsomest birds they had ever seen. I had 25 pairs. I think my first squab hatched April 21, and about all the birds were at work then, I think. I had my first two squabs on my own table and one of them when all dressed ready for baking weighed one pound and a half. Can any one beat that? I have not kept account of the number I have sold, but could have made a good thing of it if the rats had not got in. I sell them here in Scituate to the butcher for 20 cents apiece. While I was away this summer the one that took care of my birds for me sold a number of pairs of squabs to breed from for 50 cents a pair. I shall sell no more at that price. I have followed your Manual as nearly as I could in regard to feeding the birds and find my birds are big and fat and I have not had one sick one among them all. Neither have I _ been troubled with lice. When I came home this September I took account of stock and found that I had just 16 pairs of birds teft. You see the rats did us great harm, but we had the house raised and now I am sending for ten pairs more of the Extra Homers and hope to make a good thing of the squab business after this. I shall keep an exact account of all my birds. There are a number of people around here that keep pigeons, but I think mine are the best birds of them all. Those that see mine want to have birds of the same kind. I think you will have some orders soon if you have not done so already from some that have seen mine and want birds like them. I got my birds to make money with and I am going to do it if it is to be done. And I am sure it is. I think your Manual is a fine thing to have if one is going to do any- thing in the squab business. When I want to know anything about the business I always look in the Manual and I can most always find my answer. I should not want to get along without the book.
Enclosed please find post-office money order for the ten pairs of Extra Homers and other goods I sent for. I wish to thank you for the extra pair of birds you so kindly offer to send. I hope to send for more birds before many months if these do well. I took a picture of my pen with some of the birds in it to-day, and if good will send you one.— Mrs. J. H. H., Massachusetts.
Note. Rats burrow in the dirt and raise their families in these holes. When the floor of the squab-house is on the ground, the rats breed out of sight and out of reach, then they
‘class pigeons for.
get into the squab-house quickly. As we say in the Manual, the floor of the squab- house must be elevated two feet, then there will be no rats, for they will not start breeding in the open air under such a house.
LOST ONLY ONE OLD BIRD AND ONE SQUAB IN FIVE MONTHS’ BREEDING IN MISSISSIPPI. Please let me know what you will let me have about four pairs of first- My pigeons are doing finely. I have 16 now (September, 1907), just twice the number I bought of you in April. Ihave lost one of the old ones and one of the squabs. IJ have enlarged my quarters and want to enlarge my flock somewhat. I have one pair setting and two pairs have just raised a pair each and are ready for business —C. A. Mississippi.
NEST OF TOBACCO STEMS.
Some birds build a neat, compact nest like the above, and like tobacco stems to work with.
GENEROUS AND HONORABLE DEAL- INGS. I received to-day by mail a leg-band outfit complete, with which I am very much pleased, and wish to thank you very much for same. If at any time I can do anything for you, don't hesitate to acquaint me of it, as I would like to show my appreciation for your generous and honorable dealings with me. My pigeons are al! doing finely and I have quite a bunch of fine young birds. Thanking you again for your kindness and extraordinary promptness.—W. G., New Jersey.
SICK BIRD REPLACED. I received your postal today and was agreeably surprised to hear that you are willing to replace our sick bird. I hardly expected to receive such honest treatment. It is a relief to find an honest man these days. That bird we wish to replace is a hen. All the other birds are getting along finely —F.A., Massachusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 225
1907
RAPID BREEDING. CONTENTED MIND AND A CLEAR RECOMMENDATION FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. This is the first time I have had occasion to write you a for a year, so here it is briefly. Being a business man myself, I know the value of time. I put 21 pairs Plymouth Rock Homers in loft August 6, 1906. Have sold and eaten ten and one-half dozen squabs.° Have on hand to-day, October 8, 1907, 80 pairs mated breeders and near the end of the moulting season. Ihave about a dozen not ready for market and about a dozen pairs of eggs, divided between two lofts, 40 pairs in each and outside of fear of rats. I have a contented mind and a clear recommend for Plymouth Rock Homers.—W. T. P., Ohio.
RAISED FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS.
In sending the above picture he writes: ‘The parents I got from you. I refused ten dollars a pair for one pair this winter. I have seen several large squab ranches in Delaware but on all of them I never saw any birds that could throw such birds as those sold by you.”
MONTANA MAN LIKES OUR STYLE OF DOING BUSINESS. Received your notice of shipment of birds yesterday (Sunday 29) and received the four pairs of fine Extra Homers to-day (30th) all in good shape. They are all fine birds and we are much pleased with them. It was very kind and generous of you people to send an extra pair free of charge, and also drinker and bowls as we did not expect either. If this our first venture proves successful, you can_ rest assured you shall hear from us again. I like your style of doing business.—H. S. C., Montana.
A TREAT TO BE TREATED WELL. The eleven pairs of birds (second order) arrived here yesterday and all in first-class condition. I shall place another orde1 shortly, as I have to complete the buildings, and J am highly pleased at the manner your firm does business. It is a treat to know that one’s order is filled satisfactorily.—J. N., Virginia.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1908
SQUABS SOLD TO HOTEL FOR FIFTY CENTS A PAIR IN KENTUCKY. I received your shipment of six pairs of Extra Homers, all in good condition; thank you for the Extra hen. This was the finest lot of Homers I ever saw in size and plumage, which is so uniform that it is hard to tell one from the other. I will send for another order some time next month. I sold three pairs of squabs this morning at 50 cents per pair to the hotel, and they say that my squabsare fine. (Later.) Find enclosed money order for which send me six pairs of your Extra nest-mated Homers, checkered and uniform in plumage. Every pair I have are working and some have two nests; one has three young squabs, which I think is unusual.—A. H., Kentucky.
FIVE YEARS OF SUCCESS BY A NEW YORK STATE WOMAN. In October of 1902 IL sent you a check for $102.75 for pigeons. My pigeons have done very well. I ship to New York each week. I have just been reading your new squab book of 1907 and would very much like the address of the firm you quote in appendix on page 141 and top first column page 143. Kindly send it to me thereby helping an old customer. Also kindly send me price of the new drinking fountain spoken of in your Manual. I need three new ones and if satisfactory as to price will buy of you.—Miss O. W., New York.
STOCK DOUBLED IN MOULTING SEA- SON. We have sent you to-day an order for grain for which we hope you will send as soon as possible. We bought stock from you several times, the first order sent in about June 1. Since that time (three months) the stock has doubled. We expect to place a large order in the spring along about March. We have about 75 birds in stock at present and started with a stock of 32. We shall have to have a few white birds in our next order. What is the price of the white stock at present? Hoping you will send us the grain soon.—C. & F., Massachusetts.
FAST NESTING BY MATED PAIRS IN TEXAS. My birds received August 10 and turned into pen; the 17th they were building their nests, making sever days from arrival— all the birds in good shape. One did not fly on perch for about two minutes, but after this time have nothing wrong with them. They have certainly proven all that you have recom- mended of them and as to nesting have beaten your figures quite a bit. Thanking you for your extra favor, will do more business as soon as I locate where I will make my squab farm.—G. R., Texas.
MANUAL WORTH TEN DOLLARS. Iam very much pleased with your Manual and think it worth $10. I shall send you an order for breeding stock some time this month, and grain and supplies, just as quick as I can get my house built.—T. H., Massachusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 226
APPENDIX E
(Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice.)
CARNEAUX. BIG, RED PIGEONS.
The Carneau (pronounced car-no; plural Carneaux, pronounced the same) breed is new to this country. These pigeons are larger than the Homers and breed squabs weighing over a pound apiece. Plumage almost invariably copper red (rare specimens yellow) splashed a little with white; long body; broad breast; shape of head and body, and poise of body, different from other varieties; quiet disposition, not so timid as other breeds; meat of squabs uneommonly white; have no homing qualities; they may be allowed to fly, if desired, after a fortnight’s con- finement, will stay around the place where they are fed, will not try to fly back to place where bred; feed their young steadily and well; breed nine to ten pairs of squabs per year; are housed, fed and handled same as Homers; strong, rugged build. The above pictures give a very good idea of this variety. A customer in Greensburg, Penn., writes: ‘‘ This is the first time in my life to receive a circular picturing anything which gave a true picture; your picture is true to life in every detail. Everybody who sees my Carneaux is greatly taken with them. In every way they are doing splendidly.”
I spent several months in Europe in 1906, partly to study in their home the Carneaux pigeons, which then were just becoming known in America and were recommended in sensational terms. It was my purpose to see the evidence at first hand and find out if the claims were founded on fact. My investigations were favorable to this breed but I have waited two years to see how the birds would breed in our own lofts and in the lofts of customers. At this writing we have sold about a thousand pairs of Carneaux and orders for more are coming in fast. Previous to our importing this breed, there were about 600 pairs of Carneaux in America.
In our long experience with pigeons, we have never known such a demand
227
228 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAE BOOK
as there is for Carneaux. Six dollars a pair may be obtained by anybody who has the breeders for sale. Youngsters weaned and able to stand shipment sell for three dollars a pair. The squabs sell alive for ten dollars to twelve dollars a dozen. It costs no more to feed and raise these birds than other pigeons. The selling price both for squabs and breeders being so much larger, that is why the profit is larger. On account of the tremendous demand for these birds for breeders, nobody is selling the squabs from them killed, but if they ever get so numerous that squabs are marketed from them, the price will be the very top notch.
This breed has been developed by the pigeon breeders of Belgium. There are some Carneaux in France and Germany, but they are inferior in size and beauty to the Belgian birds, and few in number.
They are not very plentiful in Belgium. We have made arrangements for the output of all the adult, perfect pairs of Carneaux the breeders of Belgium can furnish, fit for breeding, but so far they have not been able to furnish us more than 200 pairs a month, so scarce are the birds. We hope to get more from them. We have saved out 500 pairs Carneaux and are breeding them at our farm. Wecan supply Carneaux imported by us, or (in limited number) bred by us from birds of our importation.
Why is the demand for Carneaux so much greater than the supply? Just this: They eat no more than Homers, but breed faster, and breed bigger squabs.
In other words, they not only produce more squabs than the Homers, but the squabs bring at least one-third more money. The breeder making a profit from Homers will make more than double his profits with Carneaux.
For years, the study has been to produce a pigeon larger than the Homer which would breed faster than the Homer. ‘This has been accomplished in the Carneaux. We know it by our own investigation and actual breeding of this variety, and we know it by the experiences of our customers.
The big breeds, all of which we have tried, such as Runts, Maltese, Italians (personally selected in Italy), breed big squabs, but they breed with exasperat- ing slowness. Crossed with Homers, the rate of breeding is improved, but the squabs are no larger than from our Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, so it is far better to breed the straight Extra Homers.
The Carneaux breed squabs weighing a pound or more apiece and they breed nine pairs to ten pairs of squabs a year. [For these two reasons, we believe that the Carneaux will displace the Homers in time. It will take many years because the Homers have a strong hold now and the Carneaux are scarce. Nevertheless, the cash returns from squabs weighing 12 pounds and 14 pounds to the dozen give a great profit to the breeder, and profits are what all squab breeders are after.
Any one who has both Homers and Carneaux can get in a year from each pair of Carneaux 15 or more pairs of squabs. Theoretically this is impossible for any pigeons. However, the Carneaux have help from the Homers. Just how this done is fully explained by us at the end of this article in the para- eraph headed, “ How to Breed Fifteen Pairs of Squabs from One Pair of Car- neaux in One Year.” ay. :
One of our customers, a Southern gentleman, visited our farm in the fall of 1906. He liked the looks of the Carneaux and on returning home later sent for three pairs, which we shipped him December 26, 1906. On February 13, 1907, he wrote us asking how many pairs we could give him. He took all we could then supply at $6.00 a pair, giving the following endorsement of his first
APPENDIX E 229
purchase: ‘‘ The three pairs I got December 28 have raised six squabs and are setting again (February 20), and I have not had them 60 days yet. So far they beat the Homers.” Under date of April 29, he wrote us. ‘‘ I have now, in my lofts, between 800 and 900 birds. Have Maltese, Mondaines, Carneaux and Homers, but the Carneau is the favorite bird with every- body that sees them. Have nearly 100 of these now and they are very rapid breeders, raising squabs that weigh from one to one and one-half pounds each. Have not sold any yet, but have enough orders on hand for them, at $6.00 a pair, to take all that I can raise for some time tocome. Think at the present rate I can get eight to ten pairs a year from them.”” Under date of December 13, 1907, he wrote us as follows: ‘‘ I have now something over 100 pairs of Carneaux. Have sold a few pairs and could have sold many more, but wanted my steck to accumulate and get as many breeders on hand as pos- sible. They are the best birds for squab raising that I have ever seen, and I believe I have seen them all. They breed faster, eat less, are hardier, better setters and feeders, and gentler than any of the other breeds, and for beauty they are unsurpassed. I have all told now about 3000 birds in my lofts. Have been very successful with my plant so far. May want some more Carneaux from you later on.”’
A customer in Missouri bought four pairs of Carneaux and liked them well enough to buy six more pairs three months later, saying: ‘“‘ Iam keeping an accurate record, which promises to be something startling for the year. Two pairs went to work (laid eggs) within 10 days. The third pair went to work in 26 days. The fourth hen was not so well along in the moult and did not lay until November 8. The average weight of squabs at four weeks old has been 17.6 ounces, weighed without crops filled with feed. The four pairs have made nine nests in less than 90 days, or a total average production of better than nine pairs a year. The actual average production is better than this, of course, as it wouldn’t be fair to count an average until all birds are at work. I have found them to be all that is desirable in a pigeon. They are good feeders and do not use more feed than the Homers.”
In November, 1907, we shipped 21 pairs of our Carneaux to a Philadelphia breeder, who replied: ‘‘ To say I am pleased, these words do not express it. They are the finest lot of birds I have seen anywhere. My friend, who imported 25 pairs of Carneaux some time ago from Belgium, is very much disappointed with his Carneaux since he has seen the shipment you sent me. I shall endeavor to do all I can for the interest of your house in the way of orders. I received the 21 pairs of Carneaux Saturday, 8.30 p.m. On Mon- day, at 10 o’clock in the morning, nine pairs of the birds sent had almost completed nine nests in their new home (in a little over one day). This seems remarkable to me and I write you these few lines to get your opinion of the work they have done.”’
Other breeders, not our customers, who have bred the Carneaux, praise them as follows:
“They will easily average three squabs a year in excess of select Homers. A conservative estimate of squab weight under favorable conditions is 18 ounces.”
‘They average nearly a pair of squabs per month. For fancy and squab producing qualities, the Carneaux easily lead all.”
‘“No question about Carneaux. They are it.”’
‘‘T have only two pairs. Results are so satisfactory that I am clearing lofts to devote exclusively to Carneaux.”’
230 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK
‘The Carneaux boom has struck this country for fair.”’
“The Carneaux exceed all others in point of squab producing, not only in numbers and weight, but also in the clarity of the skin, the palatableness of the flesh, and prolific nature.” :
‘‘ The consensus of opinion seems to be that the Carneaux will produce 10 pairs, or 20 pounds of squabs per pair to the year, while some place the average higher. Few place it lower.”
‘All I have read has been substantiated by my own personal experience. Their yearly yield is from 10 to 11 pairs of squabs.”’
‘““ My experience with Carneaux is limited to two years. Theyare great. The Carneaux will occupy the place of honor in loft and showroom. Ten pairs of squabs is the yield per year.”’
‘““T have bred them two years. Carneaux are as superior to the Homer as the Homer is to the common pigeon. It is the rule rather than the exception for the Carneaux to produce nine pairs of white-meated squabs a year which will average one pound each. My experience proves conclusively that they will produce twice as many pounds of squabs in a year as the ordinary birds now generally used as squab breeders, and one of the most conspicuous points in their favor is the fact that the cost of keeping them is no more,”
A few advertisers of pigeons who live inland, not in a seaport city, may ‘‘run down’”’ imported pigeons, saying they are no good, culls, not acclimated, poor breeders, and so forth, ad nauseam. The reason why these soreheads fret so is, that it is impossible for them to import pigeons success- fully. To do this successfully, steadily, profitably, one must live on the sea- board, close to where the Antwerp steamers come, and must have a personal acquaintance with the officers of the steamships, and see them at every sail- ing, and pay them for their work in caring for the birds. The reason why those who decry imported pigeons do not sell them is simply that they cannot get them, or, if they think they can get them, they wish to sell something in which there is a greater profit. We have seen not much talk of this kind, in opposition to imported pigeons, but it will be indulged in more or less as the traffic in Carneaux increases. The trade calling for Carneaux in America must be supplied with imported birds or go without them, for nobody can ship day by day, steadily, Carneaux of his own raising. You should be sure and get Carneaux which have been in this country at least one or two months, and have got their sea-legs off, for it is our experience that the long voyage results in a goodly percentage of dead and injured birds, depending on the weather and the caretakers.
That imported Carneaux go to work quickly is indicated by the letter of the Philadelphia gentleman above quoted, nine pairs out of 21 pairs having built nests within two days after delivery to him.
Our trade in Carneaux is increasing every month and we expect to sell many thousand pairs in 1908 and 1909. We recommend them to our cus- tomers. We do not wish anybody to take our word for their excellence. Try them alongside of your Homers and form your own opinion. Anybody who buys Carneaux of us and is not perfectly satisfied with them, and that ail we say here is true, after six months’ trial, may exchange them for our Extra Plymouth Rock Homers at the rate of three pairs of Homers for one pair of Carneaux,
APPENDIX E 231
HOW TO BREED FIFTEEN PAIRS OF SQUABS FROM ONE PAIR OF CARNEAUX IN ONE YEAR.
(Copyright, 1908, by Elmer C. Rice).
During the first eight months of the year, January to August, the Carneaux may be robbed of their eggs twice a month and they wil’ lay again about 10 days later.
A pair of Carneaux build a nest, and the two eggs are laid. On the day they are laid (or the second or third day, if the first day is not convenient for you) you take away the two eggs from the Carneaux nest and carry them in your hands to the pen where you have Homers breeding. You look around in the pen until you find a nest with Homer eggs. You throw these Homer eggs away, putting in their place the two Carneaux eggs. The Homers keep right on sit- ting and hatch out, not their own eggs, but the two Carneaux eggs, and raise the two Carneaux squabs.
Meantime, the pair of Carneaux from which you took the eggs wish more eggs, and within 10 days to 14 days the hen lays again. Now, as you did at first, you take away these two eggs from the Carneaux and put them under Homers.
Do not take away the third setting of eggs from the Carneaux. Let the eggs stay in the Carneaux nest and the Carneaux will hatch and raise them.
For example, a Carneau hen lays two eggs June 1. Take them away and substitute them for the eggs in a Homer nest. The Carneau hen will lay again June 10 to June 15. Take the two eggs away and substitute them for the eggs in a Homer nest. The Car- neau hen will lay again June 25to July 1. This will give you three settings of eggs from one pair in 30 days. Let the Carneaux raise the third setting and then repeat the process.
During the last four months of the year, take away the eggs only once and let the female Carneau set on the second pair of eggs
From 15 pairs to 18 pairs of squabs from one pair of Carneaux may be produced in one year by the above method. With Carneaux selling for six dollars a pair, of course it pays to use Homers to increase the supply of Carneaux. With ordinary success, in follow- ing this method, the capacity of a pair of Carneaux may be doubled.
COMMENT ON ABOVE.
We do not think this forcing method would have the slightest effect on the health of the Carneaux. Hens and ducks lay a great many more egys thar
232 NATTONAIZ STANDARD SOUABWBOCT
pigeons. It is not much strain on the female pigeon to lay four or six eggs a month instead of two. The strain of production comes from setting on the eggs day after day, not in laying the eggs, we should guess.
Why not take away all the Carneaux eggs and hatch them under Homers, some may ask. We do not believe in this, as far too unnatural. The Car- neaux should be given an opportunity to raise the third setting, for that is what they are striving for.
This method has been tested thoroughly with birds purchased from us and it works all right. There is nothing far-fetched about it. You simply take the eggs away and let Homers hatch them out. At the same time, simple as this plan is, it has never been published before, to our knowledge, nor has it ever been tried except by a few breeders of our acquaintance. It is not uncommon for breeders of fancy pigeons of poor feeding and raising qualities to put their eggs under Homers, but no motive for doubling the squab pro- duction from certain pigeons has ever existed until today, when it 1s money in the breeder’s pocket to turn out all the six-dollar pairs of Carneaux he can in the shortest space of time.
In following the above directions the breeder should realize that the Carneaux eggs must replace Homer eggs laid within two days of the same time, otherwise the bird milk of the Homers will be too old and thick, and the young Carneaux cannot assimilate it and may die.
(Later. January 1, 1909.)
Another year of breeding and shipping the Carneaux has substantiated our opinion of them, and the orders from customers have been added proof. On page 229 we mention a Western customer who started with four pairs of our Carneaux, then added six pairs. He was so pleased with results that in 1908 he ordered 30 pairs more, then again 35 pairs, and finally in November, 1908, an order for 150 pairs amounting to $900. No more comment con- cerning his opinion of our Carneaux is needed—his money tells an eloquent story. This customer is an experienced pigeon breeder.
From the letters of other customers to whom we sold Carneaux in 1908, we make the following extracts. The full letters are on file at our Boston office, where they will be produced at any time to satisfy anybody as to their genuineness:
Enclosed find check for $30 for which please send me five pairs of your Carneaux birds. I bought one pair of you some time ago and am much pleased with them.
Please ship me two more pairs of Carneaux as soon as possible. The other two pairs you shipped are doing nicely.
The eight pairs of Carneaux received from you April 25 have behaved beautifully with the exception of one pair. Nine days from date of arrival one pair had a nest and twoeggs. Today (May 26) I have four pairs of squabs and expect three more pairs the last of this week. They surely have followed President Roosevelt’s prolific policy. Iam greatly pleased and am be- coming interested in the possibilities of squab raising with the Carneaux. Regarding the pair that have not turned out right, I will ask your advice. The female (the smallest bird of all) laid two eggs in a bow! without any nesting material and left them to spend her time with her male partner in the flying pen. I will thank you in advance for any advice you can give regarding this negligent pair.
I thought it might interest you to know how the Carneaux have done that I bought of you in 1907. In June, 1907, I bought of you two pairs, in September one pair, in December, 1907, one pair, and I now (December 17, 1908) have 21 pairs mated and working. I have 114 birds not yet mated, and have sold $44 worth of mated pairs and young not mated. Do you not think I have done well? I find the Carneaux a most charming bird, very tame, and they never leave the
DMI ZAIN IDM AS Ie, 233
nest when setting when you approach them. They feed their young fine, and raise squabs that weigh from 12 to 18 and 20 ounces at one month old. I have one pair of young mated last Jan- uary that I have been offered $10 for. I find much pleasure in mating up these birds, and I think I have got as good foundation stock as I could get anywhere. The Carneaux judge at the show told me that one of the hens purchased from you was as good a Carneau hen as he had ever seen. I have one young pair that have been breeding several months and they are averaging a pair of squabs a month, and have never lost a single squab. Their hatches are usually one or two days inside of a month. My Carneaux are very fast breeders, and I find by mating rightly I can increase their speed in breeding. They are everlastingly at it. I have got so much at- tached to the Carneaux that if there was no money in raising them I still would want a good flock of them. What could you sell me 100 pairs for, and how soon could you deliver them to me ?
The birds which you sent me on Monday arrived here Wednesday at 10 o’clock in good condition. The Carneaux are great and I wish to thank you for the extra Homer hen. It is a dandy. My other two pairs of mated Homers have eggs now and my first pair of Carneaux have young ones. I am delighted as your birds and dealings are first class. You can bet that I’ll be writing for more as soon as possible.
I have now over 150 pairs of Carneaux. Your birds (Carneaux) have done well. I am now shipping 20 dozen per week and getting $4 per dozen. If it would keep up that way all the year here (Florida) I would ask for no better business. I shall be in Boston later on in the year and will call on you. I much want to see your Carneaux.
The Carneaux birds arrived in noble condition. We are very much pleased with them, and every one here that has seen them cannot get through talking about them. We certainly appreciate your promptness and methods in doing business and must say that you do more than you promise to. Will in a few days write you for more supplies that we will be in need of. Again thanking you for the way you have treated our order, we can give you our hearty support in any way that the buying public may demand of you, and you are at liberty to use this letter wherever it is of any value to you.
We received the three pairs of Carneaux April 27. They were in good condition, only one seems a little dull, but I'think it will be all right. They are the largest pigeons I ever saw and are all that you claim them to be. When we have room we want to get more from you. One of our neighbors is going to start raising pigeons and wants me to sell him my squabs. I had to refuse and told him I thought Mr. Rice would furnish him with all the birds he wants, so I give you his name.
My Carneaux birds are doing fine, in fact, I am more than pleased with them. I have had ten settings and have just weighed a squab at one week old and it weighed a pound. We could hardly believe our eyes, but it is true. I am delighted with them. Any time I can help you in any way in regard to using my name you are welcome in regard to your Carneaux, as we think gue are the only kind of pigeons to raise and we will get rid of all our Homers and raise only
arneaux.
I have been so very busy with Carneaux, chickens, hens, etc., that I have found no time to write before. I think the birds are very handsome and on May 8, every pair (16) had nests and eggs. I expect they will begin to hatch the first young ones about May 14, tomorrow.
I would like to ask you whether you have three pairs of Carneaux mated, as I am very much pleased with my first pair. They are all you claim them to be in size and have just finished building their nest.
The Carneaux arrived all O.K. on the 12th. Yesterday four of them built nests and laid oneeggeach. I call this fast work. Accept my thanks for quality of birds.
Some months ago I wrote you in regard to the pair of solid red Carneaux which I purchased of you last December to show at the Rochester Pigeon Show last January. The cock took first prize and the hen second prize. My Carneaux are doing fine and I find much in them that is very interesting. I have raised a fine lot of young Carneaux this year and they are all from your stock. My squab Homers are doing fine and I still have every one of the original 12 pairs I purchased of you November 9, 1904, and they are all working right along.
I have received your Carneaux in fine shape, and they are as fine birds as I have. I am very much pleased with them.
I wish to say that the four pairs of Carneaux my brother got of you last November have raised 16 fine birds.
254 NATIONAL STANDARD SO UAB BOO
I am more than pleased with the pair of Carneaux which I got from you and send another order for two more pairs. I have the finest Homers I have ever seen but they look very small beside the Carneaux and if the Carneaux breed well I will send for more orders.
I am very much pleased with my Carneaux and will be glad to send you pho S
as I get some. I had the address of a man in this State who eeuae to Be pie seh se breeder of Carneaux and Homer pigeons. I wrote him for a price on red, and red and white birds, just in those words, and he said, yes, he had just what I wanted at $2.50 each, three for $6, and he would make a personal selection of the birds, which were second prize winners But you ought to have seen the birds he sent me, not near as good as my own. I returned them to him, but he said they were just what I ordered and that I expected to get show birds under the pretence of ordering breeding birds, also he did not ship birds on approval at this time of year. He had the advantage as he held my money. He said show birds demanded a big price. He refused a price of $150 for one bird in his exhibit at State Fair. Now, I saw those Carneaux and they were no better than some of mine. One of the pairs I bought from you last Spring throw some elegant birds. As Iam an amateur I suppose I must learn that all pigeon dealers are not white. I had no idea of showing my birds, but as this dealer seemed to be afraid I would, I think it would be a good idea to go in and show him that ‘* there are others.” If I have as good luck next season as | have this year, I think I can do it. Three of the females are from this best pair _I mentioned. All three pairs hatched seven pairs young, working right through the moult.
The shipment of Carneaux arrived just a month ago and is very satisfactory. Nine of the ten pairs are mated, and seven have squabs. The birds arrived several days before the nappies, but they adapted themselves to circumstances. One pair nested in a grit box, another pair in the oyster-shell box and three pairs on the floor, The nest bowls arrived just in time to
save the drinking fountain,
The pair of Carneaux received in good shape, and am well pleased with them. Think they will soon be at work, have commenced to drive. Will want another pairin a few weeks. Every one that has seen them says they beat everything they have ever seen.
The three pairs of Carneaux and seven pairs of Homers arrived here March 25. The Carneaux are very large, fine birds. There are several squab raisers here (California). One man has 8000 birds and another has 5000, mostly Homers, but when they saw my Carneaux they nearly went wild. I am going to order more Carneaux in a few days but not until I see what they will do. I will clear my lofts of Homers as fast as I can and stock up with Carneaux if they prove
to be even as good a breeder as the Homer.
The Carneaux are doing fine. One pair went to setting within 24 hours after arrival. The other pair laid two eggs without building a nest so of course are not setting, but I believe they are building now as they stay indoors a great deal of the time. Am writing you this as I thought it might be of interest to you to know how your birds are doing that you sold. I brought the doctor with whom you have been corresponding in regard to the Carneaux, around to see my birds and told him of the very good work they have done and he seemed very much pleased with them. What are 100 of these birds worth? I believe in time they will take the
place of the Homers,
The three pairs of Extra Homers and three pairs Carneaux arrived this morning in fine condi- tion, and are a fine lot of birds. Iam well pleased with them. They seem to be in a hurry to get to work, as one of the Carneaux laid this afternoon. I think all of them will be on eggs in a few days. Will want more breeders later, when you will hear from me. Thank you for send-
ing me such good birds.
As I have promised you, this lady has ordered me to get more Carneaux for her. She is very proud of the five pairs you sold her. She has got the Carneaux fever for fair. So here you are, kindly have ready for next Saturday afternoon, we will call for them, five pairs of your best Carneaux. Kindly note, she will want more in about two weeks. She has given me the money already, so it is up to you to do your best. In her name IT thank you. I will call next Saturday
about 1 p.m. for them if you can get them ready.
Please advise me if the Carneaux pigeons purchased from you November 23 are imported birds, or are they bred by you from the imported stock. The birds are doing excellent work. I purchased 20 pairs and at this writing have 20 nests. Every bird in the loft has eggs or squabs,
of the lot purchased, 20 pairs.
I am well pleased with the pair of Carneaux which arrived Saturday in good condition. Please send me three more pairs of same on the same conditions, for which I enclose herewith $18.
AVR NDT Xe 230
I thank you for your compliments regarding my success at recent leading shows with my Carneaux. Three years ago in one of my consignments of pigeons from abroad, I received a few pairs of Carneaux. I kept them and bred several fine specimens. I am not a regular pigeon dealer. 1 ama fancier more. I work every day at my trade. Pigeons with me are a side issue. I have bought of you since December last over $148 of Carneaux, all for a few customers. Now these exhibitions in different cities I made have created a furore and everybody is after me for Carneaux. One party says, ‘‘ A man like you that exhibits such fine Carneaux must have some fine ones at your lofts. I want your Carneaux,” etc. I will send you an order for five pairs and I can guarantee you more orders next week.
I received my last order of pigeons two or three days ago; which was my _ third order from you. The Homers were very fine and the Carneaux were the finest pigeons I have ever seen. They are simply grand and if I could not get any more like them I would not take one hundred dollars for them. They were driving the hens and feeding in one minute after I turned them out. They all have nests now. You have treated me very nicely and I like to do business with you. You have always treated me right. I had a letter from a pigeon man yesterday, about 150 miles from here, but I did not know how they would use me and so I give my order to you. Enclosed find check for $50 for which please send me three pairs of your very best eee and the rest, a nice assortment of best Homers. (This is the fourth order from this customer.
The eight pairs of Carneaux which you sent me last Friday arrived Saturday morning at 9.30, making seven and one-half hours better time than the shipment of Homers you made me on November 1 last. They are certainly beautiful birds. I tried putting each pair in mating coops immediately on their arrival, having previously removed the partitions, and by four o clock that afternoon six pairs had mated. The other two pairs mated the following morning.
I was going to go to see you last Saturday but it was so cold I postponed it. Kindly fill my order for five pairs of Carneaux. All Carneaux bought of you are entirely satisfactory. It is a pleasure to deal with you. I will have the money ready when I call for them. Kindly advise when you can fill my order.
The Carneaux were in fine shape and I am well pleased with them. I am enclosing money order for $12 for which please ship, at once as per my other order, two pairs more of mated Carneaux. Please give the filling of this order careful attention, as it means a great deal to me. If these birds do as well as I hope they will, I shall place an order for about 50 or 75 pairs in the near future. :
I am in receipt of the four pairs of Carneaux which were shipped on June 1. The birds are doing nicely, all four pairs having nested and laid.
The Carneaux came to hand last Tuesday and to say I am pleased with them is putting it entirely too mild. They are the prettiest, biggest things in the pigeon line leversaw. Every one that sees them says that they are stunners, they are the talk of the town. Will do as you suggest about the plan and photo of the house I built for less than $20, and it is a dandy for this climate, too. If you wish to refer any one to me or have me show any one the Carneaux, just say so and I will be only too glad to doit. Thank you for the prompt and careful attention given my order.
Our two crates of birds arrived two weeks ago. We thank you for the fine lot you sent. They are certainly as fine as any one can hope to possess. We have the room now for 700 or 800 pairs and we intend to fill this up with Plymouth Rock Extra Homers and Carneaux. We are ‘“‘stuck’’ on the Carneaux but they are nearly out of our reach. Please give us all the information you can about selling squabs. Can we reach New York? We understand that we can. We raise more squabs in the winter than we can easily handle in this city. _We note the markets in the Packer but they are always just as you say, below the actual market prices. Our birds will win all the prizes at the County Fair again this year.
The Carneaux arrived Monday morning and were O.K. and to say I am pleased with them does not express it, as I think the pair of yellows are the best I ever saw. I was surprised to find the extra hen, as I did not expect you to make good the loss of the other one. I thank you very much for the nice way you have treated me in our dealings, and hope to do more business with you later.
In regard to our conversation of last week about the Carneaux, will state that I like the birds much better than the Homers, as both squab raisers and show birds. Every one who has seen my birds says they are the largest and finest birds they ever saw. From the one pair of Carneaux I purchased of you in March, 1908, I have raised five and lost three. They laid in
236 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAS BOOK
CARNEAU SQUAB COMPARED WITH HOMER SQUAB.
The Plymouth Rock Carneau squab at the left of the above photograph weighs 17/4 ounces. The Homer squab alongside at the right weighs twelve ounces.
about three weeks after arriving here, so you see they have been at work nearly all the time and are now setting. I have entered five of them at our County Fair, New York, and expect to capture all the prizes as I have no competition and had to enter them in a special class. I have a pair of yellow birds which I prize highly. The Carneaux should make a great showing in the squab industry.
I received your special offer on your Plymouth Rock Homers, but I don’t see any reference to your Carneaux. I have made up my mind to discard all birds except the Carneaux. I have had one pair from you and I am well satisfied. Now what are your lowest terms, say for five or ten pairs, express paid to my address? Mr. Rice, I want them in time so I ean show them at our fairin September. So far Iam the only one in Colorado who has a pair of Carneaux, and I believe I could get quite a few orders for you if I put good birds on exhibition.
The three pairs of Carneaux are doing well. The squabs arevery large. One pairof squabs especially, I feel sure, will weigh a pound and a quarter each at about a month old.
We purchased from you Homers about six months ago and Carneaux about three months ago. Both are satisfactory and we like the work very much. We are going to build a house for them this fall so as to make room for more stock,
The pigeons you shipped me last week arrived this morning in fairly good condition, con- sidering the long distance they travelled. The Carneaux were extra lively. They mated in less than an hour after being taken from the crate. JI am more than pleased with the Carneaux and think they are the finest birds I ever saw and shall take great pride in showing them to
my friends.
I have 50 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers which we bought of you. They are doing all right but I like the Carneaux better. The worst thing about the business is the killing part. If I
ATE IEZID INIDIC AG I) 237
could get around that part I would enjoy it better. That is the reason I would like to get started with the Carneaux.
The Carneaux are beyond my expectations. I have bred al! kinds of pigeons, but have never seen such breeders in my life. I have bred youngsters from them weighing 1934 ounces at 20 days old. Can you beat that? Enclosed please find order for six dozen nest bowls.
I suppose you may be interested to hear about the breeders you sent me last spring. The two pairs of Carneaux are doing fine. They have hatched five pairs of squabs since.
The Carneaux I bought from you are coming along finely now. I have had luck with two or three settings and now have ten young pigeons from two pairs.
I bought four pairs of Carneaux of you last November and now (October) have 37 birds.
I am going to order some more Carneaux sure. As far as I have seen they are the bird. My neighbors here say that mine look more like turkeys than pigeons.
Some time ago i ordered of you five pairs of Plymouth Rock Carneaux at $6 per pair and am very much pleased with same. I am particularly interested in the building up in point of weight in this particular bird. Hence I beg to be advised whether you would select shipment of extraordinary size at increased price and if so, extent of increased size or weight as compared with the general run of this bird, and at what cost? (Later we received an order from this customer for five pairs more.)
The Carneaux were purchased of you some time in December iast, I think, first three pairs. Then later my partner went over and purchased of you three pairs more, making six pairs of imported birds purchased of you. The balance are the offspring of the original six pairs. I shall have no hesitancy in recommending the Carneaux to any who may inquire. They have proved more prolific than the Homers and much heavier birds.
The Carneaux proved well. Enclosed find $6 for another pair. We are slowly selling off our Homers. (This customer has bred Homers for many years.)
We started with six pairs of your Carneaux shipped March 26, 1908. We have divided our loft into two pens, one for the breeders and one for the young. At this time, October 238, we have forty birds altogether, which we considera good increase. The young birds are begin- ning to mate. Our flock worked right through the moulting season. We enjoy the birds and the work among them very much. (Later—November 23.) We now have forty-five Carneaux all told and eight pairs at work.
The above letters from customers give a clear idea of how our Carneaux are getting along in the United States and Canada. Our trade in them increased in 1908 steadily and we are going to ship thousands of pairs in 1909.
PLYMOUTH ROCK CARHOMES.
The crossing of a Plymouth Rock Carneau cock to a Plymouth Rock Extra Red Checker Homer female produces a splendid squab and we recommend this cross if you wish to save a little money on your first purchase. If you have some of our Extra Plymouth Rock Homer females now in your flock, red checkers, we will ship you our Carneaux males to mate with them at $2.50 each. Or, if you so instruct us, we will mate a Carneau niale to a red checker Homer Extra female and sell the pair to you for $3.50—as many pairs as you wish at $3.50 a pair. The price of our Carneaux is $6 a pair, one price only. (No special offers made on this breed.) So in buying the Carneau-Homer combination of us instead of the pure Carneaux you will save $2.50 on every pair you buy.
We call this combination Carhomes, taking enough of each word to make the desired meaning. We advocate red-checker Plymouth Rock Extra Homer females instead of the other colors because the color combination
238 NATIONAL STANDAKD SOUAL BOOK
is the prettiest and also because the resulting squabs have red plumage closely resembling the pure Carneaux squabs. Of course they cannot be sold for breeders as pure stock Carneaux but these Carhome squabs can be put on the market in competition with pure \ *rneaux squabs and will sell up to them surprisingly strong. One of our customers who is pro- ducing these Carhome squabs writes the following emphatic words: “The results of my breeding one of your Carneau cocks to a red-checker Extra Homer female are more than satisfactory. First, it is impossible to tell the difference in color and size. Second good result, it makes the young ones very hardy. I made other experiments by crossing a Carneau cock with an English hen Homer (carrier). The results are not so good because you can tell ane English blood in the squabs and it destroys the beauty of the Carneau head.”’
We do not breed Carhomes at our farm because our reputation has been built up and will be continued on pure stock. But if you wish to breed squabs for market, then you can go ahead with confidence on this cross. We sell them at the price formerly charged by some for Homer pairs, and they are superior to any Homers for producing big squabs and breeding fast. Understand, there is nothing to prevent you from building up a business in the Carhomes for breeders but you cannot sell them representing them as pure Carneaux. The blood of the young will be half Carneaux and _ half Homer. You sell them on their merits as squab-breeders.
For our customers of many years’ standing who are shipping steadily in to the markets of all the cities on this continent not only the best Homer squabs, but three-fourths of all the squabs sold, we recommend our Carneaux cocks to be crossed with their red-checker Homer females as the best means of increasing the weight per dozen of their output and the quantity of squabs produced; and bettering both the appearance of the squabs and the quality of the meat.
We do not advocate the crossing of a Homer red-checker cock to a Carneau - hen (or, to coin a word, Homecarnes) because (1) the cock should be master in fact as well as name, (2) the female likes a large male better than a small male, (3) the female is not so likely to break her mating to secure a more vigorous helpmate, (4) the male is better able to defend his mate and family from other nales or females, (5) the male Carneau, the best of his kind, is larger and better than the male Homer, the best of his kind. (The female Carneau is inferior to the male Carneau.)
CARNEAUX AND HOMERS NOT IN THE SAME PEN.
As a rule, each breed of pigeons should be kept in a pen separate from other breeds. If different breeds are kept in the same pen, the breeds may mix, no matter how carefully the pairs are mated, and of course the young are liable te mix. There is nothing about a Homer pigeon which keeps it true to its own species. If Fantails or any other fancy breeds of pigeons are kept in the same pen with Homers, there is nothing about the Homer which would lead it to be true to its own species. He or she is just as liable to seek a different breed fora mate. As to the two kinds we sell, the Homers and the Carneaux, if they were kept in the same pen, it is quite possible that an attachment for a Carneau cock or hen might form with a Homer of the opposite sex. So if you are breeding both the Carneaux and the Homers for the pure stock you should keep them separate.
APPENDIX F
(Copyright, 1909, by Elmer C Rice.)
Letters from customers which we print on the following pages are a few of those received lately. From a pile of manuscript some three feet high we have selected enough letters to make a proper setting for the pictures. Many customers have sent in letters which ought to be printed for the news in them, but in this book, now grown to quite bulky proportions, we have run up against the limit of space.
A MONTHLY SQUAB MAGAZINE.
The best outlet for suggestions, experiences, market reports from all over the country, etc., constantly being sent in, would be a monthly squab maga- zine, printed and illustrated in the best style, capably edited and written by experienced and industrious men and women who have ability as well as good intentions, who know what they are doing, and who know squabs. Such a magazine, creditably gotten up, with money behind it, and money com- ing in from subscribers really pleased because they would be getting full value, would bea power in the squab industry. Properly managed, it would not only be a clearing house for ideas and a monthly entertainment, but of assistance in actually making market prices for squabs, bettering them. Breeders of squabs should be organized for better prices and other ends. A first-class monthly squab magazine would be cheap at a subscription price of $1 a year, issued on time each month, and containing nothing but original matter at first-hand (no politics or cheap wrangling, but plain and thorough business all the time.) There is a demand for such a national squab magazine and thousands of breeders would subscribe for it.
MORE ABOUT HOW TO TELL SEX.
A good proportion of our letters, month after month and year after year, inquire how to tell the sex of pigeons. People ask us this question before they have read this Manual and after they have read the Manual. We should like to write this down to the remotest detail so that even a child could tell the sex of a pigeon by looking at it, but this is impossible. There is no language which can convey the secret of telling absolutely the sex of pigeons. You can*tell only by watching them and by experience gained by this watching. You become more expert in determining the sex as you go along. There are no marks on either male or female by which you can distinguish them at any age. Some large male pigeons act the same as roosters do and can be told almost at a glance. On the other hand, some female pigeons are large and coarse, like a male bird, and the secret of their sex is disclosed only by their actions in conjunction with birds of the opposite Sex.
The birds we ship are banded cocks on right leg and hens on left leg. You must watch these birds and see how they act. By the location of the band you will know the sex and by their actions you will learn to connect what you see with the specified sex. Sometimes customers will write to us and state that they have raised birds and are puzzled about the sex of them. In that case you must watch their actions or you can turn such birds in with
239
240 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
some of our birds and watch their behavior in connection with our birds. You will know the sex of our birds by the bands on their legs, and when you have determined by the actions of your birds what the sex of them is, catch them and band them, putting a band on the right leg of the cock and a band on the left leg of the hen. It is impossible to band a squab four or five days old with a seamless band so as to designate the sex. You cannot tell the sex of a squab or young pigeon until it discloses by its actions at mating age, four or five months, what it is. If you put a seamless band on a young squab, the object is to show the age, not the sex. The best way for the business squab breeder is to put an open band on the leg of the squab, showing its age, by its date, and bearing a distinguishing number which you refer to in your records. You can put this band on either the right leg or the left leg of the squab. When the young bird grows up to mating age and you find out its sex, then change the band to either the right or left leg to suit the case.
It is not a difficult matter to determine the sex of a pigeon by watching, for sooner or later you will see actions that will tell you. You must not be guided much by a little quarrelling which you sometimes see going on. Two hens will quarrel the same as two cocks. If two or three pigeons are ex- tremely puzzling to you, handle them in this manner: Take them out of the breeding pen and put each pigeon in a small coop or box in the dark and keep them there for two or three days, each pigeon in a separate box or coop. Feed and water them regularly, then take them out of their little coops and put them into mating coops with other birds. They will generally disclose their sex as they are anxious for companionship after being shut in so long. Another way to do this is to take two birds and put them into a mating coop, one on each side of the partition, and put a bag or other covering over the coop so that the place will be darkened for two or three days. Feed and water daily. Then take off the covering and take out the partition in the middle of the mating coop and watch the two birds as they come together.
The beginner should familiarize himself with the billing, treading and driving as he sees the birds. We have had customers write us and declare that we had shipped them squabs because they had seen what they thought young birds taking nourishment from the older birds. What they really had seen was a male bird kissing or billing with a female bird, a matter entirely different.
The male and female mates not only bill, tread and drive, but they nestle close at times, each running his or her bill through the feathers on the neck and head of the other.
Pigeon breeding is an ancient hobby and pastime in England. An English writer, Dixon, years ago described their love affairs in choice words. It is a pretty sight, said Dixon, to see pigeons at liberty when “ courting.” They begin to go together in pairs, except while associated with the flock at feeding- times; and when they are resting on the roofs, or basking in the sun, they retire apart to a short distance for the purpose of courtship, and pay each other little kind attentions, such as nestling close, and mutually tickling the heads one of another. At last comes what is called ‘“ billing,’ which is in fact a kiss, a hearty and intense kiss. As soon as this takes place, the marriage is complete, and is forthwith consummated. The pair are now united, not necessarily for life, though usually so, but rather durante bene placito, so long as they continue to be satisfied with each other. If they are
Sal JETS DIN ID MC TE 241
Tumblers, they mount aloft and try which can tumble best; if they are Pouters, they emulate one the other’s puffings, tail-sweepings, circlets in the air, and wing-clappings; while the Fantails and Runts, and all those kinds which the French call pigeons mondains, walk the ground with conscious importance and grace. But this is their honeymoon—the time for the frolics of giddy young people. The male is the first to become serious. He foresees that ‘‘ the Campbells are coming’’ better than his bride, and therefore takes possession of some locker or box that seems an eligible tenement. If it is quite empty and bare, he carries to it a few straws or light sticks; but if the apartment has been already furnished for him, he does not at present take much further trouble in that line. Here he settles himself, and begins complaining. His appeal is sometimes answered by the lady affording him her presence, sometimes not; in which case he does not pine in solitude very long, but goes and searches out his careless helpmate, and with close pursuit and a few sharp pecks if necessary, insists upon her attending to her business at home. Like the good husband described in Fuller’s Holy State, “* his love to his wife weakeneth not his ruling her, and his ruling lesseneth not his loving her.’’ And so the hen obeys, occasionally, however, giving some trouble; but at last she feels that she must discontinue general visiting and long excursions, and enters the modest establishment that has been prepared for her performance of her maternal duties. A day or two after she has signified her acceptance of the new home, an egg may be expected to be found there. Over this she (mostly) stands sentinel till, after an intervening day, a second egg is laid, and incubation really commences, not hotly and energetically at first, as with hens, turkeys, and many other birds, but gently and with increasing assiduity. And now the merits of her mate grow apparent. He does not leave his lady to beara solitary burden of matrimonial care. He takes a share, though a minor one, of the task of incubating; and he more than performs his half-share of the labor of rearing the young. At about noon, sometimes earlier, the hens leave their nests for air and exercise as well as food, and the cocks take their place upon the eggs. If you enter a pigeon-loft at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, you will find all the cock-birds sitting—a family arrangement that affords an easy method of discovering which birds are paired with which. The ladies are to be seen taking their respective turns in the same locations early in the morning, in the evening, and all the night. The older a cock-pigeon grows, the more fatherly does he become. So great is.his fondness for having a rising family, that an experienced unmated cock-bird, if he can but induce some flighty young hen to lay him a couple of eggs as a great favor, will almost entirely take the charge of hatching and rearing them himself. We are possessed of an old Blue Antwerp Carrier which by following this line was, with but little assistance from any female, an excellent provider of pie materials, till he succeeded in educating a hen Barb to be a steady wife and mother.
There was a good deal of observation put into pigeons by Mr. Dixon before he expressed the above sentiments and what he saw you will see when you watch your flock.
HOW TO KEEP DOWN AN EXCESS OF COCKS.
One of our customers in Connecticut of considerable experience and original thought has tried out our Homers with birds from other sources, and
242 NATIONAL SH ANDARD SOU As bOI
has found them superior to all he has tried. He had no culls among the squabs. He has bought largely of our Homers and Carneaux. He had been trying on some white Homers our plan for getting 15 pairs from one pair of breeders in a year and thought the plan was original with him. _ This is an indication of the careful attention he has given to the details of the business. Here is another plan he has been working. An excess of cocks seems to be one of the troubles of some in raising young birds and for that reason we have requests for single hens. This customer proceeds on the theory that the second egg is said to hatch a hen, so he goes among the nests ‘every day and marks all single eggs 1 with a pencil. Then in a couple of days when the second egg has come he marks it 2. Then he puts both the 2 eges in one nest and both the 1 eggs in the other nest, making a memorandum of the nests and what he has done. When killing day arrives for these nests he saves the 2 squab and kills the 1 squab, thereby hoping to raise two hens. How this will work out in actual practice he does not know, because he has not been doing it long enough. We speak of it here so that our customers may try it if they wish and see how they come out.
While in some lofts there may be an excess of male birds caused by con- tinuous breeding, it is true that the law of the species is to hatch out equally. Otherwise in time, and a comparatively short time too, the entire species would be extinct. It is absolutely not true that more cocks than hens hatch out. The law is that equal numbers hatch out, for this law is necessary to the propagation of the species.
We have had thousands of customers start with three pairs or six pairs or twelve pairs and increase from that small beginning to 200 or 300 pairs or more, as our letters from customers show. This is proof that the law of equal sex holds fairly good even in the restricted confines of a small squab house.
Squab raising for profit is a new business for the Connecticut customer above mentioned. He is well up on pigeons as a fancy or rather amusement, having kept in Europe at one time or another a few pairs of all breeds. He has been getting $4.50 for his squabs all summer in Connecticut, with some at $3.50 to his local butcher who retails them at $4.50, unassorted, running over eight pounds to the dozen. He says the more he sees of this business the more he is convinced that conducted right there isjbig money in it; but conducted wrong it is a poor business. This is certainly correct, and is why we insist upon our birds being used and managed in the way we tell both in this book, and the special instructions which we send out with every shipment.
SQUAB HOUSES OF TWO AND THREE STORIES.
We have been asked by customers whose ground is limited or who happen to have a certain plot, if a two-story house would not be ali right in which to raise squabs. Some of these customers have figured out carefully and thoroughly that the construction of the two-story house is cheaper than two one-story houses. A two-story house certainly may be built. We print on the opposite page a photograph of a two and one-half story pigeon house. This breeder is a good customer who has bought about $2000 worth of Plymouth Rock birds of us during the past four years, and he understands what he is about. We asked him to describe his plant. He says this house, which is part of his large plant, was not transformed from an old place, but
NIE TELE IN IDM DGD 243
TWO AND ONE-HALF STORY SQUAB HOUSE,
This was built to utilize to best advantage 2 small plot of ground. For description see this page and the opposite page.
was built especially for pigeons. It was almost a case of necessity with him, as all the plots of ground near him were owned by one man who stood out for a stiff price. The customer accordingly built this house and says he has never regretted it. After it was built he was able to purchase all the land he ever should need, and he bought it right. This three-story house is 54 feet long and 20 feet wide, 14 feet to top flat, 14 feet rafter with one foot pro- jection. The third floor is laid on a level with top flat. The third floor does not,extend across the entire width of the building, but drops back five feet from each side, giving room for three nests from floor to roof. The four sides of these pens are lined with nests, and the pens are 10x10 feet. Single dormer window on north and two dormer windoys on south (this is shown in photograph). No hallway on third floor, but steps from second floor go up near the center of the building, making it unnecessary to pass through all pens to reach the end pens. First,and second floors alike have a four-foot hallway on the north side, and each floor has six pens 9x16 feet. The partitions between these pens are formed by the nest boxes. Feed and water from the hallway. The floors are of matched lumber and the first floor is double with paper between. The frame of building was first covered with heavy roofing of a popular brand and sided with ship-top lumber. Under the west end of this building is a basement 20x20 feet, cement floor, used for
244 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
picking and packing squabs. The building has 17 pens, and each pen has its flying pen which reaches the ground. For the first floor, the flying pens are nine feet wide and seven feet high, and extend out 20 feet from the building. Beyond the south end of flying pen for first floor, the flying pen extends another 20 feet. This extended pen is divided into two pens 10x9 feet on the ground. The birds from the second and third floors reach these pens through a fly-way above the flying pen of the first floor, one-half as wide. You will notice a tank (shown in photograph) on the roof. Water is forced from a cistern into this tank. All pens outside are connected with water main, making it easy to give the birds a bath.
SQUABS FED ARTIFICIALLY.
Sometimes it is desirable or necessary to feed a squab artificially, introduc- ing the right kind of a mixture with the fingers or with a syringe. These etforts are more or less crude. The best way is as it is done in Italy, but it is doubtful whether our squab raisers would employ it. We first saw this done in Bologna, Italy. The squabs are shipped into Bologna from the outlying country when they are about the same age as our squabs, four weeks. They are always shipped in alive in common slatted coops. It is quite necessary that the squabs be fed before they are re-shipped alive as they always are to Paris or Monte Carlo or Aix-les-Bains. They are fed in the following manner: The workman mixes up a sort of thick gruel with grain and water. All the grain which he uses is quite fine, such as the finest size of cracked corn. Then he fills his mouth with a quantity of this mixture and begins feeding the squabs. He takes up a squab in his two hands and holds the bill of the squab to his mouth. The squab is hungry and naturally open its bill, or if not the operator opens the bill of the squab for him. The operator then with his tongue forces into the mouth of the squab a quantity of the mixture, and the squab fills its crop. Immediately another squab 1s taken and handled in the same manner. This process is done with great skill and rapidity. We watched one operator féed a coop of 24 squabs in five minutes. This artificial feeding of squabs is very common in Bologna and in other European cities, where it has been going on for years. The operators show no repugnance, but keep at the work as part of their daily round of duties month after month.
NESTS ON THE FLOOR.
It is impossible to prevent some pairs from building on the floor of the squab house. Squab breeders who have a large bump of system and order are cast down because all of their pairs do not stick to the nest boxes all the time. You cannot force certain pairs to breed in the nest boxes. They will pick out a corner on,the floor or alongside of the crate containing the nesting material or under a tier of nest boxes. There they will build their nest and rear their squabs and they are generally left alone. Do not take their nests and eggs and put them in one of the nest boxes, for if you do it is not likely the birds will follow.
Squabs from such nests should be carefully watched and should be taken away to be killed before they are strong enough to walk around on the floor. You will have to take away such squabs when they are full and plump at three weeks of age. If you leave them in the nest too long it is quite usual for them to get up and walk around on the floor and as soon as they do this
PIE IN ID) ILE IG 245
they are no longer squabs, but have trained off their fat and become young
pigeons. Squabs in the nest boxes do not walk around like these because
ne realize that they are somewhat weak and will not take the flight to the oor.
It is troublesome when cleaning to avoid some nests on the floor. When the young birds leave the nest boxes above they are quite helpless and will rest on the floor. The old birds which have built their nests on the floor wan peck the young birds and give them no rest. The cocks especially will
o this.
A customer has found out a way which he has had in use for some time to keep pairs off the floor and induce them to build in the nest boxes. When he finds a new nest on the floor, he lets the hen lay. both eggs there and sit on them for one or two days. Then he makes a nest box about twelve inches square and six inches high and places the nest, eggs and all, into this box and allows the nest box to stand on the floor of the squab house in the same spot where he found the original nest. He reports that nine times out of ten the hen will sit on the nest as before. He lets her sit on the eggs for three or four days more, then he takes the nest box, eggs and all, and screws or nails it to the side wall as near as possible to the spot where the nest was on the floor. Sometimes he raises the nest box from the floor a small distance at a time, one inch one day, another inch the following day. He says that although this is quite a trouble it seems to break the hen of the habit of building on the floor and the next time she is more than likely to build the nest off the floor.
A PLAN TO GET RID OF RATS AND MICE.
One of our customers gives us the following idea: Make a rough table of matched board with joists for legs, about three and one-half or four feet high and the same shape as the feed box, only have it three feet longer and three feet wider. This will allow for a platform 18 inches wide around the feed box for the birds to stand on and eat the grain; next make a rim, high enough so that when the pigeons are getting grain they will not scatter any on the floor. Do not be afraid of having the rim too high, eight inches will be all right. Have this eight-inch rim all around. The last thing is to buy some smooth, glassy tin plate and wrap a piece around each leg. It is not necessary to cover the whole leg, 12 to 18 inches will be enough. This will make it impossible for rats or mice to climb up over the tin and eat the grain. The legs should be 18 inches or two feet high.
Another way to manage instead of using the tin is to put the feed box up on a platform and support this platform with four legs made of iron pipe. Generally there is a joint in the tin, and some mice may run up a joint or seam of this kind, putting their feet into the crack in the seam. If you use iron pipe to support the platform it will be impossible for the rats or mice to climb up this iron pipe to the feed box. You should use four pieces of piping, one at each corner.
ere is another way to clean out the mice: Take a small tight box, say six inches by six inches in size. Bore an inch or two-inch hole at one side near the bottom, put in a handful of feathers or cotton and lay the box on the floor in a secluded part of the squab house. In about two weeks go to the box quietly in the daytime, put your hand over the hole, and carry the box to a barrel or tub half full of water. The mice will jump ovt faster
246 NATIONAL STANDARD. SOUAS BOOK
than you can count. One customer got 48 at the first trial, and about ten the next time. This took them all and he was no longer troubled by mice.
HOW TO MAKE PERCHES.
In making perches, one of our friends has a plan that may be of use to some beginner. Take a square tobacco caddy with dove-tailed corners, such as can be had at any tobacco counter. Remove the bottom and saw the sides in two half way. A small block of wood nailed in the angle furnishes an easy way to fasten the perch to the wall.
PITTSBURG MARKET.
Our customers repeatedly call our attention to the fine market for squabs in Pittsburg. They are quoted at $4 a dozen in the newspapers there, and we have customers in that city who are getting as high as a dollar apiece, or $12 a dozen, for first-class squabs bred from our birds, weighing a pound apiece. It is quite true that Pittsburg is an excellent squab market, in fact, one of the best in the country, as there are so many rich people there. We have also some good, live, wide-awake customers who are shipping squabs to Pittsburg, and they have shown Pittsburg squab buyers the superiority of well-bred squabs. The result is that they have worked up an insistent demand which must be satisfied. What our customers have done for Pittsburg anybody can do living near a city, or a town. This work of letting your nearest market know what you have, and then showing what you have to the market must be done by you. Nobody can do it for you. The prices you can get for your squabs, and the demand for your squabs, which you can create, rest entirely with you. Nobody can do this from a distance—you are on the ground and such work must be done by you.
LOW QUOTATIONS.
Beginners may find in the newspapers or in letters from commission men a low quotation for squabs. Some will write to commission men and dealers asking them what they will pay for squabs, etc. In nearly every case the commission man or dealer will write back an absurdly low price. It is to his advantage of course to buy squabs as cheap as he can and sell as dear as he can. The most peculiar feature of such matters to us is that the breeder or prospective breeder of squabs apparently takes the matter for settled and writes us that he can get only $1.50 or $2 a dozen for squabs. Such people seem to be lacking entirely in any business ability. An eight-year- old boy who is accustomed to selling newspapers has enough business judg- ment to prevent him from writing such a letter. Of course the commission men or squab dealers start with a very low price. If the breeder ~vill sell to him at this very low price, that is so much more to the advantage of the commission man or dealer. He is writing to feel out the breeder. If the breeder writes back to him and says, ‘‘Your price is too low, you will never get my squabs for this figure,” then the commission man or dealer will raise his prices. The dealer who.is selling squabs for from $3 to $6 or more a dozen (as they all are) will pay from $2.50 to $4 a dozen, no matter who he is or where he lives, in any part of the United States or Canada.
The only way for you to determine the true market price of squabs wher- ever you live is to go into the market or apply by letter and offer to buy squabs and not to sell them. In all the letters you write and all the talk
oe
Ages INDEX 247
you make, offer to buy all the time and then the dealer will disclose to you the true prices. Then you will know what to sell your squabs for. If you find that he is selling squabs at $3 a dozen, he should pay you $2.50 a dozen. If he is selling squabs for $4 a dozen, he should pay you $3 a dozen for them and so on.
Once more, be on your guard against market’ quotations. If you see squabs quoted in a newspaper or anywhere else at low prices it does not follow by any means that that price is the true one. Such figures are put in because they are the prices of the commission men or dealers, which they want to pay.
No successful squab business can be built up if you allow a middleman to run your plant for you. You are simply buying grain and working for him. He has no trouble or expense to amount to anything but he takes the profits and you do all the work. When grain is high you must get more for your squabs than you do at other times. The trouble with many squab raisers we have found is that they have no actual knowledge of what it costs them to raise a dozen squabs. You must arrive at your cost of product absolutely and when you do it is folly to sell squabs for that figure or less. You must put them out at a profit or else go out of the business. Our best customers are those who have sense enough to sell to a private trade or to first-class wholesalers, and this must be your goal in every case, If you wish to make the most money, get right after your private trade until you secure it, as this is unlimited. People who are accustomed to eating chicken, as they are in every part of the country, will eat squabs. If they do not, it is your fault. You must tell them what a squab is and show them, and induce them to buy and eat them. If they do not know what a squab is, you must demonstrate.
HOW TO KILL CATS.
A kitten brought up in a squab house will make no trouble. We raise two or three kittens every year at Melrose and give them the run of the pigeon houses, and such cats are intelligent enough not to try to reach the squabs. Of all the cats we have raised we have had only one which we were obliged to shoot because of squab stealing.
Cats belonging to the neighbors may cause some trouble in your squab house if, you give them a chance to get in. A customer in Ohio has found a way to kill visiting cats. He does not like to have them around the squab house trying to get in so he puts exposed wires on the top of the flying pen and when the cats walk around on the top of the pen, looking for a chance to get at the pigeons inside, he throws a switch in the basement. A strong current of electricity shoots through the wires. The body of the cat makes a short circuit from one wire to the other so the charge of electricity passes through the cat. The result is that the cat tumbles off in double quick time and starts for the tall timber, if alive. He says he has electrocuted two and still has his hand near the switch.
BREEDING TRUE TO COLOR.
No colored Homers breed true to color. We mean by this that if you start with the blue-barred Homers, for example, and breed them, you will in time get from these blue-barred birds all the other colors, such as blue- checkers, red-checkers, silvers, etc. All these colors are in the blood and
248 NATIONAL. STANDARD SOUAB UBOOK
they will come out in time if you give them time enough. Some pairs are eccentric in their breeding. A certain pair of blue-barred birds may breed blue bars, whereas another pair of blue bars may breed one blue-barred squab and one blue-checkered squab, or any other color, and this variation may be characteristic of this breeding for quite a period. It is impossible to pre- dict absolutely. ;
Our white Homers breed true to color. If you buy white Homers of us and breed them, the squabs will be white-feathered constantly and will not be blue barred or blue checkered, or any other color, except very rarely.
SULPHUR OR IRON WATER.
Parties write us from different sections of the country stating that the water where they live contains sulphur and others write that the water contains iron. For example, on the East coast of Florida about half-way down, all the water is strongly impregnated with sulphur. Breeders write us to know if this sulphur water is all right for pigeons. To this we reply yes, when they get accustomed to it. If when you get your pigeons you find that this sulphur or iron water is affecting them, stop it and give the birds rain water. Rain water is absolutely pure water containing no mineral substances whatever, except the trifling amount of dust which may get in as the rain water runs down a roof before it gets into a rain-barrel or cistern. It is always safe to give this rain water to pigeons and you can introduce them to your sulphur or iron water as slowly as you please, by adding the sulphur or iron water to the rain water from day to day until the mixture is finally all sulphur or iron water. This will accustom the birds to the new water and before long you will have no need of using the rain water.
PIGEONS THAT FLY AWAY.
In every day’s mail, two or three letters and often more recount the story that the writers have accidentally left open the doors of their squab houses or the doors of their flying pens; or that some other accident has happened so that some of the pigeons have flown away from the premises. Customers writing from as far as California tell us this and sometimes telegraph us and wish us to catch these birds as soon as they reappear at Melrose and send them back by express. The capacity for flight of a Homer does not seem to be a matter of well-defined knowledge, so we will say here that flights of over 500 miles for a homing pigeon are very rare. We have no cases on record of flights of homing pigeons even from Ohio or Illinois to New York or Massachusetts. It is incredible that a homing pigeon would get back to its native place after a flight of two or three thousand miles. Birds which have been imported would make no attempt to fly back across the ocean or to the shipping point, so if you lose any of your pigeons out of your coop, the best you can do is to hope that they will return, as quite often they do. Recently we recall a case where a customer lost nine birds which flew away but five of them returned and went inside the house.
Once again we repeat, hoping it will catch the eyes of so many who write us, that any Homers which you buy you must keep wired in all the time, otherwise they will fly away and leave you. By all the time we mean day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, continually and perpetually, as long as the pigeons live. You cannot feed them for a month or so and then let them out and think that they will stay with you.
MIZE IZ INID IDG, IB 249
They have a yearning and a longing, the homing instinct, to try to get back to the place where they were bred.
Any Homers which you breed yourself you can safely let fly because they know no home but yours and will stay with you. If you have a mixed flock of Homers including not only those which you have raised but some you have bought, you cannot let them out with any certainty that those you have raised will hold on your premises those which you have bought. It is quite possible that those which were raised elsewhere will leave you.
NO COAL ASHES.
About every household here in the North burns coal and the problem of getting rid of the ashes is considerable to many people who do not live in the city where the city wagons call to take them away. The result is that we have hundreds of letters asking if coal ashes can be put in the flying pen of the squab house.
Coal ashes should not be put in the flying pens where the birds can peck at them, because they are irritating to the mouths and other insides of the birds. It is all right to put down a layer of coal ashes in a pen for the founda- tion if you want to get rid of a lot of coal ashes, but on top of these ashes a layer of gravel should be put down from four to six inches thick and the top of this gravel should be renewed every three or four months.
TEMPORARY PEN AND BREEDING PEN.
It is very necessary to avoid having odd or unmatched birds at liberty in the loft during the time the other birds are either mating or breeding. If there be but one such bird in the loft, be it male or female, it will be sure to cause disturbance among the mated birds, either by getting mated to some bird you have had great trouble to get mated to your wishes, or by causing continual fighting, resulting in many broken eggs or dead young ones. All odd birds should therefore be either kept up in pens or in a loft by themselves during the breeding season. For the same reasons, three or four pairs of newly-mated birds should not be turned into the loft together. If they are, there will certainly be quarreling, as two or more pairs will want to take the same nest box, which will often be the cause of pairs getting unmatched, and remated in a manner which is not desirable. To avoid this, each pair as they are mated should be turned into the loft singly, when they wiil select one of the unoccupied boxes, and go on quietly. It is very rarely necessary, if this plan be pursued, to adopt any measures for inducing a pair to take a proper nest, supposing there be one at disposal; but if any trouble be anticipated, any kind of a cage of lath or wire may be fixed to the front of the breeding box, and the birds then confined for a few days in sight of the rest of the loft, till they have got thoroughly used to their new abode. We can hardly remember an instance, however, where such a plan was necessary, unless the breeding places were so numerous and so much alike as to puzzle the birds. In this case the plan we prefer is to make some distinction at the entrances: thus, a half-brick may be placed at one hole; and passing the next, something else at the next alternate one, by which the birds wii readily learn their proper breeding-places.. One more caution must be added in regard tomating thebirds. Itfrequently happens that, on account of proved sterling qualities, it is desired to breed from an old pigeon as long as any fertile eggs can be obtained from him; and this can only be done by matching him with
PIPE ISIN ID ICG IP 251
a very young hen. Such a pair will frequently breed well; and we have had fine strong young ones from an old Barb over ten years of age, which won many prizes. But it is in such cases particularly needful to avoid having in the same loft any lively young cock with a strong voice, for if this be the case, the young hen will frequently leave her eggs to reach and pair with the young bird, even though he be already mated, and thus all the owner’s plans are liable to be frustrated. For although pigeons as a rule pair with great fidelity, exceptions are by no means rare; and cases have been known in which a cock has mated with two hens, and even assisted both in hatching and rearing their young; while we once possessed a cock which, though he never aided them in family duties, regularly paired with no less than five hens. This case being so very remarkable, we took particular notice of it, and can vouch for the truth of what we state. To the naturalist such instances are particularly interesting; as showing that, under some circumstances, pigeons might possibly become gregarious like poultry.
The above paragraph we have taken word for word from the writings of Mr. Fulton, the best English authority, to which our attention was first called in December, 1908. Readers of this Manual will note that his ideas correspond with ours—indeed, such things are not a matter of opinion, they are a matter of fact. What one observer sees, another will see. In the light of the above, how absurd it is for a pigeon tradesman to represent in his advertisements or printed matter that he controls the matings or love affairs of his birds to the extent of assuring the probable purchaser that they are absolutely and irrevocably ‘‘ married for life,’ “‘ mated absolutely-never- to-be-changed.”” The object of such representation is to convince the probable purchaser that the pairs will go to work in a new home exactly according to schedule or pre-arrangement, and that all he has to do is to take feed and water to them, and exchange the squabs at intervals for half- dollars. Such claims are made with the intense anxiety of consummating a sale by assertions just a little more plausible, regardless of the habits of the pigeons.
TWIGS FOR NESTING MATERIALS.
Some pairs will build their nests entirely or partly of twigs, if given the opportunity. A customer in New York read of pine needles in this book, so thought of twigs. He put in half a bushel or so of dry old hemlock twigs. All used them and one pair made their nest wholly of them.
Another of our friends states that he has solved the nesting material proposition, as far as his own squab raising is concerned (pleasure and hobby). Instead of providing the birds any tobacco stems, or other nesting material, he does not give them anything, except to fill their nappies (or the little two-inch deep by 15-inch square boxes that he has for them to build in) with sawdust, or fine shavings from the local saw mill. The birds do well in them, and when he takes out a pair of squabs for the nippers, he empties out the sawdust, which nearly cleans the nappies and what does remain is very easily removed with trowel and brush. He then refills them with fresh sawdust or fine shavings, and they are ready for use again. He has found this very successful. New birds have to get used to the change but it does not take them long to take to it. Young birds of course, raised in them, do not know anything else.
PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRA HOMER FEMALE
252
TATE Je ID IN IB). ahah 253
CLAMORING FOR SQUABS IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
The squab market in the Northwest corner of the United States at this writing (1909) continues to be wonderfully strong. Our attention is called to this from time to time by correspondents in the State of Washington. Apparently there is no limit to the demand there, as in the other great States. We were surprised in September, 1908, to receive the following letter from the president of a hotel company in Seattle, proprietors of one of the best hotels west of the Mississippi river:
Kindly send me a half dozen of your pamphlets, covering the growing of squabs. TI wish to send these to the small towns contiguous to Seattle—that is to the Chamber of Commerce of each town, to be directed to the right parties who would want to eneage in this business. Quite a‘number have expressed their desire to do so. We are anxious to receive nice squabs and will pay a good price. Thanking you in advance for the pamphlets.
We thought it surprising that a hotel man should be inquiring for squabs in such an insistent manner and asked him for details. He replied under date of September 26, 1908, as follows:
I am in receipt of your treatise on squabs, likewise the booklets. I have advertised in a number of country papers where the farmers are liable to take up this matter, informing them that they can increase their income and to write me and that I will send them a booklet. I will send you later on a copy of the advertisement. There is no reason that a number of farmers should not take up this work, as I should think the extra grain they would have around for food would practically cost them very little.
Under date of October 9, he wrote us again the following letter:
Inasmuch as your circulars have all been used, we would ask you to send us about a couple of dozen more. We are advertising in the papers as per enclosed clipping, and have received many responses, which we think should bring you results.
The newspaper clipping showing how this hotel man was trying to stimulate the squab production was as follows:
WHY DON’T YOU RAISE SQUABS?
You have enough waste feed to do so without extra cost, We will tell you how and buy all you have—it will add largely to your income.
In a letter dated October 24, he explained his intentions more fully as follows:
In response to your recent favor, I beg to state the only object that we have insecuring persons to raise squabs is that we may get sufficient to meet our demands. At the present time we find it difficult, just when we want squabs, to receive as many as we have a demand for.
My idea in advertising this in the paper was to not alone derive a personal benefit, but to help the country along in general. We should all be up-builders, particularly in the West.
We give this correspondence here the publicity it deserves and hope that our friends, old and new, in the State of Washington, will take hold ener- getically and give this hotel man, and the other squab consumers in Seattle, the Plymouth Rock squabs for which they are so eager. Evidently the State of Seattle is so prosperous with big enterprises that squab raising has to wait its turn and now is a sort of spare time money-makev. We feel confident, however, that there must be a large number of people in the State of Wash- ington who are not too busy to overlook a good thing of such promise, and they will be encouraged to go ahead after reading the above correspondence.
254 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK Our shipments of breeding stock in 1908 to this State were quite large, fully as much volume as to California.
A correspondent in Acosta, Washington, wrote us in November, 1908:
I am going into the squab business in Washington (Lewis County). Squabs sell in Seattle
and Tacoma markets at $2.50 and $3.50 per dozen, and the market is not supplied ten per cent of the demand. I have 15 acres to devote to this business.
OXLAHOMA AHD INDIAN TERRITORY.
If a stranger to the poultry and squab industry were asked to name a section of the United States where chickens and squabs probably would sell the slowest, he might name Oklahoma and the Indian Territory. In this judgment he would fall into considerable error, for the people there are just as enterprising and just as fond of good things to eat as they are in the East, although there may not be so many of them. Witness the following letter to us dated June 27, 1908, from a prospective customer in a small city in the Indian Territory:
Some few weeks ago I wrote you for catalogue, now I want your squab book and you will find enclosed 50 cents in stamps to pay for same. How many pairs would you advise me to
start with? The Almeda Hotel says they can handle from four to ten dozen a day. This hotel is the leading hotel of my city.
Four to ten dozen squabs daily is going some for one hotel in the Indian Territory.
Concerning Oklahoma, one of the leading poultry, butter, eggs, etc., houses
in Oklahoma City wrote the following letter to one of our friends under date of March 14, 1908: _ Inregard to squabs, will say, that there are not any handled around here to speak of. There is no reason why it should not be a paying business, if some one would start here who understands it fully, and turned out a good article, just at proper age and of good quality, etc. No reason why a good demand could not be worked up for them here. If at any time you should raise more than you could put out locally. we could undoubtedly find a good market for them, as we are shipping out of here in carload lots weekly to New York City and California. Will be glad to give you any further information and have you write us.
In other words, the demand waits on the supply. Get busy, Oklahoma folks. Grain is cheaper for you than for us here in the East and if you may not succeed in getting New York prices for your squabs, you will make as much money as squab farmers here.
TWO YEARS’ WORK IN MAINE. From 18 pairs of your Extra stock that I bought a little over two years ago, I now have 300 mated pairs and at least 50 pairs that will be mated very soon.—F. R., Maine.
GREAT SATISFACTION. I am pleased to be able to advise you that the pigeons which I purchased from you are giving me great satisfaction, as they have really doubled in number and the squabs have been very heavy, healthy, delicious. I am sure that you will be pleased to hear the above report— F. J., New York.
MINNESOTA GROWTH. I have a nice little plant of about 250 pairs from the stock I bought from you some two years ago,— M. H., Minnesota.
MOST PRACTICAL BOOK SHE EVER READ. The National Standard Squab Book is a most satisfactory treatment of the subject of squab raising. It seems to me to be the most practical book I have ever read on any subject.—Mrs. E. G. W., Washington.
HOW A RETAIL TRADE GROWS. My Plymouth Rock Homers are doing well. 1 am selling some of the squabs. One customer gets another, so I have orders for all I can spare at present.—G. R., Michigan.
TWO YEARS’ BREEDING IN IDAHO. We take advantage of the present (February, 1908) to thank you again for the excellent quality of birds sent us in June, ’06.—J. W..
daho,
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
THIS CUSTOMER IS A TIN ROOFER AND MAKES GOOD WAGES BUT HAS FOUND OUT THAT HIS TIME IS WORTH MORE RAISING GOOD SQUABS. I will try and give you an account of how my birds are doing in the State of West Virginia. About 18 months ago I saw the advertisement of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company in a magazine and I decided to try a small lot of birds. I first wrote for literature, then sent fifty cents for a Manual, which I got by return mail, and would not take $5 for it now. As soon as I got my book I sent for six pairs of Extra Homers, and to say they were fine would not begin to express my opinion of them. They were the finest birds I ever saw and every one says the same. I built a small house 6 by 6 feet for them at first, but soon had to build a larger one. I havea house 10 x 12 witha 12 x 20 foot fly, but this is too small now. Jam trying to get a place in the country near town and will go into the squab business right. I have had my birds about 15 months, have had 180 birds hatched and have about 30 mated pairs now. I have sold all my squabs since March 1 at $3 perdozen. One hotel takes all I have and could handle three or four times asmany. I sell about a dozenaweek. Feed is very high here, but there certainly is money inthem anyhow. Ihave one pair that I bought of you that I have kept careful account of since they started to work. They went to work the week after I got them, and have laid and set every month since. They have hatched and raised 26 squabs, having lost two eggs, and today are building for the 15th time. If all were like them, I certainly would make the best record ever known. I have lost a few eggs and three or four young birds that were two or three davs old, but I think that is a very small loss. I hope to get a location soon for I am convinced that there is good pay in raising squabs. I advise any one who is thinking of going into the business to buy their stock of Mr. Rice, for I consider him a perfect gentleman and as for the Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, I cannot say too much for them. They beat anything ] ever saw. My birds are producing about nine pairs of squabs per pair, per year. The average weight of the squabs is ten pounds per dozen, which I consider very good. I hope to be able to send an order for more breeders before the fall and they certainly will be Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I am a tin roofer by trade and make very good wages, but a squab plant of a thousand pairs I know will pay me much
better.
I use the self-feeder and your drinking fountain and find them perfectly satisfactory.
I use tobacco stems and straw for nesting material—W. M.C., West Virginia.
FOUND INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR AND CONVINCING. I thank you for your courtesy of September 22, and it is just what I wanted to know. I am so situated in regard to my present occupation that I cannot do anything before this time next year and then I hope to place my order with you for 300 pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock breeders and 10 pair of the red Carneaux. I know you must be a busy man, but I wish to tell you I have been looking over every field that I know of for a man with $1000 to $1500.
I spent $10 for poultry information which was so contradictory that I threw them all into the Atlantic and vowed never to have one near me. I then got your information, and everything has been so clear and concise that I have no hesitancy in knowing what I will do. .The plans enclosed from you were about what I had figured out for myself, only I had given more room and consequently would have made the cost more if I had not spent 50 cents for your Manual and 10 cents for your plans. By so doing I consider I saved, or rather, will save, from $75 to $100 on my pens and buildings. '
Pardon this long-winded letter, but I feel that apart from your trying to sell your stock to a probable customer I think all the more of you and your business methods, and know you will give me all you represent your stock to be when the time comes. Wish you and the Plymouth Rock Squab Company all the success you deserve, and that squabs will be eaten by a larger number of people— R. H. W., New York.
MARKET FOR SQUABS IS LOW IN HIS PART OF TEXAS BECAUSE BREEDERS DO NOT PUT UP PRICES. ‘I got my pigeons from the Plymouth Rock Squab Co.,”’ is the proud answer I give to any one asking me where I got my pigeons. When I tell them that I started with only 12 and have raised about 150, they say I have done wonderfully. Some other squab_ raisers around me have not raised half that many in twice that time. (They have common pigeons, that is the secret of it.) My pigeons have fully repaid me. I think they are 25 per cent better than any Homers around me. My birds raise from seven to nine pairs per year and I can sell all I can raise. I have about 100 breeders and they keep me stocked very well. The market prices down here are very low. They have been used to common squabs and do not know what is good, but I am going to raise the price all I can. It is only $1.25 to $1.50 and I hope to raise it to $2.50. My. squabs weigh from 10 to 12 pounds to the dozen. I have a self-feeder like the one in your Manual. I feed them a mixture of wheat and corn. I have followed your Manual strictly and have not departed from it in any way, and let me say right here that any one (even of those who do not know a thing about squabs) can take your Manual and read it through, follow it care- fully and make a success. They are bound to make a success. I think the squab busi- ness is a great one and is increasing every day. I have not had sickness of any kind. I can sell at home all I raise —W. P. C., Texas.
——— a a ae LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 255
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
FLYING PEN OF A BARN. om
This New Jersey breeder's story is on this page.
At the top of the next page one of the ladies of his household
is shown holding a nest bowl in which are three squabs from one hatch, two days old.
LOST ONLY ONE OLD BIRD AND THREE SQUABS IN FIVE MONTHS’ BREEDING. I have had, I think, remarkable success with the birds so far, and thought possibly you would
be pleased to hear it.
fortune, with the exception of three squabs, which I think the parent birds neglected. in the neighborhood now (August, 1908) of about 200 birds.
The loss of one bird in the first lot shipped has been my entire mis-
[have Kind regards to your Mr. Rice.
_ For breeding my flock, I have used about half my stable and have not been troubled with either mice or rats, as I built another floor over the old one, raising the same about 18 inches, and do not think that there is any way for the rats to get at the birds; besides I have three
cats that spend part of each day under the floors. : They measure 10 by 12, with a three-foot passage in the centre.
five units. * not feeding, is done from this passage.
You will see from the pictures that I have Watering, but
You are very welcome indeed to use my name, and you cannot write a letter too strong for me to endorse, referring to the treatment, etc., received at your hands, also the quality of the birds delivered me and the results obtained from them.—J. W. H., New Jersey.
HIGH-PRICED MARKET IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK. [ like the National Standard Squab Book very well, as it plainly but fully tells everything necessary to know in the squab business and it becomes very useful to the pigeon fancier. There are boarding houses here in Saratoga Springs that pay $6 a dozen for squabs from common pigeons, for I have sold them.—C. N. G., New York.
SQUAB BUSINESS IN MONTANA IS ALL RIGHT. Please find enclosed ten cents in stamps, for which mail me one copy of your plans and specifications for squab house. { am building new and larger quarters in the country and wish to build right. Seven of the Homers | obtained from you escaped from my pen in town, five returned. I have raised some beauties from my original stock. The squab business is all right.—R. C., Montana.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 256
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
THREE SQUABS HATCHED IN ONE NEST.
BUILT HIS OWN HOUSE IN WASHING- TON (D. C.), FOR TWENTY DOLLARS LESS THAN OUR ESTIMATE. I have a house constructed of all new material 12x16 and nine feet to peak, seven feet to eaves, divided into two rooms 8x9, a fly 8x16x18 divided down the center (doing all the work myself). Everything, including birds from you, cost me just $47.58 or about $20 less than your estimate, not so bad for a starter? I hada party call at my house, he hearing that I was going to raise squabs, offering me $3 per dozen the year round. He will have to come again, as $3 will not get mine.—C. C. B., District of Columbia.
CATHOLIC SISTERS RAISING SQUABS FOR THE PATIENTS IN THEIR HOSPITAL IN CHICAGO. We do not sell any of the squabs we raise, we use them all for our patients. We intend to have a photograph of our coop taken in order to let you see it and get your opinion about it.—Sister M., Illinois.
SELLING OUT IN TEXAS TO MAKE ROOM FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. Some time ago I purchased a Manual from you and received a Special Offer on your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. As it was the best thing I heard of, and as I know ycur birds by their reputation, I got busy and began selling my stock off so as to make room for a sample shipment of your birds. I sold one customer in an inland village $10 worth of my birds and when he remitted it was the whole amount in two-cent stamps. What I wish to ask, Mr. Rice, is will you take, say $5 worth of them off my hands?—L. S., Texas.
ENLARGING TO A TEN-UNIT HOUSE. .- Last September I bought some breeders from you and same are doing nicely. -As I want to enlarge my house, having bought a new place, I would kindly request you to send me as soon as possible a set of plans as per your offer in your Manual for a ten-unit house. Also send me some of your grit as per en- closed memorandum.—C. R., Conn.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 257
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
COMMON PIGEONS A FAILURE. REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT FOUR PAIRS PLYMOUTH ROCKS WILL DO IN TEXAS. In February, 1907, I purchased 12 pairs of common pigeons from a friend, expecting to clear as large a profit from them as I could trom the Homers. However, we soon found the difference for when we sold out about six months later, I am positive we did not sell more than 15 pairs altogether, that is to say, most of our squabs died or did not hatch. About the end of October, 1907, I received four pairs of Number One Homers from the Plymouth Rock Squab Company. About November 15 | got two pairs started and later on the other two started. I now (May, 1908) have 50 squabs and breeders and all our pairs are setting again. I have 15 pairs mated. I never saw anything like it. I have never seen any birds to equal ours in any respect. Our squabs are large and healthy, weighing not less than eight pounds to the dozen. I keep a careful record of the breeders and they average eight or nine pairs to the year. We do not know the price of them, as we have never sold any, but a friend of ours sold them at $4.80 a dozen. These were common and Homers mixed and I am sure that if he makes money off of those poor breeders, we ought to make more off your prolific birds. We have fed corn, Kaffir corn, wheat and a little millet. As we have followed your Manual as closely as possible, we have had no trouble with lice. We had two cases of canker, but we did what you-advised and had no further trouble. I have not
kept account of expenditures, but I know that the birds have well paid for themselves. My ideas of the birds and the business are O. K., and in the future I expect to raise more pigeons.
You may be sure they will be Plymouth Rock Homers, as they are the best.
no idea of the pigeon business had it not been for your Manual, I will always praise the Plymouth Rock Squab
(I forgot to mention above that on account of our house being
right and any one would be lost without it. Company in the highest terms.
improperly built some small animal got through a hole and took eggs and squabs.
I would have had I can tell you that it is all
This hap-
pened three times but not any more).—E. G. R., Texas.
SMALL FLOCK PAYING A GOOD PROFIT. In April, 1906, I bought six pairs of your Plymouth Rock Homers and in just one year I had raised 85 birds. In May, 1907, 17 months after my first purchase, I had 110 or 55 pairs. I then began selling squabs, and in the eight and one-half months I have sold 228 squabs at 25 cents each, which is $57. I kill them with your killing machine, hang them up as your Manual teaches and bleed them. I do not have time to dress them, or I could get better prices. JI have had none that weighed less than eight pounds, and many that weighed 10 pounds to the dozen. The expense of feeding them the eight and one-half months has been $33.15, a profit of $21.35. I think there is big money to be made raising squabs. I keep this small flock in connection with 35 chickens, and only have time outside of business hours to look after them, which is ample.
I have seen lots of Homers, nice-looking ones too, but they do not breed as fast as mine. I follow your Manual, in fact, all 1 know about them is what the book says. I have had no sickness nor lice, simply kept them clean and fed red wheat, cracked corn, Kaffir corn, buckwheat, hemp-seed, millet, oyster shells and plenty of good sand. My idea of successful squab raising is cleanliness, pure feed and water, and attention to busi- ness.—C. H., New York.
RAISING TOBACCO AND PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS. We grow 30,000 pounds of tobacco per year and make fresh stems constantly, bales run about 125 pounds. We have bought our first Homers from you and have done well. I am glad to hear from you on stems.—C. H. W., Connecticut.
PERSONAL INQUIRY AND ITS RESULTS.
am a member of All Souls Unitarian Church of Washington, made up of New England people largely, and many of them Bostonians. Also I go to Greenacre (Eliot, Maine), occa- sionally in the summer to speak on Emerson and his philosophy, therefore I have a large acquaintance up your way. I mentioned my intention in a social group of going into squab raising and asked incidentally about your place. They offered to get me the re- port and did so, but I do not know the channel. I did not care to know of your financial con- dition, but I was anxious to learn of your character and reputation. The report was very gratifying. In it was stated that you were “‘gilt-edged as to character and reputa- tion.” It made me feel good to get such a report, for I knew I could safely go on and enlarge under your counsel and advice. Thank you for your offer to assist me when- ever I may call on you. If you happen down this way, try to see me either at the Bureau of Immigration or at my country home in Maryland, half-way between Washington and Baltimore, where we shall establish our plant. We are looking for a suitable piece of ground, say 10 or 20 acres, where we shall plant a good German and his wife and make it pay in other respects.—J. A. C., District of Columbia.
SQUABS WEIGHING OVER ONE POUND WHEN THREE WEEKS OLD. I have re- ceived the female Homer in good shape: It was a pretty bird. I just weighed some of my squabs which are not quite three weeks old and they weigh over one pound. I expect to order some more birds some time in spring.—H. S., Pennsylvania.
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bi a i
ANY OLD PLACE FIXED OVER.
Results which are really surprising may be accomplished in quarters such as these, with good birds. (See the letter from the North Carolina man printed below.)
NO BIRDS ON EXHIBITION AT THIS NORTH CAROLINA FAIR COULD TOUCH HIS PLYMOUTH ROCKS. Ireceived from you April 2, 1908, 13 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. Ihave raised 60 birds, have sold 12 squabs and have lost 23, and I think that is doing well for six months’ work. They have bred at the rate of four pairs per month. Some are slow, others are very fast indeed, and I have lost about 18 eggs on account of not having enough nest bowls, but have since put in more and will soon have to build. My house is of my own con- struction, very rough indeed, but I think answers the purpose very well, but in the future will build according to your plans except without the passageway..
The birds I received from you and those I have raised and mated are indeed hard to beat. I have not seen any here that can touch them, in fact, none on exhibition at the fair here held October 13 to 16, could touch mine. The squabs at killing age weigh about three-quarters of a pound each. Have sold only one dozen squabs to people who are sick at $2.50 per dozen. I have fed whole corn, cracked corn, Kaffir corn, Canada peas, a little red wheat and a little green clover, cabbage cut very fine, and some rice and hemp seed about three times a week. Cannot say that I have followed your Manual in every detail. Please ship at once the enclosed order for feed. My birds are doing exceedingly fine and I am in hopes of being able to keep them so. Iam well pleased with the squab business and intend to go into it for a living.—J. A. P., North Carolina,
A WOMAN WHO GETS HER PRICE FOR SQUABS ALL THE YEAR. The people who have eaten my squabs say they are delicious, plump, and so much better than the market ones. I am getting $4.80 a dozen for them, That is my price no matter what they are in the market. They weigh over three-quarters of a pound each.—Mrs. E.G. A., New Jersey.
LOST ONLY ONE BREEDING PIGEON IN THREE YEARS. I have had my Plymouth Rock pigeons three years in July and have had splendid luck, having lost only one banded pigeon by death, and one flew away. I have studied the Manual and got lots of help from it. I only wish I had more room to keep more birds.—M. H., New Jersey.
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NINETEEN PRIZES WON ON 21 ENTRIES AT THIS LARGE WORCESTER COUNTY EXHIBITION. I have been breeding your Plymouth Rock Homer stock for several years. I have been a breeder of pigeons for a long time and enjoy the work very much and I want to tell you that I have never seen better Homers anywhere, nor do I believe that better stock exists than the strain you sell.
At the Worcester poultry show held in December, 1907, in Mechanics Hall, I entered 21 birds nearly all your Homers, or bred from Homers sold by you. I had a few pigeons of another fancy variety in the show along with your Homer stock, but the Homers did nearly all of the prize winning. On the 21 birds I won 19 prizes, made up of 10 first prizes, five second prizes three third prfzes and one fourth prize. 3
The birds were very much admired by the people in attendance at the exhibition. On one white Homer which came from you and on which I won first prize I was offered $5, but declined the offer. For another beautiful red checker Plymouth Rock female Homer which won me a first prize I was offered $5 by another exhibitor, but I declined the offer. The judge of the pigeons told me I ought to send these two birds to the Boston show in January. as they were “‘ world beaters.”? Sometime I am going to enter my birds at the Boston show when I get around to it and can spare the time from my regular business, I am confident that I will make them ‘‘ sit up and take notice.”
Your Homer stock is distinguished not only by the large size (which I have never seen equalled anywhere) but by their prolific breeding qualities.
A good proportion of my birds are the red checkers, and I value them highly. None of the Worcester pigeon men has birds approaching mine. In fact, there are two Englishmen in this city who have been breeders of birds all their lives and they told me that they never saw any that could equal my stock. A professional man of this city is a breeder of fancy pigeons well known over the United States. He entered some white Homers in competition at the Worcester poultry show mentioned above but my white Homers went way over anything which he had.
These large Plymouth Rock Homers of which you have sold so many during the past ten years have completely driven the small native American Homer out of the market. The old breeders of these small native Homers have hated to admit that your Belgium stock was better than theirs, but anybody with half an eye can see that a Homer which is almost half as large again as were the best American Homers is to be preferred, not only for squab raising but for fancy breeding, for anybody who wants the best. The enormous popularity of your business in hand- ling this magnificent strain is well accounted for.—H. M. W., Massachusetts.
FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES AT THIS WISCONSIN COUNTY FAIR. It was February 1, 1907, when I got my first lot of Homers. They were the Extras. The pigeons are the largest and the best of their kind Ieversaw. I would advise every new beginner to study the Manual before starting. I feed my birds two-thirds cracked corn to one-third red wheat in winter, two-thirds red wheat to one-third cracked corn in summer; dainties such as hemp seed, rice, peas, Kaffir corn and vetches. I have invented a little mill to crack corn. I bought some cracked corn but it was not half cracked. I can adjust my mill to crack any size corn I want it to. LI have chickens in the same yard with the pigeons and they get along good. Your Manual is the best it could be. I don’t think it could be improved much. I haven’t had any trouble with lice or sickness. I think we will send another order as soon as we can get a place ready for them. The squab business is O. K., as well as a paying business. My pigeons took first and second prizes at Ocotno County Fair, September 3, 4, 5.—E. G., Wisconsin.
WON FOUR FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES AT TOPEKA, KANSAS, EXHIBITION. My birds that I got from you are doing very nicely. At the Topeka show I was awarded four first and second prizes out of 16 birds shown. I would have gotten another first, but I classed the bird wrong. The judge gave her first, but they looked on the judge’s card and she was not undet that class. At the show, two of my Homers got out of the cage and also out of the hall. Thev were fine-looking birds and built for flying. They started east and that is the last I have heard of them.—-F. L. K., Kansas.
FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES WON BY PLYMOUTH ROCKS IN FLYING COMPETITION. I bought several pairs of your Homer stock about a year ago and am raising, and also flying those which I raised. I have also Belgiums which I fly, but the young of your stock are equal.
I can recommend your birds to anybody, and the flying club which I am in also know what they are. The last fly I made was 300 miles, at which I took first and second prizes on your stock. I thank you for sending me such quality of birds. W. J. K., Michigan.
AGAIN A SWEEP OF PRIZES AT ANOTHER NEW YORK COUNTY FAIR BY PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. We had a county fair here and there was quite a large exhibition of fancy pizeons and a few Homers, but not any as nice as the ones that I had on exhibition. I took six nairs of old ones and five pairs of young about eight weeks old to match the old ones. I got first and second premiums on all.—F.5S.S., New York.
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NINETEEN PRIZES WON BY PLYMOUTH ROCK. HOMERS AND CARNEAUX BY ONE CUSTOMER AT THE GREAT ROCHESTER (N. Y.) EXHIBITION IN 1908. I am flat in bed with pleurisy but I want to let you know about the Rochester Show. I got fifteen out of sixteen prizes, and also four specials; losing only one third prize to a cock from the New York Show. All of my prizes were won from adult stock bought of you, and young raised from them last year. As soon as I am able to be up and out I will write you more fully. Excuse looks of letteras I am writing in bed. (Later). There were three old cocks and three old hens which were re- cently bought by a Rochester man in New York. The birds were said to have been in the New York Show and this man made his brag, that he got the birds to turn down the Lyons man, but my birds were cooped first and when he brought in his Carneaux and-cooped them near mine, he told the president of the show that he guessed he did not have much chance. He got one third prize. All the rest were thrown out. I got four first, four seconds, three thirds, four fourths and four specials. (One special on best cock in show, a pair of record Homers, one special on besthen and two minor specials.) The last pair you sent me got, cock first, hen second. My Carneaux are doing fine and I have quite a number of young mated and at work,— R.1.C., New York. 5
PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BEST HOMERS IN THREE STATES AT THIS BIG EXHIBITION. A NOVEL USE FOR PIGEON FEATHERS. I wish to thank you for suggestions offered, which enabled me to win first prize on Homer pigeons at the Tri-State Exposition and Livestock Show held at Chester, West Virginia, just across the Ohio river from our city. This was considered the best poultry and livestock show in this section of the country this season. Our local fanciers came
out fairly good considering the opposition we had. Three of the largest breeding farmers in this section sent in a carload of poultry apiece. The second prize in Homers went to an Ohio man, one of the above mentioned breeders. I also got second on White Leghorn cockerel. My birds were shedding considerable, but I made good use of the long feathers as you will see by some enclosed advertising for the firm by which I am employed as well as for myself. They went like hot cakes after we got them started. Every one wore a feather. I don’t know whether the value of this ever appealed to you or not, but I think that you could find ready sale for the light-colored feathers for this purpose.—S. E. A., Ohio.
Note. What he did was to gather up all the good-sized feathers lost in moulting and print them in red ink with a rubber stamp, “‘ Welcome at Smith’s,” giving the name of the store where he worked. These stamped feathers were treasured as souvenirs. This idea could be used in other ways by squab breeders and the feathers handed out as advertisements.
VICTORIOUS AT TWO NEW YORK STATE EXHIBITIONS. When I was in Boston a few months ago, I promised you I would let you know how I made out at our County Fair, but for some unknown reason I did not get at it. J entered at the fair six birds. Four Carneaux took four first prizes, two Homers two second prizes.
I entered at Hudson Valley Pigeon and Poultry Association at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., seven birds, and won three firsts on Homers, two seconds on Carneaux. Did not enter my old Car- neaux or would have taken first on them. I have a fine Carneau cock that I think would be hard to beat, but the hen is not up to the mark. I think I will show the Carneaux at the New York Show.—J. R. V., New York. :
TOOK EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. WON EVERY PRIZE OFFERED FOR HOMERS WITH HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS AT NEW YORK COUNTY FAIR. The Homers that I bought of you last September are doing fine. I would like to visit your plant a little later if it would be convenient for you. -I am going for the purpose of looking over your plans and to purchase some more breeders. I have now about 60 pairs and want to get enough to make 125 pairs. I entered those that I got of you at the Clinton County Fair at which I got every prize that was taken on Homers.—E. R. G., New York,
ONE PAIR OF PLYMOUTH ROCKS GOOD ENOUGH IN VIRGINIA TO BEAT PROFES- SIONAL SHOW FOLLOWERS. The Plymouth Rock Homers you sent me have all been working. I carried one pair to the Roanoke Fair and received first premium over some Homer dealers from Pennsylvania.—F. E. H., Virginia.
TOOK FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES IN WEST VIRGINIA. My birds are beauties, and took first, second and third premiums at the Poultry Show here, and I have been selling squabs right along that are fat and nice.—Miss G. E. K., West Virginia.
WON THE SILVER CUP AT THIS MICHIGAN SHOW WITH HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. I have had six pairs in the show and won the silver cup. People said they were the best they eversaw. Isold two pairs for $5.—J. F. F., Michigan. nn een errr LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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FIVE PRIZES TAKEN BY PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS AT TENNESSEE POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW. It would probably be of interest to you to know of my success with your Plymouth Rock Homers in our recent Poultry and Pigeon Show. I entered six of the eleven pairs that yousent me. I won two firsts, two seconds, and one third prize. The fine Homers I purchased from you won one, two, three, while two pairs of colored Homers that I raised from
some birds bought of you won'one, two.
Those grand white Homers you shipped me attracted more attention and were admired by more people than all of the other birds in the show put together. They are superb. I placed the birds in my breeding pen at noon on Monday and on Friday afternoon four pairs
had built nests and one pair had laid two eggs.
The youngsters raised from some of your birds that I referred to before are only eight months old and have been at work three months, I am enthusiastic over Plymouth Rock Homers.—
E. D. R., Tennessee.
WON TEN PRIZES, TAKING ALL BUT ONE (A THIRD) WITH TEN PAIRS. At the North Adams Poultry Show I entered ten pairs of “‘ exhibition Homers ”? made up largely from Ply- mouth Rock stock and was awarded five firsts, three seconds, one third, one fourth. I was “headed ” but once and that was for a third place. The entries were made up of one pair reds, one pair red checkers, two pairs silvers, three pairs blue checkers and three pairs blue bars.—
J. T., Massachusetts.
PAIR OF PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE BEST PAIR OF HOMERS IN THE 1908 TORONTO EX- HIBITION. Only one pair of those Plymouth Rock Homers which I purchased from you were
exhibited at the fair but they took first prize.
The judges in examining them commented on
the perfect wings, only one little feather being wrong. : I know nothing of the standard’but you will doubtless know what they meant.—T. S. C., Ontario, Canada.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS FIRST AS WELL AS SECOND AT THIS IOWA EXHIBITION. Our blue Plymouth Rock Homers took first and our silvers second at the show here.—C, D., Iowa.
HAS BRED THOUSANDS OF SQUABS IN INDIA FROM PIGEONS POORER THAN OURS. About a month ago when staying in Chicago I made an inquiry for your cata- logue and about a week later I sent you 50 cents for your National Standard Squab Book. I redd your book with great interest and must say it is the best written instruction to the beginner that I ever saw. have bred thousands of squabs in India, where I was born and came to America to start a squab farm here. Of course, the kind of pigeons we use over there is not as good as what we use here. I have succeeded in getting a fine farm in Missouri, a very dry, healthy climate. Tomorrow I am going to the place and when settled there about a month (this time I want to make the squab houses) I will send you an order.—V. K., Missouri.
LONG SHIPMENT OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO BRITISH COLUMBIA AND FROM THERE TO AUSTRALIA. I duly received your letter of May 12, and the birds came safely and in good order by the Dominion Express Company to Vancouver. You will be glad to know that they arrived safely at Mel- bourne on June 27. The Carneaux pecked three or four Plymouth Rock Homers, but today they are in splendid condition, having gone through the long, hot voyage very well. We, of course, looked after them on the steamer to see that the cage was kept clean and followed your instructions as to food, grit, etc.—Mrs. A. B., Australia.
SQUAB MARKET WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. The National Standard Squab Book has given me much satisfaction, pleas- ure and also a longing to get into the business. fam a poultry plucker, bench-hand, feeder, etc, employed by the largest wholesale live and dead poultry handlers here. I originally sent for your Manual not with the idea of starting to breed squabs, but to add to my knowledge of feathered life. I found the book so interesting I have read it through several times and could answer correctly any question asked me from it. It is the most exhaustive treatise on the subject imaginable and I now consider myself an authority on pigeons. To show you how undeveloped the squab trade is here: I may say we do not receive proportionately one squab to every 100 chickens.—J. E., Ontario, Canada.
IMITATION NEST BOWLS. I must say my Plymouth Rocks are the best Homers I ever saw. Are the bowls as seen on page 48 of the Manual what are known as the Rice Wood Fibre Nest Bowls? I must say that I like them very much better than what are sold here as ‘ Rice Wood Fibre bowls,” as the ones here are almost flat.—M. R. K.. Tennessee.
Note. The genuine wood fibre nest bowls can be obtained only direct of us from Boston. We do not supply stores with them. If bowls xe offered you in stores as ours, they are not.
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A NEW JERSEY PLANT. This picture and the picture on the opposite page are both photographs of the same plant.
HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING A PROFITABLE EXPERIENCE WITH PLY- MOUTH ROCK HOMERS. Yours dated November 20 was received this pm. I shall be very much pleased to have the pair of birds as you suggest and will gladly pay transportation on the same. I do not con- sider you are under any obligation to ‘“‘ make good’’ under the circumstances, as I ap- preciate accidents will happen in transporta- tion, but since you make this offer I will greatly appreciate the favor.
My brother-in-law, Mr. Merritt, has been telling me fabulous things of the squab industry, and I propose starting with the 12 pairs, allowing them to accumulate for two years, and determine positively the per- centage of increase, profit, etc.
The birds Mr. Merritt purchased of you have certainly done wonderful work, and this, too, after being shipped to California and then to St. Louis. The birds you shipped me are truly very handsome, and feel sure they will do well. JI have been breeding and shipping fancy poultry for the past 15 years.—R. W. B., Missouri.
KNOWN BY REPUTATION. I know you by reputation to be the largest and most successful and reliable breeders in America, therefore, I am to buy stock from you and would be glad to have your prices.—H. C. M., Tennessee.
MANUAL IS PREPARED EXPERIENCE. The birds I got from you are in every way larger and finer looking than any other Homers [ have ever seen around here. Their squabs are larger at the hatch and incom- parably larger at maturity, or four weeks, They seem to be attentive birds and extra good feeders. I love the business and I love my birds. I have followed your Manual as regards feeding and watering and find that I get the best results. It seems to be just what it is, prepared experience for the begin- ner. My policy was, if you don’t know, refer to the Manual, and I always found that I did the right thing and very seldom if ever went wrong.—W. T., Virginia.
PLEASANT BUSINESS RELATIONS. Our business relations have been so pleasant and satisfactory I will leave it entirely to your discretion in making me a present of a pair of Extra Homers. (Copy of your letter attached herewith explains all.). My birds are doing finely and I know your book by heart and will follow it carefully all through. I will give you an order soon for more Extra breeders.—A. D. W., Kansas.
ONE YEAR’S INCREASE. Your book is the best I have seen and is very satisfactory. Just one year ago I purchased 24 pairs of your Plymouth Rock Homers. Now I have 200 young birds. Iam well pleased with them.— W. A. L., Ohio.
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ANOTHER VIEW OF NEW JERSEY PLANT. This breeder tells his story in a letter printed on this page over the initials B. F. B., New Jersey.
REPEATED ORDERS FROM A NEW JERSEY CUSTOMER PLANNING TO HAVE 5000 PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. On April 6, 1908, I received from you six pairs of Extra
Plymouth Rock Homers.
On April 16, I received 13 pairs, and on May 9, 13 pairs more, the
majority of each shipment being at work inside of a week after receiving them. Six pairs
were laying on the second day after receipt.
At the date of this writing (October 26) I have 100 young birds, as fine as you can find anywhere. hatched by them are not beatable around these parts.
The birds received from you and the young I have not as yet weighed any of the
squabs, but from handling them know that they will weigh all that you claim. I have fed as your Manual directs and have not had any trouble from sickness or any sign
of lice, as lam looking after my lofts at alltimes and keep perfectly clean. Iam more than satisfied with your business dealings, fair and square I have just received from you 104 pairs of Extras, and they are beauties, the
lice will linger around. in all respects. talk of the town.
By doing this no
In the spring I expect to enlarge my plant so I can put in 5000 or 6000 birds, and you will have the order for stock, as I will know what Iam getting. Thanking you for square dealing
with me.
I will send you next week the $150 for the two special offers and also give you shipping date. All the birds received from you in the past have been O. K. in all respects, but if you have some that you think will go ahead of them I wish you would send them, as I think it will be the means of a large order for you.—B. F. B., New Jersey.
PLEASED TO RECOMMEND PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS TO OTHERS. Replying to yours of July 31, in regard to our showing this gentleman around our plant, would say, that we will be pleased to do so. We feel sure he will not hesitate buying from you after he sees our birds for they are proof enough, to our minds, of your fair dealing. Permit us to say that it will be more convenient for us to show him around our place on some Sunday for then we are able to give him better attention —L. O. N., New Jersey.
EIGHT TO NINE PAIRS OF SQUABS A YEAR FROM EACH PAIR OF BREEDERS. The 10 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers purchased from you some time ago are ail working very satisfactorily, averaging eight to nine pairs of squabs a year from each pair of. breeders.—D. V. G., New Jersey.
THIS IS THE RIGHT TALK. If at any time I can get you any business, you can count on my doing so.—D. D. C., North Carolina.
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THIS MINNESOTA CUSTOMER IS A PROMINENT LAWYER WITH A FINE FARM ON WHICH HE RAISES HIS OWN PIGEON FEED. The, publication of my place in the Si. Paul Press came about not upon my solicitation. All said is true enough and I doubt if I could improve it myself. Then I had the ranch and residence halftoned and stamped on envelopes and letter heads as per enclosed. :
Of course, I have so much to look after that Iam not able to give the pigeons much attention, but find them “‘ good to eat ’’ and nice in appearance. We have no difficulty now in disposing of all the squabs we can produce in St. Pauland at home. We get only $3 per dozen which does very well here as the farms produce wheat, buckwheat, and corn enough for all the birds, horses, cows, hogs and chickens I have. This year I tried Canada peas with satisfactory results.
Our main house is 58 feet long, 16 feet wide, with seven-foot posts. It rests upon a stone foundation with stone piers in the center supporting the sills, and is about two feet above the surface. Drop siding is used for weather boarding and matched fencing for inside lining. The space between the lining and drop siding is filled with cinders. The floor is of two thickness of inch flooring and brake-jointed. Ten feet of this house is used as a storing room and for filling the drinking fountains. The building is supplied with heat and city water. There are six flying pens each eight feet wide, 10 feet high and 24 feet long, with roosts as shown in the picture and are covered with one-inch mesh wire number 18. The entire framework support- ing the wire rests upon concrete foundations four inches wide and let into the ground about one foot. Each loft contains 140 nests, 70 nests on each side, leaving a space in the center of six feet. An entry way three feet wide extends along the entire north side of the building with a door opening into each pen. The small building is eight feet by ten feet with shed roof eight feet and five and one-half feet respectively in height. This is used as a mating pen, where an equal number of males and females are placed and when mated are banded and placed in
larger lofts. . W. M., Minnesota.
ENLARGING AFTER AN EXPERIMENT WITH THREE PAIRS. I am now making preparations to occupy a new building in the spring, and as soon as I can scare up the money, I want to order more breeders and about 20 dozen nest bowls, as I expect to have a two-unit house besides the one now oc- cupied. Ican’t say enough about the breeders I bought of you. My first pair of squabs weighed two pounds, two ounces, the second pair two pounds, and by the looks of the third pair, I believe they will weigh more than any of the first ones. I am going to keep my young ones for breeders, also expect to add more of your stock in the breeding line. If I get my other house up, I can easily accommodate 150 pairs of breeders, and want them just as fast as I can get them. I feed a little red wheat, Kaffir corn, millet and hemp-seed, buckwheat and barley and Canada peas. I have all told 10 kinds of feed, use the self-feeder for staples and my relishes I feed on a board with raised edges, which I remove from the pen after the birds have finished eating.—R. E. B., Pennsylvania.
PLEASED WITH WHAT HE SAW AT MELROSE FARM. I write to let you know I was very much pleased with what I saw at your farm in Melrose and the treatment which I received from your superintendent, and shall send you another order for some more of your birds by spring, as they are all right. If youhave any new literature, would you kindly send me the same, as I want to keep in touch with youin regard to anything that I can learn for my benefit.—C. H. H., Massachusetts.
The floor of each flying pen is covered with sand from four to eight inches deep.—
BETTER HOMERS THAN THIS FANCIER HAD IN HIS COOPS VALUED BY HIM AT TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR. Since I wrote you Saturday I had a great pigeon raiser call upon me to ask the privilege of looking at my birds you sent. I asked him to express himself in a candid way as to his opinion of the quality and also if he had any finer birds. He replied, ‘* Well, I have several kinds. Some I consider are worth $25 a pair, but I confess I have none that can hold a candle to those birds. They are extremely fine.’ He made strict inquiry about you and seemed wonderfully enthusi- astic and, on his leaving me, remarked he certainly would have to send for some of those birds. I just simply mention this to you for your credit. This is one of the parties I mentioned to you in my first letter I wrote you, asking you to send me some good birds, as I did not want to be laughed at. I think you will receive some orders from this part of the country, at least I am hoping so.—T. S., Illinois.
RICH PEOPLE SURPRISED BY QUALITY OF PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS. Two years ago I bought 12 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homer pigeons of you with the intention of raising squabs for market. I have never lost but one of the old birds and now have a flock of 225 or 250. About 100 are just beginning to mate. I sold some of the squabs to alady from New York who comes here for the summer, and her colored servant, who came to buy them, said they were the nicest ones he ever saw. The lady lives in an expensive part of the city.—W. R., Vermont.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 267
ST
Greatest Banquet Ever Given in the West Will Be That at the Coliseum Saturday Night.
When hungry Republicans, who have been, crowded Away from the political ple counter; in Missouri for 388 years, gather for their banquet at the Coli- seum, Saturday night, the greatest quantity of food ever sérved at a single eating fest in the West.
There will be seated in the great cin- ing room 2266 Republicans. They will occupy 78 tables, And 225 waiters have been ‘engaged to serve them.
‘Lyman TT, Hay of ihe Jeffersow and Planters hotels, who has undertaken to satisfy the appetites of the hungry Re- publicans, has ordered food in. the fol- lowing quantities:
225 gallons’ of soup.
1200 pounds of fish.
1000 pounds filet
2266 squabs,
2500 large rolls of bread.
200 loaves of bread.
700 bunches of radishes.
200 bunches of celery,
55 gallons-of olives.
10 boxes of léttuce.
‘10 boxes of chicory.
10 boxes of tomatoes.
30 dozen~bunches ‘of “barsley,
30 cases of Mma beans.
60 gallons of coffee.
2 sacks of potatoes,
100 gallons of ice cream, with large cuantities of assorted cakes.
Sixty Cooks to Cook It, Early Saturday morning 60 cooks ana
eef,
they will face]ner.ready for serving -when the guests
. LOVIS POST-DISPATCH
helpers will -be Bét to work in an im* mense temporary, kitchen in the base-. ment of the: Coliseum to prepare tie éreat feast. They expect to have;the aie
ara. seated at 6 p..ti, sharp. The 225 waiters will be divided into two squads, and will work from each’ end of the arena toward the centeY.
It is expected that It will require from # to 105 minutes to serve the meal. Mr. Hay-is-having the tables made, and will procure the 2266 chairs needed,’ and have them sent to the Coliseum before. the dinner béll is fapped.
Mr. Hay is assisted, by-J, ‘D;’ Tellman, ‘who” will, he the ~énéralauperintendent’® ‘at the banquet hall; Max McCurlee, who Will have charge of the service, and Fred Laufgatter, chief engineer of’ the Planters Hotel, who will arrange for the heating service and gas stove con- nections,
West's Biggest Banguet,
Mr. Hay says that the banquet will be the biggest ever givén In the West.
The guests of honor and the speakers will be seated at the head table, on which 62 plates will be laid. Gov.-elect Hadley will be the principal guest of honor. Jeptna D. Howe, chairman of the Republican City Committee, will be the toastmaster. The banquet is being given by the Republicab City Commit- tee to celebrate the victory in this State. All of the leading Missouri Republicans have been invited.
HUNDREDS OF SQUABS EATEN AT ONE BANQUET.
The above clipping from the Sé. Louis Post Dispatch printed in November, 1908, shows what St. Louis
Squabs are certainly being eaten in the West.
To provide the 2266 squabs which were
people think of squabs. b ; a eaten at this banquet would take one year's output of a plant of 150 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers.
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MISSISSIPPI SQUAB HOUSE.
The house is 14x26 feet and the flying pen 20x26 feet. 11 feet high. There are two galvanized iron bathpans
in the flying pen with water piped to each. The drinking fountain is inside the squab house and is made of six one inch T’s put together with nipples, making the whole eight feet long with water running through it all the time, and the T's nearly full. This gives them plenty of fresh drinking water all the time and it cannot be fouled by the birds. The house has 76 egg crates for nest boxes and can take forty more when needed. The white line seen at tne back of the pic ure is a much traveled shell roadway and the birds are much admired by passers-by. Of course it is not necessary to build a squab house so warm in Mississippi as in the North.
NINETEEN PAIRS INCREASED IN TWO YEARS TO FIVE HUNDRED BIRDS WITHOUT SPECIAL INSTRUCTION AND WITHOUT SYSTEM. I never had one of your Manuals. I merely put the 19 pairs of pigeons I first got from you about two years ago in a house 12 feet square and about 9 feet high, with a flying pen 20 feet by 12 feet by 9 feet, and have let them be there ever since. I have now about 500 birds and a nicer bunch of birds I have never seen. They are very much crowded at this time and many of the young are being killed by the push. I have now let contract for larger quarters and expect to remate the flock (if such a thing is advisable), and have separate pens, thus dividing the flock, and I am very anxious to get all the information possible so that I will mate no more mistakes. I enclose 50 cents in stamps for ’ the Manual. There are three or four persons in town who have small flocks of pigeons and they sell squabs at $1.50 a dozen, but they are small and mixed breeds, and do not have enough to supply the wants of the people. We have not as yet sold any squabs, but expect to charge at least $38 a dozen. We have a start now and my brother is going to help with the birds and we feel that there is a nice income ahead of us. I have been closely confined to my office duties, thus the birds in the past have been neglected.—G. J. G., Kansas.
RAISED A FINE FLOCK FROM A FEW. I visited a friend of mine in Erie, Pennsyl- vania, last week (August) and he showed me a fine flock of pigeons that he has raised from 12 he bought from you in the. spring. Will you kindly send me prices for six pairs and 12 pairs, also illustrations and_ different kinds you have.—B. K., Pennsylvania.
FIVE TIMES BETTER THAN COMMON PIGEONS. The three pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers are doing as much as the 15 pairs of common pigeons I had in the same quarters last summer.—G. S., Wisconsin.
BREED RAPIDLY IN FLORIDA. The birds received from you have done extra fine. Our stock has more than doubled already. Enclosed find check for which send by freight 100 pounds of your health grit, 100 pounds of oyster shells, 100 pounds mixed pigeon grain, and two dozen nest bowls— res Che Rlonda:
NO MORTALITY. I have followed your Manual’s instructions to the letter and have never lost a bird, when once out of the nest, and only three squabs, and they were only two or three days old.—W. O., New Jersey.
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- A MASSACHUSETTS PLANT. For description see title underneath cut on opposite page.
COMMON PIGEONS IN UTAH FOUND A POOR INVESTMENT IN COMPARISON WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. I recently purchased one of your Manuals and find in it a world of very valuable information. I have at present a pen of 300 common pigeons which are profitable, as I dispose of all the squabs I can raise at $3 per dozen. A friend of mine who purchased some of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers some time ago gave me six pairs of his birds, and I must say they are the greatest workers I have ever seen. My common birds are for sale, as the Homers have taken their place in my estimation, one pair of your stock to three pairs of common. As soon as I can dispose of the birds I now have (except my pen of Homers) you can depend on a good-sized order from me for your stock. I will also want a few pairs of the Carneaux you so highly recommend. If they beat your Homers they must be great workers. I put the Homers in a separate house with eight-foot flying pen on the second of Julv last and at present date, November 7, they have raised 34 young and four pairs are again with eggs. I have considerable trouble in getting proper grains, that is, Kaffir corn, hemp seed, Canada peas, as no one here handles them. Will you kindly inform me as to where I may purchase same, and if not too much trouble quote prices. I hope to be able to dispose of my common stock and replace same with your fine birds.—G. S. W., Utah.
EIGHT PAIRS OUT OF NINE QUICKLY AT WORK. Recently my son received nine pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and it is his wish that I notify you of their safe arrival and that he is well pleased with them. Eight of the nine pairs are at work. In fact he has a dozen young, and eggs to hatch.— S. P. T., Missouri.
BURNED OUT, BUT STARTS A NEW FLOCK. Please send mea catalogue of your best stock. I bought some Extra Plymouth Rock mated birds about a year ago of you, but lost all in a fire which burned the pigeon house down. I made good money on them and liked them for pets very much and I wish to stock up again.—J. R., Missouri.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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ANOTHER VIEW OF MASSACHUSETTS PLANT.
The customer whose main plant we illustrate on this page and the preceding page lives not far from our Melrose farm. His building has been erected after our plans and is a duplicate of our own buildings with slight variations. One of these variations is ventilators in the roof, an excellent idea. The ventilators in our own houses are at the ends of the houses, which genera-ly serve well, but on very hot days in summer we have felt the need of additional ventilators in the roof as this customer has built them. He has room enough in the cellar of his house to grow mushrooms and rhubarb. The rhubarb grows fast and to great size. This customer grows rhubarb five feet high in the dark in such a place and there is a good market for it. He is a market gardener and understands how_to utilize the under part of his squab house in this manner. He heats this house and the cellar under it with a hot water plant. If any of our customers wish to put in hot water heaters, write us and we will give you the benefit of our experience. We have tried three kinds of heaters at our Melrose plant, in fact we have three different kinds in use there now and have learned something about the different makes and can give helpful advice on this subject.
HALF-INCH MESH WIRE NETTING OVER THE SILLS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR RATS TO GNAW THROUGH. I got birds from you last summer, two shipments of the Extra. What do you ask for them now, as I want to get some? Your birds are fine and doing well. I have nearly 1000 birds and have a fine place, building 130 feet long, 14 feet wide, cut into units, south front, matched lumber outside and in. I used a certain building paper all over outside, tar paper inside. I intend to raise 10,000 birds and put up more buildings. Hog rings are the thing to use to weave the wire netting. I put fine wire netting, half-inch mesh, one foot wide, the entire length of building on the joist over the sills before floor is putdown. No rats can get in.—F. E. B., Iowa.
FOUR HUNDRED PAIRS BRED FROM SIXTEEN PAIRS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN THREE YEARS, AND 700 SQUABS SOLD. I purchased 16 pairs Plymouth Rock Homers from your company in July, 1905. I have about 800 birds now (October, 1908). I have sold about 700 squabs, nearly all for $3.50 per dozen, but of late I have had hard luck with rats. They have not been breeding well for about two months. I have lost quite a number from going light and dumping around. I thought perhaps they needed some of your health grit or something of that kind and I enclose an order for your health grit. H. S., Michigan.
BETTER THAN OTHERS. Last spring I bought 52 pairs of Plymouth Rock Extra Homers from you and like them better than any I have. They have done better than birds I paid more for, and I want to get some more of them, but I have no room. I want to sell 100 pairs which I bought in Connecticut. C. B., Connecticut.
RAPID BREEDING IN VIRGINIA CLI- MATE. One or two of my pairs lay every seven weeks. The others all do _ better. One pair lays every month. The squabs that I raise average one pound. I feed mostly corn, wheat, barley, and small grains of whole corn. Sometimes I crumble up toast for them.—P. S., Va.
nen:
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 271
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CALIFORNIA SQUAB HOUSE. The breeder is doing very well in this unimposing place.
SQUABS SELLING BRISKLY FROM A LARGE FLOCK OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN
CALIFORNIA. is speaking well for Plymouth Rock Homers. as there is a big demand for squabs. Homers.—W. I., California.
MANUAL PROVEN TRUE BY EXPERI- ENCE. Irecommend your firm and addressed an envelope to you yesterday morning for a man over in Calhoun, Tennessee, just over the river from Charleston. I think you will land him as a customer. I like your Manual very much as I take it alongside my ex- perience with your birds. The simple truth shines forth on every page, and if there is any criticism I can offer, it is pertaining to the limited index, which is not really a fault for in searching for a certain point one reviews points that he cannot know too well.— P. E. O., Tennessee.
Note. Sometime we hope to have a full index for this book. If this paragraph meets the eye of a squab raiser who is also em- ployed in a library or publishing house and has done indexing, I wish he or she would write me.—E. C. R.
I have 30 pairs in a pen and can count 24, 26 and 30 nests in a pen, so that I have raised only 20 pairs from them for breeders, If I had $3000 I would put $2000 of it into Plymouth Rock
EVERY PAIR AT WORK IN THREE WEEKS FROM DELIVERY. On July 29 the Plymouth Rock Extras reached us. We put them into the pigeon house immediately and were more than surprised at the readiness with which they adapted themselves to their new surroundings. We are delighted and are planning to order more birds just as soon as we have a place ready for them. Our boy would like to know how our record compares with others. Every pair at work in three weeks time. Is that equal to the usual standard?—E. S., Pennsylvania.
TRIED THEM ONE YEAR AND WANTS MORE. Please send me price-list of the Extra Piymouth Rock Homers. I bought some of you a year ago and I like them fine. I wish some more at the same price.—L. V., Illinois.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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SMALL OPENINGS UNDER THE WINDOWS.
This photograph of the plant of a Pennsylvania breeder, shows small openings from which boards extend to the ground. In winter weather or at any time when.it is not desired to open the closed windows, this small opening in each pen can be used. Some breeders have a rope and pulley attached to the slide of such an opening, manage the opening and closing by pulling on the rope from the passageway, and do not have to enter the squab house.
OLD TWO-ROOM COTTAGE CONVERTED INTO A SQUAB HOUSE. BEST BIRDS IN 15 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. After having so many letters from you, reading your Manual and then looking at your photo, I really feel that I am well acquainted with you. I received your last letter several days ago and would have written you sooner, but for a rush in business. I am highly pleased with all the birds purchased from you and especially the last shipment you made me. ‘Those birds are the very handsomest I have ever seen and have been admired by every one that has seen them. They are getting down to work now. My house and pen cost me very little and yet I have almost anidealhome for my birds. Away backin my garden I have an old two-room cottage with gable roof covered with shingles. This I have turned into a home for my birds. The rooms are about 10 by 10 and eight feet high, or maybe a little larger. One of them I have almost filled with nest boxes (as you make them) and the other I keep for feed, etc. My pen is 24 feet long, 12 feet wide and about 18 feet high, taking in one side of the roof. In your Manual you do not recommend using the roof, but I have gone against you in this one thing and am allowing mine to enjoy the roof. I donot use poles of any kind in my pen. I have three running boards all the way around and find that much better than the poles. The floor of the flying pen is covered with good coarse sand taken from an island in the river here and I feed them as you direct in your Manual.
I have raised birds for the last 15 years, but have never had such success as I am now having. I keep them more for pleasure than anything else, but of course later on will begin selling offafew. Dr. Robinson tells me that he is meeting with success also. He has asked me several times to go down and see his birds, but I live way out of town and hardly ever stop around his place. Anything I can do for you in the way of directing a customer to you I will gladly do. As Ihave written you before, it is a pleasure to do business with you. Dr. Robinson made the same remark to me several daysago. F.E.M., Virginia.
FIRST PURCHASE LEADS TO A SECOND. FAIR METHODS. It is certainly a_pleas-
IT must
Enclosed find remittance for which please send your special offer No. 1. information, I will say that the birds I pur- chased of you have done well and of course their record recommends you to me for more. I quote you to my customers and friends. We have five pens and will keep this lot separate to note their points, for we are trying for 2000 pairs and as fast as money comes to us we will buy.—G. B. D., Alabama.
For your.
ure to do business with your firm. express myself at the fairness of your methods. I wish you success and assuring you you will hear from me again.—L. L. J., Pennsylvania.
RAPID REPRODUCTION IN ILLINOIS. The 15 pairs I got from you in the spring have done finely. have raised (September) about 50 pairs of young ones. They are all very good.—B. F., Illinois.
a —————EeEeEeEEEE—_—_—_—_—_—__—_—_—__—__—_—__ LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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A PAIR OF SQUABS FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS.
These squabs weigh a pound apiece as you see them on the platter.
IN TWO AND ONE-HALF YEARS THIS ILLINOIS CUSTOMER BRED A FLOCK OF 650 FROM 12 PAIRS EXTRA PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS, ALSO SELLING SQUABS. On March 13, 1906, I ordered 12 pairs of vour Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I kept a record of them all the first year and found the best pair hatched the tenth pair of squabs on April 11, 1907, the average being nearly seven pairs of squabs to each pair of breeders. 1 consider this pretty good for the first year.
In the winter and spring of 1907, I built a new loft 50 feet long, 12 feet wide, divided into five pens with orange crates which I used for nests. Each pen has a wire run 10 x 20 feet. facing the south. The whole building is covered with roofing. I now (October, 1908) have 650 birds altogether. About 400 of them are mated and I presume the rest of them will be mated by next spring. The first ten squabs raised from your birds I sold for $1 each when about six weeks old to a party here who was very anxious to buy them. Since then I have been keeping all the choicest squabs for breeders and the smallest squabs I have been shipping to market with the squabs of the common pigeons which we have breeding squabs around the barns. The last two months I have been shipping all of the squabs to the Chicago market, as I mow have birds enough for my building capacity. My intention is to sell squabs for a while, then I may put up more buildings and start on a larger scale if everything looks satisfactory. I am at present getting from $2 to $2.59 per dozen for the squabs from the commission men in Chicago, In some of the large hotels they are paying forty cents each for squabs weighing 9 to 10 pounds to the dozen. I have not started to sell to the hotels yet. My best squabs weigh about 10 pounds to the dozen.
Corn and wheat are the staple articles of feed, and twice a week I feed Kaffir corn, Canada peas, buckwheat, hemp and some barley. For nesting material I use tobacco stems and there- fore have not had any trouble with lice or vermin.
Your birds are the largest I have seen as I have been to other squab raisers near here. If ever any time I purchase more birds, it will be from your plant. —E. M., Illinois.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 274
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EXPERIENCED PIGEON RAISER PAYS A HEARTY TRIBUTE TO THE DEMONSTRATED SUPERIORITY OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS On seeing one of your advertisements I was induced to send for your free squab book and other literature to the extent of purchasing one of your Manuals. I am always eager to learn of new methods in the pigeon business and to give a little time experimenting upon ‘“‘ claimed-to-be’”’ better stock. On receiving your publications I began to carefully scan them to see what new thought or idea I might glean from them. In some instances I thought you were making rather extravagant claims, as most advertisements generally do. They praise some of the most worthless articles to the highest notch, leading folks to purchase something in which they are very often sorely disappointed.
This is not so in your case, for of all the claims you have made for your birds, I can truthfully say the ‘‘ half has never been told.’’ In my opinion there are no better. They are as perfect a piece of squab machinery as nature can create and man improve upon.
How well I am pleased with the birds I bought of you is well attested by the fact that I am enclosing another order for more of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.
In July, 1907, I sent my first order. They were the largest Homers that had ever been in my neighborhood, as many persons who came to see them attested. Within less than three weeks after I had placed them in my lofts they had accustomed themselves to the place, several pairs had laid and set. With machine-like regularity they have given me a pair of eggs on an average of every five and one-half weeks. I do not mean to say that they have given me a pair of squabs for every pair of eggs laid. The difference between the eggs laid and the squabs hatched from them has been so slight that a harsh critic cannot find fault. Some of my first pairs of squabs from your birds have already laid and set.
T have not allowed any sickness or lice to invade my lofts; I believe the vitality of your birds is of such strength that with little care and proper feeding one need never have any fear of them.
I have been very careful as to how Ihave fedthem. My plan of feeding is as follows: Wheat and corn are my main feed. Each day I feed a relish, Sunday hemp, Monday Canada peas, Tuesday Kaffir corn, Wednesday millet, Thursday hemp, Friday Kaffir corn, Saturday I feed a grain which I obtain from my dealer called vetches; the birds relish this very much.
I feed whole corn at all times as most of the cracked corn we get is of an inferior sort, somes thing which could hardly be sold in the whole grain. My feeding plan may seem a little expen- sive, but I am after results and as the birds are giving me those results, I feel that they are amply repaying me for my trouble. One cannot expect to get out of pigeons what they do not put into them, so with poor feeding one can expect but poor results. Iam more than satisfied with the quantity and quality of the squabs they have given me. My squabs weigh from 12 ounces to 16 ounces apiece, as fat and juicy as they can be. I have some which were ready to be killed in 25 days.
T have had one bad experience since I have had your birds. On one occasion I was unable to obtain necessary grain from my regular feed dealer, so I had to purchase of another who sent me some inferior stuff. My squabs began to show the difference in that they were not so plump and fat. I soon discarded this and my squabs went back to their original size. Dur- ing the moulting period your birds showed no visible signs of their being affected by it save the loss of feathers. They appeared as though there was no strain attached to it. During the cold weather they have done equally as well as in the warm weather.
It is not my intention to lead any one into believing that all he has to do is to purchase Ply- mouth Rock Homers, put them into his loft regardless of care and proper feeding, and they will prove a success. But I do claim that with little care they will give the same if not better results than they have given me. Ihave sold some of my squabs for as high as one dollar a pair, and got as high as $5.50 a dozen for some.
My opinion of the squab business is that it is yet in its swaddling clothes with every indication of asuccessful growth. The demand for the large, plump squab is daily increasing. Breeders with such stock as the Plymouth Rock are the only ones who will be able to supply this demand. I have the greatest of hope in the business. It is one of the greatest investments of today. In my opinion there are but a few honest investments which give better returns for money, at least I have found none better.
T am in the squab business now as a side issue. I look for it in the near future to pay me larger returns than the salary I am now getting, which is $1100 a year.
My present plant is composed of three lofts with a capacity of nearly 300 pairs of birds. I have other Homers than yours and have compared the two to see which give the better results, I must confess that I have A No. 1 birds, but yours excel them by far in the number and size of squabs.
I shall in a little while have only your birds on hand as I have already learned that they are in a class by themselves and as an investment no stock can equal them. Enclosed find my order, wishing you much success.—H. N. B., District of Columbia.
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SQUAB BUILDING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
This looks like a view in tropical Florida but it is not; quite the opposite It is the plant of one of our customers in Northwest Canada, British Columbia, being on the edge of a clearing the foreground showing underbrush- There is an excellent market for squabs in British Columbia, same as everywhere else.
CANADIAN MARKET GROWING. NO HOMERS IN THIS ONTARIO TOWN TO COMPARE WITH HIS. SQUABS WORTH $3.50 A DOZEN. The first part of October, 1907, I ordered one dozen pair of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers and was surprised at the promptness of your shipment. But I had everything ready and liberated the birds in their new home. As it was their moulting season when I received them, they did not lay for nearly four weeks, but when they did begin they worked like Trojans. One pair has laid 12 eggs in the six months I have had them, and I had a pair of squabs that weighed over two pounds, 28 days old. The market quotations give such and such a price for squabs weighing 10 pounds to the dozen, but do not quote 11 and 12-pound squabs. Iam confident that with care in selecting breeders from your stock, one could get squabs up to 10-pound mark every time. There are no birds in town to compare with mine. Everybody that sees them comments on their trim, business-like appearance.
I have gained a little experience now, and intend building pigeon houses to accommodate about 400 breeding pairs. If things continue as they are now, I may go into the business for a living. Your Manual has helped me a great deal. Before I read it I knew practically nothing about pigeons, but now I pride myself as being a fairly good amateur. Iam offered $3.50 per dozen for killed squabs, but am keeping mine for breeding purposes. Our Canadian market is not so good as the American market, but Canadians are fast learning what good eating squabs are, and in a few years the market will be much better. I have had some experience with hens, and know how hard it is to raise a flock successfully, but hens are not to be compared with your pigeons for money-making and simplicity of raising. ;
I have had no sickness in my flock and haven’t seen a sien of lice. I spray the pen, with diluted carbolic acid and clean it out every two weeks. I think no one would have lice in his flock if he kept his pens clean. I do not use the self-feeder at present, but will when my flock increases. I think it is a first-class affair. Your Manual includes and explains everything from the gravel on the ground of the flying pen to the roof on the pigeon loft. I can honestly recom- mend your stock to any one going into the squab industry and wish you every success.—G, L., Ontario, Canada.
SHOWING A PROFIT. Pigeons are doing A GOOD WORD. I will always speak a well. They are more than paying for them- good word for your kind treatment and your selves.—E. W., Missouri fine birds.—J. M. H., South Carolina. LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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PROFIT OF $2 ON EACH PAIR OF BREEDERS. COST OF FEED, 75 CENTS A PAIR A YEAR. In January, 1907, I got the idea of raising squabs. I saw your advertisement in the Reliable Poultry Fournal, answered it, got your free book, then sent 50 cents for your Manual. After reading it, I started to fix up an old building for squabs. After fixing the building which was a cheap one, my squab house had no floor and the roof was poor, but in this dark and damp place I have never had a sick bird, but I am now so interested in the business that I am building a unit house according to your plans. After the old building was rigged into a squab house, I sent in my order for three pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, and when they arrived I was much satisfied with them. On the fifth day, two pairs began nesting and within a week I had four eggs. Within the next few days the other pair went to work. Not knowing much about the habits of the birds, I put in most of my time watching them. I became very interested and the next month sent you an order for six pairs. Since then, a year ago, they have done so well that in the future I am going to make it a business. I have bought nine pairs in all and now have 40 pairs that are working, and 52 young. ‘The birds I have raised from your birds are as fine a lot as I have ever seen.
I have had many calls for breeders and have refused as high as $4.a pair. I have sold a few dozen squabs to a few families for $3.50 per dozen. I got them started and they are after them all the time, but I do not care at present to sell at all, as I am increasing my flock. 1 have weighed the squabs and find they average 10 pounds to the dozen. I am sure I can make a profit of $2 on each pair of breeding birds. I have kept close account of the feed and it will not exceed 75 cents per pair, per year.
I have followed your Manual and think it a good teacher. without it. I use the self-feeder and drinking fountain and your nest bowls. I am now feeding as follows: Corn and wheat in self-feeder, four parts corn and one part wheat. The other grains I feed like this: Monday millet, Tuesday barley, Wednesday Kaffir corn, Thursday Canada peas, Friday buckwheat, Saturday broken rice, Sunday hemp seed. I find the birds like this manner of feeding and they become tame. They will be waiting for you at feeding time and fly about you, lighting on your shoulders. I use the lump salt, grit and oyster shells.
I cannot say too much for the squab business. It is way ahead of poultry—not so much work, no young to take care of, and not so much danger of lice. I have never had a louse in the squab house. I willsay this in comparing squabs with poultry, first compare the advantages and disadvantages of the growing of market squabs and market poultry. To my mind the former is to be preferred. The work is lighter and the details of the business not so great. The profits are larger for the amount of time and money invested. Artificial incubation and brooding, which is quite a study in the poultry business, has no part in the squab business, as the parents attend to all these details and do it better than man possibly could. All the labor is performed under one cover. In fact, a big plant can be easily established under a single roof. There is no loss from hawks or wild animals. After having experience with both I have decided that for the man who has not the best of health and is limited for land, the squab business offers better opportunities than the raising of market chickens or ducks. The first thing for the beginner is to get the very best breeders and follow your Manual as nearly as possible and he will come out on top. I am satisfied with my success and will continue to the end. You wiil please find my order for birds and supplies.—F. L., Illinois.
I don’t think I could get along
FLORIDA EATS THOUSANDS OF DOZENS THIRTY YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. Re-
OF SQUABS IN THE WINTER MONTHS. The manager of the Royal Poinciana Hotel of St Augustine, in response to my query as to the demand for birds, said he saw no reason why his company could not use several hundred dozen each week, that they would like to see more pigeon farms in Florida. I want to go South the first of next month and by the last of the month or the first of November have the birds there so as to put some squabs on the market in December.—H. B. J., Indiana.
Note. The Royal Poinciana above men- tioned is only one of a chain of Flagler hotels along the East Coast of Florida and squabs are eaten in all of them
TEXAS REFERENCE. If any one wants to know anything about your square dealings, etc., you have my permission to refer him to me.—R. S., Texas.
ceived your Manual and as far as I have gone I find it up to the minute in every respect. I have learned a number of things about pigeons in it that I did not know before, and I think I am pretty well posted on pigeons, as I have raised them, both common and fancy, off and on for the past 30 years, but only for pleasure. Now I think I will go into it for profit, in a small way at first, but expect to increase my flock from time to time. as I have the money to spare.—J. C. M., io.
DEMONSTRATION OF EXCELLENCE. My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers are doing first rate. I am now at present increasing my flock as I see that the pigeon business far surpasses the poultry business. Please send me a price list of your open leg bands wath three initials and number on.—L. C. W.,
inois.
ee
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 277
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This breeder whose plant is pictured at the left lives in a thickly-settled residential neigh- borhood in Wash- ington, D.C. The building in which his pigeons are kept is at the rear end of his resi- dence lot. It isa two-story brick building 20x40 feet and contains two hundred nest boxes. The two windows have a southern ex pos- ure. The flying pen, 10x12 feet by 16 feet high, takes in only one win- dow. He has bred Carneaux here. He has bred all kinds of pigeons, he says, but has never seen such breeders as our Carneaux. He has bred youngsters from our birds weighing nineteen and t hree-quar- ters ounces when twenty days old.
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A CITY SQUAB HOUSE.
TWO YOUNG WOMEN TOO BUSY MAKING MONEY WITH SQUABS AND CHICKENS TO WRITE A LONG LETTER. Please excuse our delay in writing you as we are busy most every minute of the day raising chickens for our winter layers, and they cause more work than the pigeons, but we thought the two were a good combination, as we can sell everything we can
raise. There is a great demand here for squabs, and ours are fine, if I do say it myself. We are very much pleased with the last lot you sent. They are beauties. All our birds are
good workers.
Sometime in the near future we will write and give you a little of our experience since we have started in the squab business. This time of year is a busy one for us, getting everything going for the winter when prices are the highest. We are having much better success this year than last. Excuse this delay and we will write later —Miss H. L. A. and Miss E. E. S.
FOUR DOLLARS AND EIGHTY CENTS A DOZEN FOR SQUABS IN SPOKANE. INSIST-
ENT DEMAND. The market for squabs here (Spokane) is good, and I am getting 40 cents apiece © forsquabs. The demand is more than the squab raisers can furnish. I thought I would takea sample of your birds, and they surely have proven good.—M. M., State of Washington.
CANNOT SUPPLY THE DEMANDS FOR SQUABS IN THIS ALABAMA TOWN. My pigeons
are getting along fine. I cannot very well supply the demands here for squabs and may have to order more Plymouth Rock Homers soon, Please write me at once as I would like to order as
soon as possible.—C. N., Alabama.
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LARGE AND PROFITABLE FLOCK BREEDING HIGHEST-GRADE SQUABS, DEVELOPED
IN rWO YEARS FROM A PURCHASE OF ONLY SEVEN PAIRS. After reading a great deal on the subject, and especiallv
I became interested in squab raising.
In the early part of 1906
the ‘‘ National Standard Squab Book,” written by Elmer C, Rice of the Plymouth Rock Squat Co., I concluded to try my hand at the business, not so much for profit as for relief from the
confining work of my profession. profitable but most enjoyable.
I was fully convinced that I would find the work not only
I immediately set to work, at odd times, to fit up for a squab loft the upstairs of a small
barn on the south end of a city lot upon Which my residence is located.
At the present time,
I have the upstairs of this barn divided into two breeding pens with one flying pen to the west
and another one to the north. flying pen as high as the eaves of the barn. the entire day.
In order to give my birds plenty of sunshine, I built my north By so constructing it the birds can have sunshine
In February, 1906, I bought of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company the first pigeons I have ever owned, consisting of seven mated pairs of as fine Homers as can be found in any loft.
All but one pair of these were prolific breeders. averaging in weight about 13 ounces each.
From one of these pairs I have raised 37 squabs,
Although I have a few times bought elsewhere a pair of pigeons that suited my fancy as to color, etc., I have failed to find any better ones than those mentioned above.
I have one of your banding outfits with which I make open aluminum bands.
Just before
the youngsters intended for breeders leave the nest, I place on them one of these bands. I
lkeep a very careful record of each one of these intended breeders.
From this record I can trace
the origin of any of the breeders which I have raised back to their oldest ancestors in my loft. This record and my mating coop have enabled me to avoid inbreeding. : - As a result of the splendid stock of birds with which I started, proper mating and the best
of care, I now (July, 1908,) have a flock of nearly 250 exceptionally good Homers. Nearly all of them are mated and doing good work.
I have never seen.
A finer flock
From this flock I have sold nearly 500 squabs, and I am now putting into market over 100
per month, bésides retaining some of the choicest squabs for breeders. With the exception of those raised by very young parent
nearly nine pounds to the dozen.
My squabs average
birds, they average over nine pounds to the dozen, while a few go as high as 12 pounds to the
dozen.
From my limited experience in the business, I am fully satisfied that squab raising is not only very enjoyable work, but also very profitable to the one who starts with first-class birds, gives them first-class care, uses ordinary good judgment in managing the business, and has stick-to-it enough to give the business a fair test before giving up.—W. A. G., Ohio.
HIS NEIGHBOR, AN ENGLISH EXPERT, COMPLIMENTED HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. My neighbor, an Englishman, who has raised pigeons all his life from the time he was a boy in England, complimented my Plymouth Rock Homers very highly. One side of his pigeon pen forms one side of mine, our two houses joining, and we have a good way to compare the birds, side by side. He has fine birds (raises his for fliers), but, although a novice in the business myself and not authoritative on the matter, I would not trade my pigeons for any he has. It was evident at the start that the birds you sent me were well mated, and my neighbor also remarked how well they seemed to be paired, and how devoted the pairs were to each other. I think also, that quite an affection has already grown up between myself and the birds, of a reciprocal nature, and_I am thoroughly pleased and satisfied —R. R. M., West Virginia.
SQUABS SOLD IN OHIO AT AN AVERAGE PRICE OF $3.36 A DOZEN. My squabs are doing fine now. We have marketed 724 squabs since October 12, 1907, to June 20, 1908, off 210 pairs of birds—average price apiece, 28 cents —W. H., Ohio.
THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY CHANGED HIS BABYHOOD PLAY-HOUSE INTO A SQUAB HOUSE AT A TOTAL EXPENDI- TURE OF TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. I changed an old play-house into a squab house and built a pen and the whole thing cost me 25 cents for bolts and wire staples. I will send you sometime some photographs of my Plymouth Rock Homers and my house. I follow the instructions in your Manual and am well satisfied with everything. My papa ordered the pigeons for me. Your well- pleased customer.—W. C., Massachusetts.
Note. We print this boy’s letter because we think he holds the record on cheapest squab-house construction (or remodeling). Who can beat it?
STARTED WITH CHEAP HOMERS, BUT HAD TO KILL THEM OFF AND BUY PLY- MOUTH ROCKS. I send you draft for $45. Send the birds as soon as you can. . I have the squab house all ready. Last fall I sent off for six pairs. then early this spring I sent for six pairs to another firm (low-priced place).
have now one pair that is fairly good and one good cock. I killed the others. I do not wait any more $1 per pair pigeons.—J. B., owa.
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A PAIR OF BIG SQUABS.
These were bred by the Pennsylvania man whose letter is printed on this page. Note the enormous breasts and their plumpness. They are world-beaters.
STARTED IN TWO HORSE-STALLS. RAPID PROGRESS IN ELEVEN MONTHS. I sent you my first order for six pairs of Extras, the birds arriving November 23, 1907, all in good condition with the exception of one, which you replaced later on. I selected the two horse- stails in the barn as a fit place for keeping pigeons and put in the floor, windows, nests, etc., according to your Manual. I succeeded in getting the first pair to hatch within a month’s time. It was very cold, which somewhat hindered them in their breeding. The remaining birds were all at work soon after the first and I became greatly interested in them. I had great confidence in this new venture and after they were all at work, I first conceived how fast they bred.
In the month of January, 1908, I sent my second order for eight pairs of Extras, these birds arriving January 25, 1908, in good condition with the exception of one, which you so generously replaced later on. This second lot of birds were all at work within two weeks after liberation. They commenced to hatch so rapidly that I find I have at this date, October 11, 1908, about 200 birds in all, These birds include the original 14 pairs and their offsprings. My birds are all banded and I keep a careful account of each pair. I have seen quite a few birds in town classed as Homers -which do not near compare with the birds I bought of you. My pigeons can be seen any time and people are surprised to find such a fine lot of birds. The birds which I bought of you and their offsprings will easily average from seven to nine pairs a year, and some have hatched for the tenth time in less than a vear. Some of the nests had three eggs in them on two or three occasions. These eggs were all hatched out and I took the third young one and put it in the nest of good feeding birds who raised it to a good size. : :
I have weizhed some of my squabs and find them one pound and over, some occasionally being under one pound. A
After having read your Manual thoroughly I determined to make the feed question one of the principal considerations. I use the self-feeder which you describe and recommend. I mix corn (which includes cracked corn) and wheat in the proportions which you state in your Manual and keep the self-feeder always plentifully supplied with it, so that the crops of their young are well supplied. I also feed the dainties such as millet, buckwheat, peas, hemp seed and sunflower seeds, throwing lettuce, cabbage or parsley into the pen twice a week. The birds always have rock-salt, codfish and oystershell before them. The pens are re-graveled every six weeks and
LEETERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 280
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the birds are always in good health. clean the apartments every week. from vermin. few weeks.
I scald the drinking fountains several times a week and The bathpans are filled daily so that they can keep free I have not as yet been seriously troubied with lice for I disinfect thoroughly every I have tried to follow your Manual in every way possible and the results testify to its great value as the book of all books on this subject.
If a person has never engaged in this
pleasant pursuit he need but buy a Manual and follow its teachings and success is sure to crown
his efforts.
It takes patience from the start and those who think of get-rich-quick schemes
had better not start in this industry.—H. F. S., Pennsylvania.
HER BIRDS IN CALIFORNIA LIKE FINE TWIGS FOR NEST BUILDING BETTER THAN STRAW. Wehave now 28 mated pairs and I have another pair in the mating coop, also saw a pair in the squab pen making up to each other this morning. We are very much interested in the work and intend to continue until we have about 2000 birds if we can. Of course we will soon begin to sell some, but we wish to have enough to supply one certain place before we do, as we think by so doing we can build up a better trade and get a better price for our birds. Several have offered to buy but we have sold none yet. Every one says our birds are the prettiest and best cared for they ever have seen. They think we take unnecessary pains with them, but we think it pays to do so. We started in March last (1907) so none of our squabs is more than nine months old and they all mate up at about four or five months. The oldest ones have had several pairs of squabs of their own. We have followed the Manual and think it all right. We feed wheat, corn, cracked corn, Kafhr corn, mixed, as a daily feed and three times a week Canada peas and hemp seed with now and then a little rice. We have running water in our pens and we use eucalyptus and pepper twigs for the nest building, as they seem to like the fine twigs better than straw. We keep oystershell and charcoal and rock salt where they can get it, and put fresh gravel in the pens every now and then. We wish. to keep about 50 pairs in each unit, so we have our first one almost full. We expect to buy more breeders as soon as we can and not depend altogether on our own, but we wanted to get a start and be able to handle a few pairs properly before we tried so many. Wishing you success and prosperity——Mrs. W. W., California.
WORTHY OF ENTIRE CONFIDENCE. Enclosed find postal money order for which please send Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, according to your Special Offer No.3. This is my third order. The National Standard Squab Book is as nearly perfect as it can be and has given me both pleasure and _satis- faction. Your improvements and additions are admirable. I am ordering from you be- cause you are I think entirely reliable, gen- erous and worthy of my entire confidence. My plans are not quite matured but they mean more Extra Plymouth Rock Homers.— Mrs. H. A. C., Georgia.
SELLING SQUABS AT GOOD PRICES AND BUYING MORE MATED PAIRS. I pur- “chased of your company six pairs of vour Extra Plymouth Rock Homers the 13th of June, 1907, and six pairs the 27th of the same month and had no trouble in getting them to work. Some of them started to nest two days after I received them. I now (May, 1908), have 60 mated pairs and have been selling squabs right along for $3 and $3.50 adozen. I have some pairs that hatch every month. I have one pair that hatch three birds quite often and raise them all. I have some squabs that weigh one pound at four weeks of age. They average from nine to 11 pounds to the dozen. I have sold some pairs for $1.25 a pair. I feed the best of grain, such as whole corn, red wheat, Kaffir corn, millet, hemp seed and Canada peas and cracked corn, and use the self-feeder for the wheat and corn as shown in your Manual, and like it. I like your Manual and would not be without it. I have had no sickness or lice in my flock as I use plenty of lime, and keep my house well whitewashed inside and out- side. I have been in the first stores in Pittsburg and in several pigeon houses around here and I have seen none to compare with mine. I have some young birds finer than the parent birds. I like the birds very much and the business, or I would not be sending for more birds. Your birds are more than you claim them to be, for my birds have shown so. It will pay me better to buy mated birds that will hatch right off than it would to wait on the young for breeders, as I can be selling squabs all that time —J. H. S., Pennsylvania.
BEST IN A LIFE TIME. I have read your book with much interest. It is by far the best I have ever seen on the subject of pigeon raising. I have kept pigeons all my life, or at least for 40 years, from the common to the high-priced carrier, and at present have a coop of some dozen different varieties, all of which I propose disposing of and putting in the Plymouth Rock Homers. See enclosed. order—W. W. B., New Jersey.
LARGEST HOMERS EVER SEEN. The Plymouth Rock Homers I bought of you last season are doing far better than I had anticipated. Every one who has seen them, without an exception, says they are the largest Homers they have ever seen.—B. E., District of Columbia.
a LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 281
KNOWS WHERE TO GET RELIABLE BIRDS. I know where to come for reliable birds, having bought my Extra Plymouth Rock Homers from you. See enclosed order. The Extra Homers I bought of you June 1 have made a good record. I knew absolutely nothing about pigeons and had never seen a first-class bird until I got yours. Have depended entirely on your Manual for my knowledge.—Mrs. R. O., Indiana.
MORE THAN DOUBLED. The pigeons we bought of you in September are doing nicely. - They have more than doubled their number and our young stock have commenced
AN ODD SQUAB HOUSE.
This shows the small plant of the Massachusetts breeder whose letter is printed above and beneath the picture.
laying. One pigeon suddenly became lame after his arrival here, and after trying to cure him we finally killed him. We have dis- covered no more lameness in our flock.— S. W., Massachusetts.
SOME WEIGH ONE POUND AT THREE WEEKS. My Plymouth Rock Extras are all doing nicely and are raising squabs that aver- aze a pound at four weeks. Some of them will weigh a pound at three weeks.—P. E., Pennsylvania.
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SET BACK BY POOR WHEAT. I started with six pairs. Got along fine until I got hold of a lot of poor wheat which made my pigeons very sick. This happened in the latter part of June, ’07. I had by this time in all 25 or 30 birds, of which only five birds survived. I did not buy more pigeons until I had my pens remodeled so as to hold more birds. Got them fixed up all right and bought 17 birds of you, six pairs and five hens. They mated in about two weeks, raised about seven pairs in October, November nine pairs, December 10 pairs, January 11 pairs, February nine pairs, and I have ten eggs for this month.
I do not feed wheat as you told me not to, I cannot get a good grade of wheat so I feed all Kaffir corn or a little cracked corn mixed with it. :
I have followed your Manual in every way and find it an excellent book, as I didnot know a thing about pigeons at all.
They do not pay as good prices here for squabs as they do in the North and East but they pay well considering the fact that people out in this part of the country do not know much about good squabs. They have been used to breeding the common pigeons’ squabs which weigh about one-half as much as the squabs I raise. I had five out of the nest the 28th that weighed one and three-quarter pounds apiece. They are very fine birds. Fort Worth is growing every year very fast. We have 7500 people. I hope I will be able to convince the hotel people that they are worth more than 40 cents to 60 cents a pair. My flock is growing every day and I will order more birds before long.—J. S. W., Texas.
KNEW ENOUGH ABOUT PIGEONS TO APPRECIATE THE BOOK. Your squab book is the best on that subject I have ever read. It covers the ground completely and makes everything plain and clear enough for a child to understand. A number of years ago I bred and flew Homers successfully for about five years. This experience en- abled me to understand and appreciate your book better than if I had no knowledge of pigeon raising. I will be glad to return the old Manual and receive new one. I will do so about January first, as I like to look into the book now and then and do not wish to be without one.
I note that the Pittsburgh Dispatch is quoting squabs at $4.50 to $5.00, seconds at $3.70 per dozen.—A. E. C., Pennsylvania.
WORTH ALL COMBINED. We. think your Manual is the best in its line. We have
* read many books regarding squab breeding,
but none has given us the satisfaction your Manual has. We would not trade your Manual for the whole bunch. Your book is so clear that a child can understand it.— H. & F. B., Ohio. ‘
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COST HIM ABOUT EIGHTY CENTS A PAIRAYEAR. My birds bought of you work well, raising a pair about every six weeks. I have about 40 young ones now that are beginning to mate. One pair have raised one pair of nice squabs already. I would have had more now, but the rats killed quite a few. I have not sold any yet, have been saving them for stock. I have had several chances to sell some for breeders, but IJ thought I would rather keep them myself. I have not had any trouble with lice or sick- ness so far. I always keep the lofts cleaned out. I feed mostly cracked corn, Kaffir corn and wheat, with buckwheat mixed in when I can get it. About three times a week I throw in some red millet, they are always looking for it. I have followed the Manual in regard to feeding. In the winter I feed more corn than wheat, and in the summer more wheat than corn. I think it has cost me about 70 or 80 cents a pair for the year. I made a self-feeder like the one outlined in the Manual and think it isallright. Feed has been high here for quite a while. I think anybody can make money raising pigeons if they tend to business and read their Manual. { think it is all right. I like to work around the lofts and watch the old ones take care of the young. have two sections, one to keep the old ones in and the other for the young. I keep all my pigeons banded. I use the open legbands. I like them better than the others. Part of the birds seem to like to build on the floor better than in the nest bowls. I use clean straw for them to ‘make nests. —E, L. Y., Illinois.
NEARLY ALL HIS PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS WEIGH ONE POUND EACH. I would like to say that your Plymouth Rock Homers are fine birds. The second week I got them they started to work, although it was last February and very cold weather. I have now over 40 young ones and I sold some also. I certainly would not have any other kind of a pigeon about me. It used to worry me for fear I could not get my squabs to weigh up to some of your customers, who say in your National Standard Squab Book that they have squabs weighing 10 to 12 pounds to the dozen. Now I have some that weigh more than that. I have had some that weighed 14 ounces, but most all weigh a pound apiece. I am going into the pigeon business on a large scale, and every one of my birds will be from you, as soon as I get a place where I can enlarge my plant.—C. H. P., Pennsylvania.
BUILDS A NEW HOUSE AFTER FIFTEEN MONTHS’ EXPERIENCE WITH A TRIAL LOT. Fifteen months ago I bought six pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers of you. They are doing splendid. I think I will want another small lot when I have my new house done that I am building. —W. A. R., Maryland.
HAD SUCCESS WITH HIS BIRDS FOL- LOWING PLYMOUTH ROCK METHODS. Please send me some of your pigeon literature for 1908 if youhave any. I bought one of your Manuals in 1907 and am very much pleased with it and I wouid not part with it for five dollars. I have had success with my birds since I had it and recommend it to all my friends. It is full of facts that are true, and is written so that any one can understand it that reads it. I love pigeons and I like to see others make a success with them.— E. H., Maryland.
CLEVELAND (OHIO) MARKET. Monday, October 19,1908, 1 was offered $2.50 a dozen for squabs just taken off the nest, not killed. It has been stated in this city (Cleveland) that squabs will go up as high as $3 a dozen wholesale-—W. E. P., Ohio.
TOBACCO STEMS.
Used for nesting material. You should not. use these stems if you are going to cell the manure to tanneries because they do not want manure containing tobacco stems, as the stems stain the hides. If-you are not going to sell the manure to tanneries but to gardeners and florists you can use tobacco: stems as they are an excellent preventive against lice.
WOMAN’S SUCCESS LEADS TO AN- OTHER -ORDER. Some time last winter I was at Spring City, Tennessee, and advised a woman to order some of your pigeons. They having proven very satisfactory to her, and upon her recommendation after a trial, I am enclosing you herewith New York exchange for $30 for which please send me as early as possible your Special Offer No. 1, Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, etc.—J. M. C., North Carolina.
DOING WONDERS IN VERMONT. Our birds are doing fine and for the care they have had have done wonders since we got them. We find very few inbreeding. If you have any new literature, please advise us.—
-J.O.S., Vermout.
eres nese ee ———————————————————————————— SS LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 283
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SQUABS AS FAT AS AN OLD HEN. I have 100 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers and am well pleased with them. I dressed 16 Homer squabs yesterday that averaged just a pound apiece. Several were only 26 days old. My principal feed is cracked and whole corn, red wheat and millet seed, also feed some Kaffir corn and think well of it. I use tobacco stems for nesting material.
My squabs are as fat as an old hen at four weeks. My birds are healthy, snappy and strong and working fine. In banding squabs or young birds before leaving nest how can I tell male from female, as I want to know which leg to place band on?—H. R., Ohio.
Answer. You cannot tell at that age. Put the band on either leg and transfer it to the correct leg when the bird discloses its sex by its actions at four to five months.
LUMP OF ROCK SALT. This kind of salt and no other should be fed to
pigeons. By pecking at it they get off enough and cannot harm themselves by eating too much. If you feed our Health Grit you do not need to provide this rock salt.
A BOY’S PLEASURE. You have treated me very nice. Iam fully satisfied with what birds I have got from you. I have done everything you recommend in your Manual. The red checkers raised one pair of squabs which weighed almost two pounds when three weeks old. I would like very much to order some of your specials, but I_am only 12 years old and just starting out. 1am also a cripple, not being able to do very much myself, consequently I must depend entirely on my father for assistance. I do not like to ask too much of him. I feel that he does all he can for my pleasure. My education is from him, as I have never been able to go to school.—E. D., Illinois.
HAD EXPERIENCE WITH COMMON PIGEONS, POOR HOMERS AND PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. I had a notion that the common pigeons would do as well in raising and raise as large squabs as the Homers would, but I was greatly mistaken as you will see. I kept my common pigeons for about four or five months, which was enough for me because it cost more to feed them than I got for my squabs, so I sold out all of my common pigeons and bought some Homers. These Homers I got from men who were selling for 75 cents and $1.50 a pair which did not do much better than my common pigeons, so I got thoroughly disgusted with pigeons and sold out again. About two weeks later I saw your advertisement, which was the starting of my success. I liked your advertisement and sent off for your catalogue. What I found in your catalogue was true and it sounded like the truth. I liked the cata- logue so well that I sent for your Manual, which you sell for 50 cents, which is not a hundredth of its value. After I read the Manual I ordered some of your Extra Homers. I thought you would give me good birds the first time and bad birds the second time, but the second order was filled with as good birds as the first. I got my first birds from you in the winter, about February, 1908. By mail you sent me a slip of the most valuable information that I ever read or will read in my life.
I kept fresh water before my birds all the time. I did not let the birds drink the bathing water at all. In the winter time the water would freeze at night but fresh water was put in every morning. My pigeons did better in the winter than in the summer.
I feed my pigeons wheat, cracked corn, hemp seed and about a double handful a week of Kaffir corn and sunflower seed, which altogether is about the most digestible and fattening for the squabs. keep salt, charcoal, grit and oystershell before them all the time. I give my pigeons about four or five heads of lettuce every week. I followed your Manual in every way possible. In a few days I will send you a third order for your Extra Homers.—P. A., North Carolina.
BUSY WORKING ALL THE TIME. As you, no doubt, remember, I bought 15 pairs of your Plymouth Rock Homers last March. Am very well pleased with them. My Homers are doing fine, busy working all the time. When I want more Homers will place the order with you.—H. J., Ohio.
SELLING SQUABS REGULARLY FROM A SPLENDID FLOCK OF BREEDERS. In February, 1906, I bought a few pairs of very good pigeons from you, from which I have raised a splendid flock of breeders from which I have been selling squabs regularly for the last eight months.—G. A. W., Ohio.
eel LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 284
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
HEAD OF SORGHUM SEED.
This is fed largely to pigeons by our customers in the Southern States. The birds are very fond of it. The
berries are brown.in color and a little smaller than Kaffir corn.
When dried, this head of sorghum cane may be
thrown directly into the squab house and the birds will peck the berries off the stalk.
AFTER HE HAD TRIED PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS HE DISPOSED OF HIS OTHER PIGEONS BOUGHT OF OTHERS. I am sending you a small order for 24 pairs Extra. Please ship birds as soon as possible. The birds are doing well I got of you 60 days ago. I have disposed of all my other pigeons bought of others and only have what birds I bought of you. I intend to keep buying until 1 get what stock I need. I had a local trade but I let it go, because I would not sell squabs from Plymouth Rock Homers at the same price I sold former squabs. I will have a four to six dozen capacity plant and would ask for the address of some firm in Pittsburg or New York City to whom I could sell a couple of five dozen shipments, just to keep from housing them in my loft. The main point is to get in touch with the market. I prefer to sell my squabs and buy breeding stock of a mature age, but I do not want to spoil the market or give them away to the local trade for 40 cents a pair. You need not be afraid to give me the name of your nearest fancy squab buyer.
My shipping boxes are being made of white enamel inside and white painted hard wood outside. The white enamel box is to fit in the white wood box, allowing enough room for ice. The boxes are to be returned to me at my expense. I hope you will consider the proposition. Now I have tried many squab companies and if you people will do anyway right I will buy all the stock I can from you.—R. B., Pennsylvania.
A WOMAN’S SHORT AND SATISFACTORY MESSAGE. The pigeons I got from you several years ago have been most satisfactory. —Josephine S. H., Massachusetts.
RECEIVING FIFTY-FIVE CENTS A PAIR FOR SQUABS. Our No. 1 Plymouth Rock Homers breed squabs weighing eight pounds to the dozen and we are receiving 55 cents a pair for them. We have found your Manual a great help and have followed it almost entirely, and never pick it up without seeing something that we missed on previous readings. We are feeding from your self- feeder a mixture of whole corn, cracked corn and wheat, varying the proportion as we notice they scatter one grain or another, but usually about one-third each. Then we throw to them on the floor different mixtures of millet, Kaffir corn, Canada peas, hemp seed and rice. On the whole we are well pleased with the birds and the business and we hope to increase our stock as rapidly as possible —H. J. B., Pennsylvania.
EVERYTHING TRUE IN MANUAL. I have your Manual. It is complete and you make no false statements. Everything you say is true, and if any one is wishing to start, I would advise them to get a hundred pairs; don’t start with a few. Our last order was small because we do not know whether we will stay in this town or not, but when we are permanently located we will order a hun- dred or more pairs.—R. M., lowa.
BREEDER OF COMMON PIGEONS CON- VERTED BY OBSERVATION OF PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS. Enclosed find order for some of your best Extras. Your Manual came a few days ago. It is all that you claim for it. Have had a good deal of experience with common pigeons, but have seen your Plymouth Rock Homers at work and they are “ the thing.’’—R. D., Texas.
SSS. 0O506¢CO———————————————————————————— LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 285
HEALTH GRIT.
This is a photograph of our Health Grit, for which we have an enormous sale. It will pay for itself many times over, increasing both the number and the size of the squabs and also keeping the whole flock in first-class condition . The above photograph shows clearly the small shells and the gravel and charcoal which are in the grit. There are half a dozen ingredients in the grit, including medicinal substances. The formula is a trade secret. Wereceive hundreds of letters praising this grit Nearly all of our large customers, almost without a single exception, feed it constant y to their flocks. The value of this grit is well indicated by the following letter received from a customer in Connecticut in May, 1908: ‘“‘ Please send enclosed order for your Health Grit as soon as possible as we have lost a few pigeons lately I think it is because I got out of the grit. They are crazy about it and were healthy
when they had it.” ‘ ~ 286
* with
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
1. RED WHEAT. 2.
On this page and on the pages that follow we print pictures reproduced from direct photographs of grain
used in squab raising; also grit, shells, etc.
CANADA PEAS.
3. HEMPSEED.
These pictures have come out very well and will give our readers
scattered over this continent and in other parts of the world a clear idea of what we are talking about. In the above picture (the first of the series) No. 1 is a sample of good red wheat, showing the plumpness of the
berries. No. 2, Canada peas. No. 3, hempseed.
ENLARGED PLANT AND FLOCK. Seven months ago we bought one dozen pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. We now have 78 young. Ten pairs of young have mated and we find them to be larger than their parents. Our squabs at four weeks weigh from 12 ounces to 15 ounces apiece. We keep constantly before them pure fresh water and we feed from a self-feeder made from your pattern, filled with two parts whole corn and one part red wheat, then at noon we feed some dainty placed on a flat board raised edges, alternating between Kaffir corn, buckwheat and hemp seed with rice on Sunday. We keep a cash account of everything and find at present prices we are able to keep our birds at the rate of $1 per pairperyear. Wehave surveyed a place for a pigeon house of five units to be built on our plan and hope before many months to be doing business on a paying basis. I am fully convinced there is money in it. Your Manual is just fine and cannot be beat as far as I know. It has been the secret of our successful start so far. We have to refer to it very often. We wish you even greater success than in the past—A. L. H., New York.
RECEIVES TWENTY CENTS EACH FOR SQUABS ALIVE AND FINDS THAT THIS
PRICE PAYS. I started in April, 1906, with 24 pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers. They got to work in about three weeks. The
squabs weigh eight to nine pounds a dozen. I sell the squabs alive at four weeks old for 20 cents each. I have not sold any live breeders, but I have had chances and re- ferred them to you. I have fed as your Manual says. I have no trouble with lice.
I like my birds and think there is money in them, but one has to have a large flock to do much. I intend to keep at it and this spring will build me three more pens, as I now have three and I want to get 500 pairs, and will send for more later. Your Manual is all right and very plain in every way. Iuse egg boxes for nests, tobacco stems and straw. —B.A.L., Connecticut.
YES, WE ARE CONVINCED AND THANK YOU. I bought my first lot of birds from you. Since I have bought elsewhere, but
‘I believe you are the most reliable to deal
with and this order will confirm my belief and convince another, too.—F. P. S., Mas- sachusetts.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 287
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
4. WOOD SCREWS. 5. KAFFIR CORN. 6. SORGHUM CANE SEED.
In this picture we show in the first group a lot of common wood screws seven-eighths of an inch long. (These are the screws which we furnish with every order for nest bowls, for screwing the bowls to the bottoms of the nest boxes.) Our object in printing the screws is to afford the eye of the reader a measure of comparison with these different grains. For example, in the above photograph the.sample No. 5 is Kaffir corn. By comparing the Kaffir corn with the screws, the eye of the observer forms a correct estimate of the size of the Kaffir corn and also the other grains in the other pictures. These photographs show the actual sizes of the objects. The grain in No. 6 is sorghum cane seed, full size. A reduced photograph of a head of sorghum cane is shown on page 285,
QUICKLY AT WORK IN MONTANA. I
FIFTY CENTS A PAIR ALIVE. I amsell-
think we will send for Special Offer No. 7 and extra supplies this month. Our birds (100 pairs) received May 17, have done very well. Some pairs are setting (August) for the third time. Have a four-unit house in course of construction, part of which we will fill with selected young from our own flock. I have sold about five dozen squabs and it is three months today since the birds were received, and have about 100 young in the squab house, which we expect to keep for breeders.— S. A. F., Montana.
SUCCESS TOLD BY REPEATED ORDERS FROM IOWA. I send you money order for $150 for which send me Extra_ Plymouth Rock Homers as per your Special Offer No. 7. I would like birds in place of supplies which I think amount to $24.98, making 238 birds according to the offer. I would like to get 650 mated birds in three shipments and will send you an order every two weeks until that number is supplied. In November, 1907, T bought of you 12 pairs No. 1 and 12 pairs Extra.—R. I. E., Iowa.
-ing my squabs to a local cafe and am receiv-
ing 50 cents per pair alive. If you think I can do better than that in larger cities, kindly send me the names of some firms who are in the market for heavy squabs. the average weight being 10 pounds to the dozen. Also please send me all your latest circulars. Hoping to have a prompt reply and wishing you all the success that you deserve.— P, A. W., Pennsylvania.
PRAISE FROM AN OLD BREEDER. The Manual is “non plus ultra,’? without a peer, can’t be beat. I read it through twice and still I find something interesting each time I pick it up again. I have raised Belgium Homers since a small boy.—H. T., Pennsylvania.
ALL WE CLAIMED FOR THEM. If I had the room and money, I would like to buy 100 pairs from you, as the No 1 birds I bought from you are all you claimed for them and if the Extras are so much better, they certainly must be fine.—G. R. J., West Virginia.
pare ee tke LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 288
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
7. WHOLE CORN.
No. 7 is common yellow whole corn.
8. COARSE CRACKED. No. 8 is coarse-cracked corn sifted and No. 9 is fine-cracked corn sifted.
9. FINE CRACKED.
(See the chapter on feed in this Manual for full instructions.) As a rule the coarse-cracked corn No. 8 should be fed instead of the fine-cracked corn No. 9. This No. 9 sample of corn is what is known as chick-cracked corn. It
is good for little chicks.
HIS SMALLEST PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB WEIGHS THREE-QUARTERS OF A POUND AT THE AGE OF THREE WEEKS. My birds are very tame, so much so that when I go into the coop with hemp seed or other dainties and hold out my hand, they fly right on it and eat. I was weighing my squabs yesterday, and the smallest one I have at present weighs three-quarters of a WOE It was three weeks old yesterday.—G. A. W., New Jersey.
HOT SELLERS. I want to know if it is too late for me to send for pigeons on that Special Offer. If it is not too late, when I hear from you I will forward the money. I am having good luck with the pigeons I bought of you last year and am selling the squabs as fast as I get them.—T. N., British Columbia.
WE SELL TO HUNDREDS OF FANCIERS TO BREED FLYERS. Although I am not interested much in squab breeding I am interested in flying. A dealer in my neighbor- hood has a few of your birds and finds them pretty good for flying so I intend to try some.— L.S.B., Pennsylvania.
THREE PAIRS SHOW WHAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR. Ever since I have had your birds they have bred remarkably well, one pair raising eleven pairs of fine squabs in one year. Not one pair that I bought of you or, raised _myself has raised less than nine pairs of prime market squabs per year. I think that isafair record. Besides eating plenty of squabs, I have worked up a flock of 30 pairs of prime breeders from _the origi- nal small lot of three pairs.—R. E. F., Michigan.
GOOD PRICES FOR SQUABS IN PENNSYL- VANIA. Squabs have been quoted at $4 to $4.25 per dozen, seven pounds to the dozen, in our papers here. I donot know what mine weigh as I have not weighed any of them, but feel satisfied that they will go more than that as they are large.—A. A. R., Pennsylvania.
EVERY WORD TRUTH. A friend of mine gave me one of your National Standard Squab Books the other day and I have read it through and think it is every word truth, having raised pigeons a long time, but never for the BIST REL, so think I know a little about it.— R. H., lowa.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 289
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
POOR RED WHEAT. 12.
10. WHITE WHEAT. 11.
WHEAT SCREENINGS
No. 10 is good white wheat. (It is all rizht to feed white wheat to pigeons if you cannot get red wheat.) No. : 11 shows a poor quality of red wheat. The berries vary in size, showing that the wheat is a mixture, and sprinkled
through them can be seen oats and elevator sweepings. : a This is the refuse of a wheat elevator, including sweepings, broken grain, hulls, rat manure, ete.
screenings.
No. 12 is an even poorer kind of wheat known as wheat
Such
sweepings or screenings are not a profitable feed for pigeons. They are fed quite largely by many people who buy the cheapest they can get of anything, but a flock fed on this will be out of condition and will raise poor squabs.
WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS WORTH FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR. My. partner sent to the Plymouth Rock Squab Company for a pair of your white Homers and when he got them they were dandy ones. They were worth the money. When he sent for them, we just wanted to see if they were good, and we sent for five more pairs at $2.75 a pair. We got them safely and now eh tec sell them for a V.—F. L., New
ork.
RAISED THREE YEARS FOR FAMILY USE. Isaw your advertisement in the Ladies Home Fournal and will be glad if you will send me one of your free 1908 books on squab raising. We bought pigeons of you about three years ago. They have been. very satisfactory. We raise them for family use only.—Mrs. J. G. P., Virginia.
WOULD PAY TEN DOLLARS FOR THIS BOOK. I would not be without your Manual no, not if it cost me $10 to get one, for it gives me more instruction, pleasure and satisfaction than I can express.—L. A. W., Georgia.
WANTS ONLY THE SQUABS WHICH PLYMOUTH ROCK EXTRAS BREED. I am mailing you $20 for which I want Extra fancy Plymouth Rock Homer breeders. I am breeding about 100 pairs of Homers that produce squabs that weigh about nine and one-half pounds, but the demand is for the largest. So send me something good. Mr. Chase, my neighbor, bought a few pairs of you about one year ago and has been hav- ing very good success.—E. E. T., Missouri.
RECOMMENDED BY A FRIEND. Will you please send me price list and literature about the raising of squabs? A friend of ours recommended your company to us, as his son-in-law purchased some pigeons of you last spring and they are very satisfactory.— W. H., State of Washington.
ONE DOLLAR A PAIR FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS IN PITTSBURG. I am getting $1 per pair for all the squabs I can raise, and will have another order for breeding stock as soon as I can arrange for larger quarters — H. R., Pennsylvania.
en a a LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 290
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
13. BARLEY. 14. OATS. 15. SUNFLOWER SEEDS. No. 18 is barley, which may be fed if plentiful and cheap. No. 14 is oats, which may be fed if plentiful and cheap, but they are not generally fed here in the East because the squab raiser gets more for his money in other grains. No. 15 is sunflower seeds Sunflower seeds grow freely without attention almost everywhere. The heads when dried may be thrown directly into the squab pen and the birds will peck the seeds out of the heads. Sunflower seeds sell at retail for from six to eight cents a pound, sometimes more. Nearly every drug store sells them for parrot feed. The supply comes mostly from the West, although a great deal is exported from Copen- hagen, Denmark. To buy sunflower seeds and feed them to pigeons is not profitable for the squab raiser, because hempseed sells for less money, namely five cents a pound, and hempseed is better than sunflower seeds for the birds.
GOT THIS BOOK FROM A LIBRARY AND STUDIED IT STEADILY FOR A MONTH. I am just starting in the pigeon business and I would like you to give me a few starting points. I went to the library to get a pigeon book and I found a book which you published and I read that book every day for two weeks, and then I took it back and had it renewed for two more weeks and I still have it—A. K., Indiana.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS KNOWN IN UTAH. Some man asked a question in a daily paper in Salt Lake. In answering him they boomed you up to the clouds. They praised your company so much that I thought I
would write you for a catalogue.—H. S., Utah.
FOUR DOLLARS AND A HALF A DOZEN FOR PLYMOUTH ROCKS IN NEW JERSEY. My squabs all average nine to 10 pounds to the dozen. Am I doing well to get 75 cents a pair ?—Mrs. M. C. C., New Jersey.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS THE ONLY KIND WORTH WHILE. I hope later on to do away with all except what I am purchasing of you and get all Plymouth Rocks, as I am convinced they are the only kind worth while. I will leave the selection entirely with you, feeling sure you will send the best you have.— Mrs. D. W. A., Georgia.
SQUABS IN ARKANSAS. The _ squab business is a new enterprise in this section. If I can work it up I will build another house and order more birds from you. have a friend who is thinking of buying a lot from you. When he sees mine I am sure he will decide at once. Thank you for your prompt- ness and square dealings.—C. W., Arkansas.
MANUAL WORTH TEN TIMES YALF A DOLLAR. I received your National Standard Squab Book and find every time I pick it up something new in it. It is worth ten times its cost. I would not let any one have it for what I paid for it—P. J. L., Pennsylvania.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 291
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
16. AMERICAN MILLET. 17.
The above are samples of millet. No. 18 is the golden (yellow) millet.
FOUR YEARS’ BREEDING IN IOWA. I am about to save the pigeon manure and sell it to a tannery at Milwaukee that is nearest tome. They will buy it if there is no foreign matter in it. They object to tobacco stems. Please tell me what I could use so as to be able to sell it.
If you remember, I purchased a few pairs of Extras from you over four yearsago. Iam shipping squabs to Chicago and doing fairly well considering the high price of feed here.—J. C., Iowa.
Answer. Usestraw.
OLD CALIFORNIA CUSTOMER HEARD FROM AGAIN. We had 100 pairs of you once, but being obliged to move away on business sold them. We shall get more breeders before long and would like to know what you have to say in 1908—F. B. M., California.
SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN ONE YEAR. September 21, 1907, I received six pairs of
your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. I have now (September, 1908) 75 squabs. This is a fair increase for the old birds. My pigeons
are the finest lot in Kankakee.—J. W.,
Illinois.
a
SIBERIAN MILLET.
No. 16 is the ordinary American millet. All of these are good pigeon foods.
18. GOLDEN MILLET. No. 17 is the Siberian (red) millet.
NO RACE SUICIDE HERE. We cannot hold our pigeons back. We returned from California four months ago bringing our nine pairs with us and we now have 52. I would like to have a price list of your birds again. We are counting on buying about 100 pairs, probably next spring. One little hen you sent is a wonder. She does not know any- thing about race suicide. I have a good mind to send her to President Roosevelt.—A. B. M., Missouri.
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. Two years ago I sent for your circulars, but I could not then see my way to try the business, but after seeing the success a friend of mine is making of it in Victoria, I am tempted to try it as I now have the necessary room and leisure.— W. M. L., British Columbia.
BOOSTED IN SOUTH DAKOTA. I am giving your birds a good boost all around here and I think you will soon be receiving some orders.—G. B., South Dakota.
HOTEL TAKES ALL. My birds are doing fine. I am getting $3 per dozen for squabs and the hotel takes all I can breed.—W. C., West Virginia.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 292
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
19. RICE UNHULLED.
No. 19 is a sample of rice with the brown hulls on.
20. RICE. 21. No. 20 shows the same rice with the hulls taken off. This,
BUCKWHEAT.
the unhulled kind, is what should be fed to pigeons as needed to correct diarrhcea, or as desirable where it is cheap
and plentiful. De notscook rice to feed to pigeons, grain, uncooked. No, 21 is buckwheat.
SOME PEOPLE THINK SQUABS ARE YOUNG BANTAM CHICKENS. My Ply- mouth Rock Homers arrived in fine condition
and in three weeks were all nesting. I now have 97 birds with them and their young. The young that hatched in February and March laid in August, so I think I did well. I have not seen any that could compare with them. Others that see them say they are a fine lot of birds. Each pair has averaged a pair every six weeks, except in the moulting time when they dropped off laying for a while. The squabs that I raise weigh from three-quarters to one pound before they leave their nests.
Mr. Haganbothan saw my birds and sent for 12 pairs from you. They have been doing fine since he got them.
I have fed principally cracked corn and wheat, buckwheat and mixed feeds, changing from one to another. I do not,think ita good plan to feed long the same grains. In moult- ing time I feed corn, whole rice and a few peas and poultry powder. This is my first experience in the pigeon business. I have one of your Manuals and have followed it mostly. For a tonic I give them a table-
You feed the white raw grains same as you do any other
spoonful of vinegar in the water once a week and some poultry powder, which I think is a good help to producing eggs. The _ birds are not much care—only a few minutes in the morning and evening.
Your Manual is a great help to those in the pigeon business. If the loft is kept clean, with fresh water and change of feed there will be no sick birds or lice. To keep lice out, take slaked lime and wood ashes and sprinkle in loft. I have not been bothered with them. The cost of the birds per pair is something like 65 cents per pair per year.
I shall keep most of my birds that I raise this year and by next year will commence to sell some squabs. They sell from 25 cents to 40 cents apiece and I could sell them to good advantage. Some people do not know what squabs are and think they are young Bantam chicks.—J. L. M., Indiana.
GETTING ALONG VERY WELL IN FLORIDA. Please find enclosed check in payment for 200 fibre nest bowls. We are getting along very well with the pigeons. We have between 300 and 400 young birds. I think I should build another house and fly. —H. B.L., Florida.
Deeeee eee eee | TER LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 293
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
22. GRANITE GRIT.
23. QUARTZ GRIT.
24. SAME CRUSHED.
Here are samples of grits which never should be fed to pigeons. No. 22 is a coarse granite grit. No, 23 is a
finer granite or quartz grit.
these poultry grits will do the pigeons more harm than good and are useless expense.
better.
HOW A LOUISIANA SQUAB BREEDER
BUYS HIS GRAIN. PRICES FOR SQUABS IN HIS STATE ARE GOOD. I resigned my position with the railroad company and have moved to my home and you will please address me here. I have been very busy getting in shape for my birds and I now have them comfortably located in a nice house 14 by 24. They are getting to work nicely and as they are now in their permanent quarters and will not have to be disturbed any more, I expect soon to have a large flock of them. My birds have been moved three times in the last 90 days, but are all in fine condition, which shows they are thrifty and will do well under most any kind of circum- stances.
I am buying wheat and Kaffir corn from Kansas City, Missouri. I get Kaffir corn at 98 cents per hundredweight f.o.b. Kansas City and wheat at $1 per bushel. The freight rate here is about 70 cents, so Kaffir corn does not cost me much more than corn chops. I pay $1.50 per sack for chops delivered here.
Every one who sees my Homers says they are the finest they ever saw. I have orders now for about 50 pairs at $1 per pair at weanling age. i
Quotations for squabs this week in my
No. 24 is the same material, either granite, quartz or mica crushed finer.
All of Ordinary sand or gravel is
markets are $4adozen. (This price is offered by commission men.) The hotels and cafes will pay from $1 to $1.50 more.—G. W. T., Louisiana.
FIRST EXPERIMENT, THEN THE REAL THING. The first lot that I bought from you was an experiment, a success. I will enlarge this spring if not sooner.—J. F. C., Wiscousin.
EIGHT DAYS OLD, WEIGHT HALF A POUND. I had a squab that weighed one- half a pound when it was eight days old from the Homers I got from you a few weeks ago. How is that?—R. B. W., Ohio.
PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS '- THE BEST IN THIS NEW JERSEY TOWN. Mine are fine birds, the best in the town, there are none like them.—L. K., New Jersey.
TEXAS WOMAN’S WORK. Something more than a year agol purchased six pairs of pigeons from you. I have quite a flock now, having been successful.—Mrs. R. E. B., Texas.
RAPID PROGRESS IN ELEVEN WEEKS. I bought 12 pairs of No. 1 Plymouth Rock Homers and received them April 11. I now (July 6) have 33 young ones.—E. L. F., Iowa.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 294
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS
25, HEALTH GRIT. 26. COARSE OYSTER SHELL. 27. PIGEON OYSTER SHELL
No. 25 is another view of our Health Grit same as the larger picture on page 286. No. 26 is a sample of large
Syste shell such as is sold for poultry. It is too large for pigeons. The correct size for pigeons is shown in sample 0. 27.
BEING DEAF, SHE WAS HANDICAPPED IN BUSINESS, BUT SQUAB RAISING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. My birds bought of you several years ago are doing splendidly and paying me amply for the care and cost given them. I have found your National Squab Book of the greatest practical value. I like the business better than anything I ever tried. Being deaf, I found it especially hard to get hold of a business I could manage myself, but in squabraising one is not thrown so much in contact with the world and one is able to feel independent. I began last fall and had several months of discouragement at first, failing to find a satisfactory market. As there is a good demand for good birds at all times I succeeded in making a per- manent arrangement with a summer resort, they agreeing to take all I could send at $4 per dozen, and pay express charges, too. My birds generally weigh 10 pounds to the dozen and are fine-looking birds. At four weeks they are hard to tell from the parents.
I have only 50 or 60 birds but have just sent off 24 squabs, have 36 in the house and about two dozen eggs. I think that is doing a very brisk business for so small a flock. I have gone in regard to feed almost exactly by your Manual, indeed I have followed it in every respect and could not have managed without it. I have had no sickness except once, when I left the birds in charge of some one who did not treat them properly, and once when I was without grit for several weeks. Both times they had diarrhcea and were all fearfully thin, what you call “going light,” I believe. Occasionally the parents desert the squabs before they are big enough to kill and begin on a new family; but these cases have been rare.—Miss B. R., Virginia.
PRACTICAL NEW YORK MARKET MEN SUCCESSFUL WITH PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS. In looking over your new Manual (1908) I noticed a letter from a firm that does business in front of our store. It is ‘‘ Heineman & Co.’? Iam personally acquainted with them and told them I had bought pigeons from you. William Heineman wished me to mention his name to you when I wrote again, so I have taken this opportunity to do so. I feel amply repaid for having bought my birds of you and I will place my future orders for stock with you. Just as soon as I am able to branch out more I shall send for more birds. Thank you for your great kindness and clean business dealings with me and wish you still further success in your business.—R. L., New York.
a LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 295 :
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28. MIXED GRAIN. 29. MIXED GRAIN. ; 30. MIXED GRAIN.
The above are samples of mixed pigeon grain. No. 28 is a good mixture. No 30 contains good grains but also has oyster shells and grit in it. No. 29 contains an even larger proportion of granite grit and oyster shells and the grains are poorer. The reason why some grain dealers put oyster shells and grit into their mixtures is that these two substances cost them less than half of what grain costs, and by selling the mixture at the price of good grain, they sell grit and oyster shells at the price of grain. If the breeder wishes to mix grit and oyster shells with his grain, it is much cheaper for him to buy them separately and do his own mixing.
SELLS SQUABS FOR THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN TO A MAN WHO CALLS AND TAKES THEM ALIVE OUT OF THE NESTS. Since February each pair of my Plymouth Rock Homers has thrown five pairs of squabs, all weighing 10 and 11 pounds to the dozen. Am a great
believer in feed, ie., quality and variety, and feed each morning equal quantities of cracked corn, red wheat, and Kaffir corn. In the afternoon I substitute Canada peas three times a week and hemp seed twice for red wheat, and this mixture has kept my birds in good working
im.
The self-feeder which I made according to your instructions was somewhat of a failure in my case. The birds managed to scatter an enormous amount of feed on the floor, causing a great waste, which I have obviated by the use of troughs. I feed twice a day and have by observation got the quantity needed to satisfy them down very fine. Very little grain is tossed out of the troughs, which are six feet long by 12 inches wide with one and one-half inch rims. Was very careful to see if there was any falling off in the weight of squabs when I made the change from self-feeder to trough, but none was noticeable. Have followed your instructions otherwise and must say they have worked out beautifully. Your Manual has proven a veritable storehouse of practical information and advice. Some time ago I bought some birds from a friend which he purchased from and must admit that the squabs from your birds are whiter meat. From present indications, | am going to get at least one pair of squabs more per pair of breeders from your birds than from my other stock. Hereafter it’s your stock for me. I keep a card file system which enables me to tell in a moment just what every pair in my lofts is doing. The squabs raised from your stock are all throwing healthy offsprings at four and a half months of age, which I think is very young for birds to go to work.
T am selling my squabs now to a party who takes them out of the nest, saving me the killing and dressing, and pays me $3 a dozen for them. In the fall and winter I will get from $4 to $5.50 a dozen for them, and all the market I can supply.—A. D., New Jersey.
[ee LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 296
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FIRST-CLASS MARKET FOR GOOD SQUABS AND PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS IN IOWA. I received six pairs from you two years ago and started to raise a flock from them. I purchased your Manual and followed it in every detail as far as possible and will state I have had fine luck. My flock now consists of 50 good mated pairs and they are working very well. I have sold some squabs and a few older birds. I receive $2 per pair for old and 75 cents per pair for squabs. I can safely say I have made a good profit on my purchase, as I paid $10 for six pairs of your birds direct from you. My order was sent in with Mr. J. Haas’s as three of us took six pairs each. Two of us are still in the business, but he was compelled to sell out on account of movingaway. I think that the squab business is one of the best. If one follows the instructions of your Manual he will succeed far ahead of anticipations. Iam well pleased with my success, and now I am enjoying the benefit of my old birds, as I have squabs most of the time for my own table use and sell to customers here in the city. In the spring I will increase my flock.
As far as sickness is concerned, will say that I have not had any. My flock is in the best of health and has no vermin. Others will fare the same as I have if they will follow the instruc- tions of your Manual in regard to care and feeding birds, also in keeping fresh water in pens. I have a hydrant in my yards and turn it on so as to keep a flowing stream at all times so I do not have any trouble in this way at all. I have my birds all marked so that if any one of them should happen to be killed or die I can pick out the mate and pair it off with another. This is also a very profitable plan so as to keep all workers in one pen. I have had no trouble in selling my squabs as the market is always open for Homers. There is a vast difference between the common pigeons and your Plymouth Rocks. There is a man here who raises the common pigeons which he sells for $1.75 per dozen, but there is no comparison between the two, as the Homers from your farm are so far ahead, and the consumers of the squabs say they would rather pay more and get good birds. We feel that there will be no opposition from him in the squab business as our price has not been kicked on yet, nor do I think it will be. I will send you a small order for some more birds in the spring as I want to increase my flock from your birds. I again thank you for past favors and will do as much as I can to push the squab business and to hold up prices. If you have an opportunity to refer any of your customers to me, you can feel assured I will say your firm is square and will do as you say. I would be pleased at any time to help you. I will do you some good here as our stock of old birds is not for sale. Our squabs are all ordered ahead of time, so let me know, as there is a fine big SE for your Homers and your birds will meet with the approval of any and all.—
. G.S., Iowa.
SPLENDID FIELD IN COLORADO. ONE HOTEL TAKING MORE THAN THIS LARGE PLANT CAN SUPPLY. The writer would like to know the names of one or two good poultry journals in which we can place an advertisement for partner in increase plant, which is at present 2000; 1200 of these birds are from your plant. Would like to procure 500 pairs from you to infuse new blood into our flock. Perhaps you might know of one who has some experi- ence in this line who would like to come to Colorado or Denver. There is a splendid field here for the business. We have but one customer, a hotel, which we attempt to supply. This hotel consumes 20 to 30 dozen a week. They pay us $3.60 a dozen dressed. Denver has many hotels and restaurants besides a great demand from the dining-car service from here to the coast. I have been in this business 14 months. I sent for your squab book four years agavand have gradually been drifting into the business. My wife looks after every detail of the plant while I have been working at the tin trade, which I soon hope to abandon and take up the squab business exclusively. We have solved the problem of keeping down the mites and have little or no disease among the birds. I hope in the next two years to have a squab plant worthy of the name. Any advice you can give to help the cause will be appreciated. If possible, would like to have the name of some party who would come West to engage in the business, with whom we might correspond.—H. J. D., Colorado.
CHICKEN RAISER OF FIVE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IS PLEASED WITH HIS SQUAB WORK. The last lot of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers came in fine shape. Some of them started to work at once. Five pairs have eggs and are setting on them, and six pairs now have nests. The first 25 pairs I received from you, June 12, 1908. I will take a snapshot of my place when I get my big squab house up. It is going to be a dandy for 300 pairs. You will get the order from me for the Extras. I think they are grand birds, and the squabs are so large they are bigger than chickens. I feed good grain and hemp seed and some rice. I clean my house once a week and sprinkle lice killer in the nest boxes.
I have raised chickens for five years but squabs have got them down and out as far as I have seen. There are other little jobs of work you could do on the place with squabs, whereas if you have 600 chickens you have to attend to them from daylight to dark, and then some.
I must say one word for your squab book, I think it is just grand. I would not take $10 for it, and not have one, and I don’t see how any one could get along without it, even if he was an old-timer at the squab business.—J. B. B., Missouri.
vETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 297
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A SOUTH CAROLINA PLANT.
What this breeder has accomplished here he tells in the letter printed on this page.
GOING TO MAKE IT A REGULAR BUSINESS. NESTING MATERIAL IN THE MANURE. A little over a year ago I bought 12 pairs of Extra Plymouth Rock Homers from you. Now I have over 100 birds in my houses and have started to sell some squabs. I am more than pleased with my birds, they are doing fine. After a while I expect I will have to get a few more from you so as to mix in some new blood. .
My birds have averaged nine pairs of squabs to the pair for the year. I find the squabs at the killing age weighing from 13 to 15 ounces per bird, and for what birds I have sold, which has been only a few; 1 have received $3 per dozen. I have been holding most of my birds for stock, as it was my intention at the beginning to raise a stock before entering the market. I am feeding a scratch feed with a little hempseed about once a week. My birds have been perfectly healthy. Out of the original 12 pairs I have lost only four birds. It costs at an average of five cents a month per bird and I have in my houses 130 birds; which I consider a very good increase. Iam more than pleased with the birds, and intend to go into it on a business basis, making it a regular business, and I do not see why it should not be a success.
My houses are of the plainest kind, costing about $125. They will accommodate 300 birds
Ihave one pair of birds that I have raised, which lay four eggs to the setting. This is the first incident of its kind that I have ever heard of. _ They will set on these four eggs for about 10 days, and then throw the eggs out, one by one, in consequence of which I lose the setting. These birds have done this thing on three occasions. Two of the eggs would be fertile and two infertile. I at first thought that perhaps some other pair had laid in the nest with these, but after watching carefully I found that the eggs came from the one pair of birds.
The manure from the birds is amounting to something and I would like to get the address of some good party who will take it off my hands so that I could communicate with them. Would you kindly advise how to get rid of the nesting material or do you let it go in with the manure ?—T. L. O., South Carolina.
Answer. Straw and feathers caked in with the manure are acceptable to the tanners. They do not like to get manure in which is a large amount of discarded tobacco stems, as these
stain the hides. r
cle cdA ASR Ir ane ee ES Se cn ser ee LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 298
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NOTE HOW THIS BREEDER BUILDS HIS SELF-FEEDERS. On December 20, 1907, six pairs of No. 1 Plymouth Rock Homers were shipped to me. _I lost some squabs caused by the old ones eating green sprouts and from cats, but as soon as I made the floor tight and mended the wire on.the flying pen I had no more trouble. Now (September, 1908) I have 42 old and young, with those I raised mating up and starting to build their nests and lay. My birds are all in rugged health and are doing well, breeding fat, plump squabs. I have compared them with other breeders, but mine are far better. _
I give them plenty of fresh water for bathing and drinking and scald out the pans and drink- ing fountains with hot water once a week. I save the manure, as it has a ready sale and helps to pay the feed bill. I clean the nest bowls and floor once a week, sprinkle slaked lime over the floor, sprinkle a little insect powder on thesquabs, and vermin does not bother them. I feed cracked corn and wheat, one-third wheat to two-thirds corn for winter, and for summer one-third corn to two-thirds wheat. In addition, I feed rice, barley, millet, sunflower seeds, Kaffir corn and Canada peas with a little hemp seed as dainties. I put a small trough below the holes of the self-feeder on each side. In this way, the grain which falls out is caught by the trough and there is little waste. I also have a protected box divided in halves. In one side I put health grit, in the other oyster shells. All the covers for my self-feeders are three inches wider than the feeders. This prevents soiling the grain, as pigeons are very par- ticular about clean grain.
My squabs weigh eight pounds to the dozen. My birds have bred at the rate of from seven t> nine pairs a year and one pair has bred ten pairs per year. The cost of feeding averages five cents per pair per month.
I think well of the squab business and expect before long to buy more as it is a profitable business, considering the small capital invested. 1 use egg crates and orange boxes’as I have found them best and cheapest. The unit system is best as it is easier to keep track of several small flocks rather than one large one.
A person breeding pigeons must study and learn their birds to make a success of it.
I have read and re-read your squab book and think for clearness of description, plain explana- tions, and good clear illustrations it is the best live-stock book I have ever seen. When in doubt, consult the Manual.—J. Y. E., West Virginia.
FLOCK INCREASED FROM SIXTY TO THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY IN EIGHT MONTHS. I got my flock of 30 pairs of Extras into their permanent quarters in February. I now (October 5, 1908) have about 360 head of the finest young birds you ever saw. I have just put my flock through the moult and they have begun to work now in good shape. I have squabs now in my house that were raised by my young birds (the ones which I raised myself) and their second pair of squabs weighed over one pound each at four weeks of age. Is not that good work for the sec- ond pair that young birds raise? What do you think of my increase in stock from 60 head to 360 head in eight months; is that good work or not?
I can get orders for all squabs I can raise at $3 per dozen f.0.b. cars here, but I have sold only one dozen and I got $4.50 for them. I do not care to sell any until I get a big flock of
reeders.
I am making some ‘arrangements now to build squab houses and I want to get about 150 or 200 pairs of breeders from you in the spring; as I want to get into shape to fill orders. I had an order the first of this month for ten dozen per week at $3 per dozen. This would have been a standing order for all winter if I could have handled it. I have one pair of young birds that laid four eggs, hatched and raised all of them. Has that ever happened in your flock? Write me what you think of my success and advise what price you will make me on an order for 100 pairs of Extras.—G. W. T., Louisiana.
FAMILY TRADE BRINGS HIM AS HIGH AS EIGHT DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUABS. Enclosed you will find check and order for pigeons and supplies for $116.29. Please ship sundries by freight at once and the pigeons on July 23. The birds I got of you in February, 1908, are doing finely. Have raised three and four pairs each, squabs weighing at 25 days from 14 to 19 ounces alive. I have several pairs more, all raised from your Extras, so I have about 155 birds altogether now. I am clearing out the chicken pens and filling them with pigeons, as I am fully convinced they are a much better paying proposition than the chickens.
Several other firms have written me for orders, but as you took such pains with my little drib, and the birds have done so well, you people get the rest of the orders. I have the largest birds in the city, and they attract much attention from the hundreds of visitors at my poultry yards.
The Manual is a gem. It is plain enough for any one and I really think I have it memorized. Have several other works on pigeons, but have laid them away. They are not in the same class.
The market is good here, my birds bringing from $4.50 to $8.00 a dozen, all family orders. I have worked them right into my chicken and egg customers. Could sell 50 pairs a day if I “had them.—J. A., Pennsylvania.
a Y LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 299
EXPERIENCE OF PROMINENT WASHINGTON PUBLIC MAN BREEDING PLYMOUTH ROCK HOMERS
I wish you would send me an outfit of your Extra Plymouth Rock Homers, mated and banded. I want to see how they will turn out. I have already quite a large lot of pigeons. but they are doing so - poorly that. 1. do ol expec... to, Keep ethem. ac expect better results from the ones which I order.
The letters from customers printed in this book are evidence of the wide- spread interest on the American continent in squab breeding not only for revenue and for one’s table, but also as a pastime and instructive hobby. It will not be forgotten that the master mind of Charles Darwin evolved “The Origin of Species’ from pigeon breeding. The ideas he conceived and the laws he discovered might have been worked out with other animals, but not within the span of his lifetime, with the thoroughness he accomplished, because pigeons breed rapidly, and in other respects are ideal for experiment.
Prominent in political life at Washington are customers who give part of their spare time enthusiastically to this work. One of these ordered of us in January, 1908, as indicated by the letter printed at the top of this page. The next letter was as follows:
Ll am greatly pleased with the birds’ sent» me, and they seem to be all that you have said in regard Bon eM»,
We wrote him in December, 1908, to interest him in our Carneaux, and received the following letter:
I have your letter of -some days ago in -resard, 70 thie Homers you sent me, They-were Very. fine, “and I was well pleased with them. One ~di-saisl 6a ivpie is another has followed these birds until now I have none left. First, an owl got in among them and pulled heads off, which was followed by some other mistortune.. Tu-shald never experinent Were arcain With them; but. when dp retire from the Ticid ‘or amy, labors and go back home, .1 certainly intend to keep pigeons. I thank you very much for calling my attention to your new Plymouth Rock Carneaux.
We are not at liberty to print the writer’s name. We call attention to this to point the moral that serious-minded men of large affairs turn to squab raising with lively and sustained interest. (Incidentally, another moral is, Beware of owls !) ;
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WON THE PRIZES IN TEXAS. My pigeons took
first, second and third prizesand I credit it much to your good stock that helped me.—I. R., Texas.
IMITATION GRITS A FAILURE. Enclosed find
money order for which please send me 100 pounds of your health grit and 100 pounds of oyster shells, pigeon size. I have tried other health grits that are sold nearer mv city but find my birds will not touch them.—_H FE. M., New York.
READY MARKET IN MONTANA. I have about
90 young and have sold about 125 squabs. I can get $3.00 a dozen plucked and notroubie aboutselling them. I have paidas high as $2 per hundredweight for wheat but am now getting wheat at $1.15 per hundredweight ; corn $1.90.—L, E, Y., Montana.
ORDINARY QUARTERS. The Pennsylvania customer whose letter is printed on this page is doing well here.
SEVEN PAIRS QUICKLY AT WORK. ORDERING EVERY MONTH.
The seven pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers arrived on April 24 in first-class order. Five nests are finished (May 7), one has two eggs and there are two other nests in the course of construction, which speaks mighty well for your stock, Ithink. J expect to send you an order the latter part of this month andintend buying every month. In that way I will not feel the investment so much.
One could not ask for better stock than you sent me. I am well pleased and shall be glad to boost your stock among my friends. My neighbor is more than ever chagrined at the job lot that was shipped him from the southern part of the State and will undoubtedly send you an order before long. Thank you for the pains you must have taken in selecting my birds.
(Later. August, 1908.) I write you to give you the address of a gentleman who is going into the squab business. You can use my name or not, just as you desire, but one thing you can use to him ismy recommendation. When I return from my vacation, September 1, I intend placing another order for 10 pairs more of Extra Plymouth Rocks. My birds have done fine and as long as I get such birds from you, you can expect my order and all others I can throw your way. There isall sorts ofrivalry here on account of the show in January.—J. B., Pennsylvania.
YEAR’S TRIAL SATISFACTORY, AND GOING AHEAD. I thought you might be interested to know that the birds we pur- chased of you last January have turned out finely, we having lost but two, and this on account of flying against the wire, breaking their necks. We decided to give the birds a thorough trial for a year, being novices
at the business, and I am sure as soon as the year is up, we will place another order with you, as your birds have been greatly admired by other raisers here, and they have done what you said they would. We have had no trouble in selling the squabs, which have ranged from ten to thirteen ounces each, receiving in nearly every case from 50 cents to 75 cents per pair.— C. W. C., Pennsylvania.
LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY
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TEXAS WOMAN DELIGHTED WITH HER PROJECT. I am enclosing an order for some Homers intended for a Christmas pres- ent to my young nephew, and wish you to ship the birds so as to arrive about the 24th. In March last I bought of you six pairs of Plymouth Rock Homers. My flock now (December) numbers 25 pairs, the first birds hatching the 16th of April, and I have seven hens due to hatch on the 17th of this month. I think my success has been creditable and to me very satisfactory. I have lost less than half a dozen young ones, and believe the loss of these was due to a lack of rock salt in the fly. My aim is to increase the flock to 100 before beginning to market the squabs. Squabs sell in our market for 25 cents each and are scarce and in demand. My pen consists of a house 8x8 feet in which the birds roost, lay and hatch. Connected with the house I have a fly eight feet wide, 20 feet long and eight feet high; with which accommoda- tion the birds seem perfectly contented. Many of them seem to know me and are not afraid when I go among them. I feed twice a day, about 8 a.m and 3 p.m., giving them what they will eat of whole and cracked corn, wheat, millet and Kaffir corn, when pro- curable. Occasionally I throw in bits of cabbage leaves which they seem to relish very much. I have your Manual and have followed instructions as nearly as circum- stances would permit, and with it as a guide and reasonable attention, do not see how any one could fail to succeed in a pleasant and_ pleasing pursuit. I believe it also profitable, even in my small way. I bought your fibre nest bowls and have them screwea to pieces that slip into the egg crates that you mentioned in your Manual. This makes cleaning the bowls and boxes a very easy matter. I intend in the near future to build another pen, divide my flock and test the question of ‘‘ pigeons for profit.”” Thus far I am delighted with the project, but love for my birds may interfere with selling squabs for slaughter. My squabs weigh on an average of three-quarters of a pound, live weight, at about three weeks of age. I have had neither sickness nor lice, and on the whole
am most highly pleased with my birds.— -
Mrs. R. E. B., Texas.
USES A WATER FOUNTAIN WHICH HE MADE FROMA BOTTLE. In February (1908) I became interested in Homers and thinking they would give better results than common pigeons, I sold my flock of common birds and sent you an order for three pairs of Plymouth Rock Extra Homers. Three days later I received them. Some friends of mine had Homer pigeons which they considered excellent birds, but they could not beat mine. My friends have been anxious to get some of my Homers, but I intend to keep all I raise until I have quite a flock.
Up to date (October) one pair has raised six pairs of squabs since I received them. The other two pairs have done nearly as well. The common pigeons I had generally stopped breeding during the moulting season, but your Homers kept right on.
I feed what is called here ‘‘ scratch feed,’’ composed of buckwheat, peas, Kaffir corn, sunflower seed, cracked corn, wheat and several other grains. Ialso give a tonic every Sunday with a little hemp seed. I use a feeder which I made, as shown in your Manual, and a water fountain which I made from a bottle. I have followed your Manual
HOME MADE. For this little plant the breeder has utilized what
he had; expending hardly a dollar. He has done very well in these rough and ready quarters, however, as his letter here printed shows. (See letter of M. J. H., New York.)
\
in caring for my birds and think it is an excel- lent book. Sometime in the future I intend to give you another order.
I send by this mail a picture of my place and birds. The small pen is where I keep my young stock until they mate. The one with the Homer in the window is where my working birds are kept.—M. J. H., New York.
~ETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS RECEIVED BY PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY 302
APPENDIX G
The year 1909 was notable in the squab and pigeon world by reason of two important happenings: the founding of the National Squab Magazine and the organization of the National Squab Breeders’ Association. ‘The maga- zine is a monthly periodical. The first number issued bore the date Febru- ary, 1909. At this writing (January, 1910) twelve numbers have been issued and the second year begun. This periodical was an instant success, taking at once a commanding position. It is the first successful attempt made in this country to print a handsome, up-to-date squab or pigeon periodical with only original articles and illustrations giving instruction by competent writers. <A flood of letters at once poured in commending the undertaking and with its third month’s issue the magazine had the largest circulation of any pigeon periodical. So valuable and interesting has been each number of the magazine that subscribers obtained through the summer and fall called for back numbers in such volume as to exhaust the supply of all single back issues. At present, copies of the double holiday issue dated January, 1910 (the last issue of volume one) are on hand and will be supplied as long as they last at twenty cents each, or that issue will be given free to all who subscribe for one year during the first three months of 1910. The price of each regular month’s issue and of specimen copies is ten cents. The price of one year’s subscription is one dollar (for Canada, $1.24). A few bound volumes of the first year’s issue were placed on sale January 1, 1910, at five dollars a volume, transportation charges prepaid.
The owners and publishers of this magazine are the Squab Publishing Company, 220 Purchase Street, Boston, Mass. The magazine is open to all for both contributions and advertising, for all breeds of pigeons. The adver- tising rate is low, and advertisers have been getting amazing results on account of not only the largest circulation but also the high quality of the readers, who are able tobuy. The magazine has a strong editorial staff, hav- ing the exclusive services of the best writers on squab and pigeon topics. It is a periodical of genuine interest and value, serving only the special industry of squab raising, and as such is recognized by the United States Government and admitted to the mails at pound rates.
We commend this magazine highly. We write for it and take subscrip- tions for it. We urge everybody interested in the subject of pigeons or squabs to subscribe for it. It will be found really original, helpful and entertaining. It is entirely different from any other periodical. Any person who sub- scribes through us and is not pleased with the magazine can apply to us and get his money refunded.
By permission of the Squab Publishing Company, owners of the copyrights, we print on the following pages, cut and condensed, a selection from the hundreds of articles printed by the magazine during 1909. (The first volume of the magazine contains over four hundred pages, each page 714 inches by 1014 inches). We have selected accounts written mostly by customers of the Plymouth Rock Squab Company, who bought either Homers or Carneaux, or both, of us. Those who wish to duplicate the successes which these are making should get our birds and our help.
We have also reproduced on the following pages recent letters from leading marketmen, and these are stronger than ever in giving us credit for the found- ing of the squab industry and for the remarkable excellence of the Plymouth Rock squabs which now dominate every market wherever squabs are sold.
303
304 AP PEN DEGEG
MEMBERSHIP BUTTON.
This photograph gives a view of four of the buttons, exact size. Two of the buttons are turned so as to show that each has a back piece to hold the button securely on the back of a buttonhole.
NATIONAL SQUAB BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION.
This was formed in 1909 and before the close of the year obtained eight thousand members, constituting the largest pigeon organization in the world. It was organized by the magazine and the headquarters of the association are at the magazine office, 220 Purchase Street, Boston, Mass. It costs noth- ing to join and there are no initiation fees or annual aues. If you are breeding squabs or pigeons for market or for recreation, send in your name and get a button and wear it. To secure a button, send ten cents (either a dime or United States two-cent stamps) to the National Squab Breeders’ Association, 220 Purchase Street, Boston, Mass., saying that you are a member of the association and want a button. If you are not yet a member, say that you wish to join. Your name then will be enrolled and a button mailed you. The button is not cheap celluloid or enamel, but is made of solid copper alloy, bronze, with a dark finish like the familiar G. A. R. button. (It is not a brass button.) The buttons of the Spanish War Veterans and other organizations are of the same type and are delivered on deposit of at least twenty-five cents and generally one dollar. Our button is as good as it is possible for a bronze button to be made. Wear the button and talk up the association among your fellow pigeon men and others interested in squabs. Get them to join. The objects are: To profit financially by refusing to sell squabs at less than a - profit. To encourage the eating of better squabs and more of them. To find out the best places to buy grain. To learn how and where to sell squabs as well as how to raise them. To unite as squab and pigeon breeders, not to fight each other, but to help, in any way that comes up. To boost, and not to knock. To use the influence of what is now the largest pigeon organiza- tion in the world, on any topic, or in any work that may come up, in the broadest and best way, for the good of all. To get acquainted with and understand each other, so that when button wearers get together they can clasp hands in good fellowship. Watch the magazine from month to
month for bulletins of progress.
Ale JIS INIOIDAG (GE:
I TAKE SQUABS TO MARKET IN A BASKET, by Thomas Hanigan. Four and a half years ago I bought twelve paits of first-class Homers. They proved so in- teresting and convincing that I bought six pairs more a few months later. These were all I ever purchased, but they bred so well there are now 250 full-grown birds, and I have been marketing nearly all the squabs for the last year.
I never had any pigeons before, so I studied their hab- its and requirements as I went along, aided by the standard literature on the subject.
In these four years, but two of the pigeons ‘‘ went light ’’ and there have been but six cases of canker with the squabs, never any. with the old birds. There never has beenany sickness. One night there was a commotion in the flock. Taking my lantern, I went to investigate and found ‘a rat in the loft, which I killed. I concluded that the only way the rat could have got in was by climbing a post of the fly- ing pen, which was against the barn and near the opening tothe loft. To guard against its occurring again I took a two-foot strip of zinc.and nailed it around this post, and have never seen another rat. There has been no trouble with lice or mites, for I used to- bacco stems when I could get them, for nest- ing material, and I spray a little phenol dis- infectant around the loft every time I clean out.
My regular employment as baggage-master on the railroad makes it necessary for me to leave the house at 6 o’clock in the morning and I do not get home again until 7.30 at night. This forces me to feed and water very
early in the morning, and kill the squabs for -
market in the evening. Cleaning out the pen is a once-a-week job, left until Sundays. This does not take very long.
My staple feed is red wheat and cracked corn the year round, in the proportions of two-thirds wheat to one-third cracked corn in summer and the reverse in winter. For change and luxury, I give a little kaffir corn, millet, buckwheat and hempseed. Health grit, which I buy regularly, fine ground oyster shells, lump salt and straw are kept before them all the time, and common gravel on the ground of the flying pen.
The one hundred pairs of Homers which are mated supply me with an average of two dozen squabs a week for market. Killing them in the evening, as I am obliged to do,
i EE
DISH
_MR. HANIGAN’S SQUABS WEIGHING A POUND APIECE.
there is some food left in their crops. I neither bleed, pick nor dress them, for this is the way I sell them at the Boston market. They weigh a pound apiece. As my run on the train takes me to Boston every day, I put the squabs in a basket and carry them with me. There I sell them to the marketman who will give me the best price. There is never any trouble in selling all I can raise. Last week (the first week in April), I got $3.60 a dozen; the week before, $4 a dozen; and the week before that, $4.50 a dozen. Selling in this way there is no bother of picking, pack- ing, icing nor paying express charges. I have never tried to sell any squabs to the summer people who come to my town, for they seem to think I ought to sell them cheap because I am in the country.
ENJOY GREEN THINGS, by Edward Rob- erts. I have a newidea. Pigeons eat water cress and radish tops, also green mustard leaves, and they like all. I feed them all the bread they can eat.
One pigeon laid an egg in a nestbox with no bowl and without even building a nest, so I put straw in a nestbowl and placed the egg in it. She took to it right off and laid another egg in two days, by its side. She is setting now.—L. Franklin.
CN ENA
APPENDIX AG:
CARNEAUX SQUABS ONE WEEK, TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS AND FOUR WEEKS OLD.
All these five views are on one plate.)
(Photograph by C. W. Brown.
Alia NIDIXe G
I GIVE UP CHICKENS IN FAVOR OF SQUABS, by Thomas F. Cook. Two years ago I had had no experience whatever with squabs, in fact had no inten= tion of ever raising any, when a gentleman living near me, who was forced by lack of time to sell his pens of birds, numbering about 400 Homers, offered them to me, and as I had read quite a bit at that time of how well others were doing raising squabs, I decided to try my luck. Of course moving them disturbed them but after a few weeks they settled down to work and were doing very fairly, when some one told me where I could buy some very cheap feed, viz.: frozen Manitoba wheat, which turned out to be the dear- est feed I ever bought. The pigeons did not like it and would not eat it if they could help it, but I kept feeding it to them as I thought it was cheap and plenty good enough for pig- eons. The result was they got poor and practically quit ‘ laying, and the few squabs I did succeed in raising were so thin I could not market them.
It took me months to get them back in good trim again, but I finally succeeded in doing so and they were paying me very well indeed when one night in last August my barn was burned down and the pigeon house with it. I managed to save about 100 birds, but their breeding was over for some time till I could get another house and pair them up again, but I had seen plainly that, rightly managed, there was money in squabs so hearing of a lot of about 900 that were for sale in Thornhill (about 15 miles from here) I bought them with the building they were in (a one-story frame structure fifty feet long by fitteen feet wide), shut the birds up in the house and pulled the flying pens down, then sawed the whole build- ing in two through the centre pen. We moved it up here on trucks and set it down on a good foundation and built twenty more feet in the centre of the one we moved, making a building seventy feet long.
It was quite a bit of trouble and expense moving the building that way but it paid me, as the birds went right on breeding, in fact with the exception of a very few eggs that rolled out of some of the nests they did not seem to know they had been moved.
As a main feed I use corn, Canada peas and buckwheat alternately, with a little hemp, kaffir corn and wheat as dainties, also plenty of grit and a lump of rock salt always in each
pen, also lots of clean water before them at all
SQUAB PLANT MOVED FIFTEEN MILES.
times, and a bath placed in each flying pen every morning during the summer. In the winter I give them a bath only on nice bright days when it is warm enough so that there is no danger of the water freezing.
I might say that all my birds are thorough- bred Homers. I intend to buy some Car- neaux later on and intend to cross with the Homers, as of course the larger the squabs the more I can get for them. My squabs now average about nine to ten pounds to the dozen.
I have been raising quite a lot of chickens, but am gradually dropping them and intend to increase the pigeons, as they pay better, take up less room, are less trouble, and the re- turns come in every week. There is no slack time with them as far as my experience goes. Under proper conditions. and right treatment they breed every month in the year.
HOW TO GET GOOD FEEDERS, by James Y. Egbert. Feeding qualities of pig- eons in a flock vary almost as much as the number of birds in the pen. Some feed their young early and often and stuff them full, making large, plump squabs. Others feed moderately and their squabs are not so fat. Some parent birds can raise three and oc- casionally four squabs, but the latter is rare. A squab breeder should observe his birds and mate those of good feeding qualities. In this way he would build upa flock of large, sturdy, well-fed birds. Good feeding qualities are handed down from one generation to another.
308
HOW A FERTILE EGG LOOKS AFTER SIX DAYS.
The nucleus with the veins radiating from it may be clearly seen at this time. The white space at the end of the egg is the air space. Around the egg inside may be seen the white membrane lining.
HATCH ONLY EGGS OF THE LARGEST BIRDS, by M. C. Martin. Many buyers of limited means who wish to start with six ora dozen pairs of Homers, demand the very choicest4birds to breed their flock from, i.e. they insist that all be the very best or ‘‘top.”’
As a matter of fact birds are not all the same size and weight. Just like buying apples. You have to take them as they come. They are already “‘ sorted ’’ and the merchant will not pick them for you. So with birds.
The writer desired to breed up a flock of the very finest Homers and Carneaux and this is how he did it.
In a dozen pair about half of them will be exceptionally fine and the rest only ordinary. Whenever one of the smaller birds lays, you will find that at least one of the largest hens has done the same. Throw away the eggs of the smaller bird and substitute for them the eggs of the larger bird. The smaller pair will hatch out the eggs of the large pair of Homers.
In about ten days or two weeks the large hen will lay again. Repeat the process three or four times and then let the large hen set and hatch out her own eggs. When she lays again rob her nest and so on as before.
If you cannot find enough small birds to hatch the large ones continuously, of course do the next best thing. Always make the smaller pairs hatch the eggs of the large ones and never their own.
In this way you will get almost as many birds in a year from the very largest, as in the natural way you would have raised from large and small both. This would hardly pay in raising squabs for market, but it assuredly pays when increasing your flock of birds.
The same plan may be used with the Car- neaux or any other high-priced birds. Use the small Homers to do the work of setting for your Carneaux and it is amazing how rapidly the large birds will multiply.
In changing the eggs from one nest to
APPENDIX. .G
another, you must be sure that the birds have laid about the same time (not over three days’ difference) or the one setting will either have no bird milk in her crop or, if she has set too long, the milk will be so thick the little squab cannot take it.
This is the only precaution necessary, the birds will do the rest. All eggs look alike to them, but unlike the chicken very few will set longer than nineteen or twenty days.
Some might object to this method as being cruel and contrary to nature, but a study of the case shows that it is not. A pigeon has a short memory and a very strong nesting in- stinct. Rob the nest one day and the birds will many times go to nesting the very next day, showing that they are not very much “upset ’? and are willing to try again right away. Fifteen or more pairs of squabs may be raised from one pair of birds in this way without affecting the health of the old birds in the least, and the young are strong and healthy.
A complete explanation of this method of forced breeding is found in Rice’s manual, the National Standard Squab Book (see page 231) and the writer can testify to its verity, as he has tested it thoroughly and boasts of one of the finest flocks of Homers and Carneaux in the West, obtained by this method of forced breeding.
After the eggs have been sat on for four or five days, hold them up between yourself and the sun, and if they are fertilized, you will clearly see a nucleus with a network of veins clustered about it. It looks just like the one- celled animal in the lowest scale of animal life, such as the amoeba.
If eggs are not fertile, they will appear trans- parent with only a small patch of red coloring matter within. Shake the evgs and they will be found to be spoiled. Throw them away and the birds will lay again in a week or ten days. If only one egg is fertile, look for more “bad-”? eggs, and many times you will find several nests with one good and one bad egg. By holding them before you in the sun or be- fore a lamp, you can with a little practice, by the appearance of the nucleus (if during the first week of incubation), match up the eggs just as well as to wait until each pair of birds hatches and then arrange the young two ina nest.
Two or three weeks’ time may be saved ona pair of birds by this method. My motto is: After five days, always have two fertile eggs in each nest.
NINE OF TEN SQUABS FEMALES, by Dr. H.N. Kingsford. I bought a pair of Car- neaux in January, 1908. This has turned out to be a peculiar pair, in regard to the sex of the young which they have bred, as I have raised five pairs of young from them, nine of which were females, the remaining one a male. The first four pairs were eight females. I have four hundred pairs of birds. I use a great many pigeons in my work in teaching.
I make them pay.
APPENDIX
HOW TO KEEP MICE OUT OF GRAIN TROUGHS, by W. L. Plumer. For those who, like the writer, have been annoyed by the depredations of mice in the self-feeders within the squabhouse a sketch is given show- ing arrangement which, while simple, has proven entirely efiective against these little rodents. Squab breeders are in many cases losing a much greater amount of grain from this cause than they realize, as while it is compara- tively easy soto build the squabhouse that it is secure against the entrance of rats, the little mouse will in some way get in, and in numbers unsus- pected by the breeder unless he has paid a night visit to the lofts. At the time I followed the general custom of placing the feeders upon the floor, it was no uncommon occurrence on the morning rounds to disturb one or more mice which had lingered within the feeders from the night before.
After some slight alterations the self- feeders were arranged in the following manner: In the centre of the unit or loft are placed two uprights two by four, thirty-two to thirty-four inches high and thirty inches apart, with strips four by ten inches on bot- tom of each, which are nailed to the floor. This together with two short braces gives the necessary support. On the top of each up- right is placed an inverted three-gallon crock, a board five by eight inches first being nailed to top of uprights, and on these the crocks rest rigidly. 4
A NEW WAY TO COOK SQUABS, by Mrs. M. E. Slight. I clean them and split them in halves, then fry them in olive oil and butter, two-thirds oil and one-third butter. I first brown in the oil and butter, then cover them with water and simmer until they are cooked dry, then I slightly brown them again and make a cream gravy to eat with them. I ship my squabs alive to San Francisco and average $3 a dozen for them. I have sold some to the sanitarium also.
BURLAP WINDOWS VENTILATE, by C. A. Herrold. I have two hundred Homers all working, and I am selling squabs from them that run from eight to nine pounds to the dozen. They bring me from $2.50 to $3 in Chicago sold by commission men. I have no trouble in keeping my birds in healthy condition. I think the first thing a beginner should learn i; to ventilate the pigeon house. They must have pure air to breathe. Do not ventilate so that the wind will strike the birds. I think the roaf should slope both ways, with a ventilator in each gable sixteen inches by twenty-four inches. The window on the south side should be taken out and left out in winter as well as in summer. Put a roller at top of window with gunny sacking to pull down in bad weather or in very cold weather.
G 309
RAT-PROOF SELF-FEEDER FOR GRAIN.
MISSOURI BREEDER SHIPS TO PITTS- BURG, by J. B. Beckman. It was a year ago the twelfth of this month (June) that I re- ceived the first twenty-five pairs of Homer breeders and I have at present two hundred and fifty pairs of working Homers, and fine ones, too. I have quit selling squabs in my town for they will not pay over $3 per dozen, so I ship to Pittsburg, Penn. I get $3.75 for nine-pound, and $4 for ten-pound squabs. My check comes every week, and it amounts to $12 to $15 a week.
I can raise a good deal of my feed. I have fifteen acres of land, high up ona hill. Ihave about five acres of Canada peas, and the vines are loaded. I have kaffir corn and millet, and big corn, all for my birds, and about two acres of sunflowers—and all doing well.
I have a five-horsepower gasoline engine for pumping my water for my birds.
We are going to enlarge our plant before fall for three hundred more pairs. With what buildings I already have’l will then be breed- ing seven hundred pairs. I think things look good for me.
FRANTIC OVER GREEN VINES, by Louis A. Hart. I am having fine success with my Carneaux. All four pairs that I bought have families, besides some of the squabs that have mated. JI am enlarging my flying pen, en- closing a lettuce and a tomato bed. They do so much better with more room, and they go frantic over green Canada pea vines.
I am raising some very fine Homer squabs but not enough to supply the demand for this kind of stock. In my position as meat cutter in one ot the highest class markets here, I have a good opportunity to market all the squabs I can raise—Henry A. Lindenschmitt, Colorado,
310 APPENDIX. -G
Ze.
REFERENCES ®
ower
FIDELITY TRusT Co. COMMERCIAL AGENCIES
TELEPHONE CALLS 5302-5303 WorTH
=a —afa
WEAR CHAMBERS STRELT 9/29/09
Mr. EXmer C. Rice, Treasurer, NEW YORK, Plymouth Rock Squab Coe, Boston, Mass.
Dear Sir:
We are very pleased to note the signal success of the Squab Mag- azine, and the small card which we inserted with our name, has brought us numerous inquiries from all over the country from Squad Raisers market prices and conditions, and has resulted in the receipt of Shine
ments of some very fine birds. There is absolutely no limit to the quantity of Squabs we can
handle, and as our trade is constantly extending, we are anxious at all times to keep in touch with raisers of good Squabs.
8 to
It is a source of satisfaction to observe the better quality of birds now being received on the market, due, no doubt, to the eliminating of poor breeding stock, greater care and attention given to the keeping and feeding of the birds, and more ane ee dressing
and shipping. t is due, we believe, to the ional. efforts of yourself, and the testimony is present in ene superior qa ty 0 8 vuabs now be received, as compar Ww a rew years ago.
We endeavor at all times to give our shippers the best possible prices, make prompt returns, and are pleased to furnish all the inform- ation fn our power.
We wish to thank you for the courtesies you have show us in the
past, and with best wishes for success in your continued efforts to improve tne squab industry, we are,
Very truly yours, xuss/LLo (Hae he IES
aide did INSOIOG 1G: oll
HOW THE CITY MARKETMAN WANTS SQUABS, by A. Silz. Squab raisers should bear.in mind that squabs should not be more than three to four weeks old when killed, and after being killed, it is very essential that they be allowed to bleed properly, by hanging head downward, otherwise the blood congeals and tends to turn the bird more or less dark. The best-selling squab, at all times, is the one mich is perfectly white and free from blem- ishes.
Within a short time after being killed and after being dry-picked perfectly clean of all feathers, it is a good plan to immerse the squabs in ice-cold water until such time as they are to be packed for shipment. They should never be held for any length of time, as it tends to make the birds flabby, and by the . time they get to the dealer, who places them to the trade, they present a very stale, unde- sirable appearance, and in the majority of cases, must be sold at a sacrifice as a result of this condition.
We receive, from time to time, among the fancy squabs, some nice, large, plump birds which would otherwise be perfect were it not for one or more red blotches which appear on the back of the bird and detract from its appearance to such an extent that high-class trade will not touch them at all. If squab raisers can arrive at some method by which these red blotches will be eliminated they will very naturally benefit, as the birds will bring better money, at all times, where this con- dition is not apparent.
During the summer months, the squabs, after being properly cooled, should be care- fully packed between layers of cracked ice, using a laver first to cover the bottom of the package, then a layer of squabs arranged head downward, then another good layer of ice, a layer of squabs and so on, and when the pack- age is filled a good double layer of ice on top, so that the birds are completely enveloped, This will keep them thoroughly chilled and prevent any chance of spoiling while en route
A SILZ DRAYLOAD OF SQUABS FOR ONE OF THE TRANS-
ATLANTIC STEAMSHIPS.
A. SILZ,.
to the dealer. Care, however, must be exer- cised, even here, that too many squabs are not put into a package. It is better to use a little more ice and not pack the squabs very tightly, as this all tends to bring them to market in the best possible condition.
WHY, WHEN, HOW TO TRANSFER SQUABS. It is a noticeable fact to all squab breeders that there is apt to be a difference of size between the two squabs in a nest when they are three days old and upwards and that the difference in size becomes more apparent the older they get until they are pretty well feathered. This condition is found less with Homers than with any of the other breeds, but Homers are not exempt from it. The reason for it is that one egg hatches from one to two days before the other. As soon as the first one hatches the parents begin to feed it and it will double in size in a day or two so that when the second squab hatches it is only half the size and strength of the first one. Have a flat-bottomed basket or box with a handle that you can carry on yourarm, With this go through all your nests twice a week and even up the sizes of the two squabs in each nest. First, take a hasty glance through the nests in a pen to get an estimate of how many pairs of squabs need attending to and their relative sizes. Then take one of an uneven pair and put in the nest of another uneven pair so that the two will exactly match, remove the third one. thus formed and either put it in the first nest or in some other so that they will exactly match in size and so on. If there is a nest with but one squab do not hesitate to put another with it if it be of the same size.
312
SQUAB PEN FOR POULTRY SHOW. This is good advertising for a poultry show, much better than merely showing the old birds, for a stranger to squabs is intensely interested in see- ing the young and actually realizing how quickly they grow to market size.
HOW I SELL SQUABS FOR SIX DOLLARS A DOZEN, by Lynn L. James. My intro- duction to squabs came through buying only three pairs of Homers a year ago, or to be more exact, on February 15, 1908. I was then, and had been for some years, a breeder of high-grade poultry, single comb white, buff and brown leghorns. I had read a good deal about squabs and being over-cautious, per- haps, started with only the three pairs.
I bought them at the right place and my experience with them was so encouraging, they did so well, that on July 25, 1908, I in» vested a hundred dollars in sixty pairs more from the same concern. These have kept on with the good work and this month I am buying fifty pairs more.
certainly have had unbounded success and now have a house of four units more under construction. I have five units full of breed- ers and cannot get enough squabs for my trade. J have no competition in my Pennsyl- vania city, and the enclosed card will show you my prices.
I have discarded poultry entirely. All pizeons for me. As the old saying goes, they have chickens ‘‘ beaten to a frazzle ’’—and I did exceedingly well with them also.
The accompanying photograph shows my exhibition coop at the poultry show here. I built that exhibition pen for the poultry show after my own ideas. . The nests contained squabs of ali ages with the old birds caring for them, all finished in red and white same as my
APPENDIX G
coops are. The news- papers gave it a good notice.
I have exhibited at va- rious places this fall and winter in hot competition and taken all the first and second prizes, and it all helps my advertising as my cards, etc., are all trade-marked. I am breed- ing from two hundred pairs now, getting from $3.50 to $6 per dozen. I sold $24 worth of squabs yesterday and turned away telephone orders amounting to $12.50 since noon to-day, but won’t do that long.
People here say they never saw _ such large squabs. Iam getting the whole city stirred up over 1G.
The mortality list is very small compared with chick- ens, and squabs are less work, while for profit, well, chickens may as well quit trying. I have all three hospitals ordering squabs, and hotels clamoring for even the smallest. It’s great, Itell you. Guess I have blown my own horn enough, but I get enthusiastic over it and forget to stop.
The card which Mr. James refers to in his letter above is what is known as a private post- card. On the front is a place for the one-cent stamp and the address of the customer. On the back is the following printed matter, the places for the prices being left blank and filled in by pen when the card is sent out.
(Italic type indicates what is filled in by pen )
Trade Mark saa rade Mar (GBs here Squabs
We are pleased to quote you prices on fresh Sauabs for the month of February, 1909, as ollows:
Prime, 10 lbs. to doz., per doz. $6.00 No. 1,8 to 9 lbs. to doz., per doz. $5.25-5.50 No. 2, 6 to 8 lbs. to doz., per doz. 3-75-4.50
Unpicked Squabs twenty-five cents per dozen less the above prices. Telephone orders given prompt and careful attention. Bell Phone 1208-R. People’s Phone 710-R.
JAMES’ SQUAB YARDS
Mr. James sends out the above postal card (no letter under a two-cent stamp needed) to past and prospective customers, once a week, or as needed, and they order by either of the two telephone systems or by postal or letter,
ANEAES AND IXE NG 313
HOW TO MAKE A CHEAP SHIPPING CRATE, by F. B. Shepard. The crate we use for retail, or indi- vidual, trade in dozen lots asshown in the picture is made of strips of any light, tough wood except pine, as the odor from pine might taint the squabs. The strips should be sand-papered so that the crate will look and be clean. The'cover is fastened at the back with wire loops, not hinges. The cover is fastened at the front with pieces of iron wire three inches long, which you bend around the heads of two nails. The strips of wood are seven-eighths of an inch or one inch wide. The nails are wire brads, three-quarters of an inch long, not only driven in but clinched where possible.
Each squab is wrapped in waxed paper. Six squabs are put on the bottom of the crate, breasts up, and six more on top, breasts up, thus the crate be- ing filled.
The express company is conquered by such acrate. It is so light (it weighs only seven- “teen ounces), that the additional express charges amount to little or nothing. It has cost less than would be asked to transport it back home, so your customer can keep it.
SELLING 2000 DOZEN SQUABS A WEEK, by Ray S. Long. A short time ago I had occasion to step into the New York store of Heineman Brothers, to see how their business was, and it is needless to say that I was greatly impressed with their methods of handling their big trade. They have a very large, spacious building in Washington Street. well equipped with every modern appliance for carrying on their extensive business, which is located in one of the busiest sections of lower New York. They handle all kinds of poul- try, game, etc., but that which most attracted my attention was the enormous trade in squabs. quick and efficient manner, consequently they have to have plenty of squabs on hand in order to supply the demand, which calls for from fifteen hundred dozen to two thousand dozen squabs weekly, most of which are used by many of the large hotels, restaurants and steamships They are at all times in a position to handle good squabs and pay the highest prices for them, as they cater to a fancy trade which demands a good squab, one that is white and plump weighing from seven and one-half to twelve pounds to the dozen. They pay the best price for birds of this weight. In packing for shipment, great care should be used in arranging the squabs according to size, color and general appearance. It takes only a little more time and attention but it more than pays one in the end, for the squabs command a better price.
The squab market in New York is never overcrowded with first-grade squabs. I ad- vise those who are raising squabs to raise only ANo, 1 birds, for then they need never fear of
eS :
5 dS
This trade is attended to in a very -
Inside dimensions, in inches, 14 long, 7 wide, 6 high. Strips are one inch wide.
Weight 17 ounces.
not finding a good active market for them at all times. Everywhere the trade is demand- ing good squabs and is willing to pay for them. It doesn’t pay to waste one’s time raising in- ferior ones, so get busy and produce the kind that is wanted.
The Heineman Brothers are always ready to receive squabs, so do not be afraid of send- ing them too many fine ones, for they’can handle any number.
You will be pleased and encouraged to know that many of those who ship squabs to this concern state that their parent stock is from Mr. Rice’s famous Plymouth Rock birds. Letters come to them telling of the good re- sults obtained which are simply due to their being started right by Mr. Rice, and it pays to start them right, for then one does not meet with the discouragements that many do who buy cheap birds; further, their trade is con- tinually demanding squabs raised from the Plymouth Rock stock, giving evidence of the sterling qualities of these birds.
MATTING STRAWS FOR NESTING, by Edward Rice, Texas. A good substitute for tobacco stems is matting straws unwoven and cut into five or six-inch lengths. They make a thick and compact nest and the birds like them if they are sweet and not too old. In this way a cheap but good nesting material may be provided. Some may think that they are not good because they don’t keep away mites and lice, but I think cleanli- ness is the best thing for that purpose anyhow.
WIRE DOOR FOR VENTILATION, py Edward Rice, Texas. In order to give my pigeons plenty of fresh air I have removed the wooden door in my loft and put a wire one in its place. The air inside the house is always fresh. As the door is in the east end of the house it allows the sun to shine in and warm up things on winter mornings, and also aliows the easterly breezes to blow through it in summer. Sometimes I close the door on cold nights,
14 AUPE INDEX G
Telephone.
Connection.
ya\\ Septe 24th, 19096
ON i Wr. Flmer C. Rice, Treasurer, Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass. Dear Sir:
We herewith wish to state, that with all Our numerous shipments, we take great pleasure in noticing the fact that they use your breed Of birds. This class of birds has given us and Our customers the best of satisfaction, we having no
complaints whatever Offered us during the entire past seasOne
We have asked a large majority of our shippers where they at first purchased their stock to go into business, and fina your name at the top of the list.
There is none who takes such an interest in the breeding Of squabs as your firm does, and we assure you that anyone purchasing your stock will be satisfactorily recompensed for his venture, and will always be perfectly satisfied with the Outcome Of using your breed Of birds. We can Only say, they are the best for them to handle, and past experience has
taught us they will make more money in shorter time, DOING
BUSINESS DIRECTLY WITH YOU, than with anyone else. Lo eee
Yours very truly, SWBruca B,
Ald IE INDIO WEe 315
HOW TO TRAIN HOMERS TO CARRY NEWS, by Alfred Lloyd. To obtain best results in condition and endurance in the flying game regularity in feeding and exercise is nec- essary. We generally fly the birds three times a day, about thirty minutes to a fly, for a week orso. After that we give them one hour three times a day. Our first toss would be two miles; the second toss five § miles; the third, ten miles; the fourth, twenty miles; the fifth, thirty-five miles; the sixth, fifty miles; the seventh, sev enty-five miles, and the eighth, one hundred miles. After that the birds ought to fly one- hundred-mile jumps right up to five hundred miles. ‘
Of course one might takea bird from the loft and jump it to five hundred miles and have it come back, but it is simply a chance. I jumped one my- self from thirty-five to five hun- dred miles, but it took five days to get home.
The above training applies to mature birds, but for train- ing young birds it is different. Young ones should not be flown before they are three months old, and it is better to wait un- tilsix months. There are more Homers whose training begins at six months than at three. Young Homers should not be given more thana hundred-mile fly for the first three tosses. The best way is to give them tosses of three, five, ten, fifteen and twenty- five miles. After that, they can stand jumps from twenty-five to one hundred miles.
The picture on this page shows an opening guarded with wires set where the window of the squabhouse generally is, or at the end of the flying pen. The bird pictured has just completed a flight and is about to push the wires further and drop down into the middle of the coop. As soon as the bob wires move out from a vertical position, the electric cir- cuit is made by the contact breaker and the electric bell rings to inform the owner that the bird has arrived home. Two cells of dry battery are shown in the picture, also the electric bell. The battery and bell may be set anywhere on the premises, even two hundred feet away in the residence of the owner, if desired. As soon as the bird has dropped into the pen, the wires fall back toa vertical position and the bell stops ringing. A battery of two cells would cost fifty cents. An electric bell costs about fiftv cents. The wiring would cost half a dollar more. The bob wires and frame cost about twenty-five cents a wire. You can buy them with two, four or six wires, etc. The whole outfit is in- expensive, and is the source of much pleasure
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BOB WIRES WITH ELECTRICAL ATTACHMENT,
and enjoyment. The bent wire and cord shown in the picture are for the purpose of raising all the bob wires by a pull from the back of the squabhouse, so that the birds can go out for their exercise. The cord is released so that the bobs will drop and be in position for tripping when the first bird comes home.
HOUSE TO HOUSE CANVASS, by William H. Woodruff. As wehave no very large quantity of squabs, our method has been to make a house-to-house canvass for custom- ers. This prevents creating demand without supply, as advertising would do. We have sold squabs for over two years and have al- ways received at least seventy cents a pair to private trade. We shipped a dozen to New York and got $2.55. From this express charges were deducted. The best plan, es- pecially with a small flock, is to build up and hold a good private trade.
SALT BAKED IN CANS, by A. L. Thomp- son. I take a common empty tin fruit can and punch holes in the bottom for drainage, then fill with salt, and dampen, after which I put in the oven and bake hard. You can put these cans in any place in the squab- house and if you lay them on the side, the pigeons cannot soil the salt. One end of the can is open, the other end closed.
316
MISS DUNHAM’S PROFIT-PAYING SQUAB PLANT.
HOW TO CURE SQUABS IN NEST OF CANKER, by M. C. Martin. It is a well- known fact that Venetian Red paint is one of the best regulators for poultry in general. I have ¢ried this on squabs repeatedly and it invariably cures the canker in three or four days. Have some Venetian Red paint in the squabhouse, and whenever you see a pair of squabs looking sickly, examine the mouth. If you find a cheesy deposit, take a pinch of the paint between thumb and forefinger and drop into the open mouth. Do this morning and evening for three or four days and the canker is gone.
This plan may be used with old birds, but they very seldom have canker and are more difficult to catch twice a day, but with squabs it is a matter of only a few minutes to straighten up several dozen of them.
Venetian Red is a fine regulator and may be used in the drinking water to ward off canker but to cure the ailment it must be administered in larger quantities as explained above. The droppings become red, showing that the paint has passed completely through the alimentary canal and cleansed the di- gestive system of impurities collected which have caused the canker. ae
Venetian Red is a powder which retails in a paint store for five to ten cents a pound, but in a drug store you may be charged fifty cents a pound for it, and some poultry remedies have it in fancy package style at the rate of a dollar or more a pound.
FLAXSEED INSTEAD OF HEMP, by Paul Gosser. I feed some flaxseed to my pigeons besides hemp. Flax is cheaper and the pig- eons like it nearly as well as hemp. My pigeons like lettuce leaves very much. In the morning I throw some into the pens and at noon they are alleaten. I sell all my squabs in Pittsburg. I get from $3 to $4.50 a dozen for them.
APPENDIX -G
HOW I MAKE MY SMALL FLOCK PAY WELL, by Mary Dunham, I bought six pairs of the best Homers in October, 1904, After studying them and breeding them for a year I bought twenty- four pairs more in Octo- ber, 1905. In June, 1908, I bought twelve pairs more and in October, 1908, an- other twelve pairs.
All of my birds were bought from the same source. They have all kept steadily at work. One pair has raised ten pairs of squabs a year and there are others which al- most equal them. In the fall of 1907, I began tosave the squabs from the best breeders. I had to keep them in the house with my older birds because I had no other pen for them. They disturbed the breeding pairs somewhat but the following spring they mated and got down to work.
I sell all the squabs I can raise to the local marketman. At first there was no sale for them in my Connecticut city, except in the summer when the wealthy people from the larger cities were sojourning here, but the marketmen bought all I had last winter.
When ready for market my squabs weigh from two pounds totwo and one-half pounds a pair. They are white and fat and the dealer has complimented me about them many times. I find the business very interesting and would like to engage in it more extensively if I could get more time to devote to the birds but it is impossible to do so at present.
I am often praised for the fine appearance my birds make when out in the flying pen. Last week a gentleman told me my little house is the neatest and the birds the finest looking he had ever seen.
NO NEED TO GRIND PIGEON MANURE, by Harry Howe. Having read in the maga- zine the different methods of handling pigeon manure for the making of commercial fer- tilizer, I will tell you the result of my own experience. I take the cleanings and then pack them in barrels. When I have several barrels of them, I form a pile outdoors con- sisting of a layer of manure, then a layer of loam, sprinkling each layer with air-slaked lime until it shows white. Keep on until you haye used all the manure on hand, then cover the top well with loam, and wet the whole pile. After a few days, when it com- mences to steam, it should be well turned over, repeating the turning over three or four times. You will finally- have a fertilizer as fine as sugar which can be thoroughly dried and bagged, or used at once. This for a variety of crops cannot be beaten.
APPENDIX G 317
WHY I PREFER SQUABS TO CHICKENS, by Mrs. Lizzie A. Trout. I wish to keep on increasing my flock of pigeons as I like the work better than raising chickens. I have learned that if one would succeed in squab raising he must like it and by so do- ing acquaint himself with the little things that are of great value to the success- ful squab raiser. The following are important points: care of the birds, what to feed, how to feed and when to feed.
My squabhouse is built on the slope of a hill facing the south and as this is a warm and pleasant loca- tion I do not have frozen squabs in the winter. I give them tobaccostems to - build their nests and by frequent cleaning give no chance for the lice to live in my squabhouse. I find that to givea variety of feed is the best. A good mixture is six quarts of sifted cracked corn (not too fine, because if it is fine it takes out much of the meal from the corn, which otherwise would help to fatten the squabs), six quarts whole wheat, two quarts buckwheat, two quarts Canada peas and two quarts kaffir corn. Every other morning I give them a few handfuls of millet seed and twice a week hempseed. I think this is a good mixture for them. I also keep within their reach char- coal, salt, fine oyster shells and a grit of which the old birds are fond. Before I used this coarse grit, I noticed that a few of my hens would prefer being out in my outside pen or yard, and were in a constant hunt for some- thing, and trying to pick up bits of gravel and stone. It appeared to me that perhaps a coarse grit might be a help to these birds and I find it did the work well.
I always try not to have left over any feed, or very little, until the next feeding time. so I know that their grain will be sweet and clean. They will be more eager for their feed. I do
not like the idea of throwing feed on the floor —
and they will get the feed more or less dirty even if you do clean the floor once a week. I feed in a box six feet long, two feet wide and three inches high. The birds cannot scatter the feed in this way very much. This box is large enough for a loft of fifty pairs as they never all feed at the same time. Feeding should if possible always be at the same hours, seven o’clock in the morning and four o’clock intheevening. This will give the birds plenty
BLUE-BARRED RACING HOMER.
A beautiful flyer bred by Paul F. Miller which has covered five hundred miles in one day.
of time to feed their young before night. I wash my fountain and give my birds fresh water twice a day in winter and three times a day insummer. They.are as glad for the nice fresh spring water in the hot summer day at noon as vou would be fora plate of ice-cream.
As to my choice in chicken or squab raising, I prefer by far squab raising. There is not half the work, with much quicker results and feed for the purse. No unruly hens to contend with. No squabs to run after when a rain is coming. They are already cared for. No lamp to fill and trim, no thermometer to watch, no eggs to turn, no trays to change. The old birds do all this work themselves. No wind to blow out the brooder lamp and chill the squabs at night. All this vou must con- tend with if you want to raise chickens.
Feed your pigeons the right kind of feed, give them plenty of fresh water. Then they will care for the squabs themselves and in four weeks’ time the squabs will be ready for market. There is a field for prosperity in squab raising.
When President Taft started on his 1909 trip, he was given a banquet by the Boston Chamber of Commerce. One line in the menu was roast squabs, two thousand in number.
318
FIRST-CLASS HOMERS, SILVER AND SPLASH.
Plymouth Rock Homer stock produces squabs which sell for $3.50 to $6 a
dozen in Utah, unplucked.
SQUAB PIE, by James Y. Egbert. Dress, draw and singe four squabs. Stuff them with the chopped livers, hearts and gizzards and fine bread crumbs, mixed with chopped pars- ley, a large lump of butter, pepper and salt. Run a small skewer through the body of each, fastening the wings to the sides. Cover the bottom of your bake-dish with thin strips of ham. Season with chopped parsley, pepper and salt. Over these lay the squabs. Be- tween every two squabs put the yolk of a hard-boiled egg, and three or four in the center. Cover the squabs with a_ thick brown gravy. Cover this pie with puff-paste end ees in a moderate oven for an hour and a half.
BRAISED SQUAB. Clean, wash carefully. Put a large olive in the body of each. Bind legs and wings neatly to the sides of the birds. Fry six or eight slices of fat salt pork in the frying-pan until crisp. Strain the fat back, lay in the squabs and roll them over and over in the boiling grease until seared on all sides. Take them up and keep hot. Add a tablespoonful of butter to the hot fat, and fry an onion, sliced, in it. Lay the squabs on the grating of the roaster. Pour the boiling fat and onion over them. Add a cupful of stock. Cover and cook steadily for three-quarters of an hour. When the squabs are done wash with butter, dredge and brown. Remove to a hot dish and make the gravy. Serve with currant jelly.
APPENDIX G
STARTED SMALL, GREW UP BIG IN UTAH, by Walter Bramwell. Two years ago I purchased twenty pairs of the best Homers. Being cashier of a small bank in a country town, much of my time in the morning and afternoon was unoccupied. I sent for the birds out of curiosity and for recreation and study. They immediately impressed meas being very interesting. My little flock commenced operations shortly after arrival and as they rapidly increased in number my interest in- creased in proportion.
It required little time for me to discover that my Homers, properly handled, were money makers, and to that end I have built up a fairly large business, hav- ing now more than twenty- five hundred breeders,
At first my plant was in a small town but in the meantime I have moved to the largest and best city in the State.
The market conditions at that time were verymuch undeveloped and when I would mention squabs there would bea round of laughter from my friends. However, to-day, through persistent effort and the production of first-class squabs, the demand is greater than I can supply.
During the present winter I will enlarge my plant to four or five thousand breeders, and later on will be prepared to furnish all squabs desired by my patrons. My customers con- sist of cafe, club, hotel and railroad officials, who buy the best, and whose patronage is very satisfactory to me, because Iam not compelled to sell to commission men and can thus de- mand a larger price for my product.
The price in this State is from $3.50 to $6 per dozen, undressed.
The future for the business here appeals to me as being a very bright one and I feel con- fident that my business stunt of squabs will reward me handsomely.
The business is attractive and profitable be- yond expectation, provided the proper atten- tion and skill are exercised that would be de- manded in other lines where success is at- tained. I am delighted with my birds and business and trust all who are or may be in- terested in the same line will have their efforts crowned with success.
PECULIAR COLOR RESULT, by C. C. O’Neal. About the young birds from the cross of two Carneaux males with two white Homer females, generally they are of solid black piu- mage, sometimes dark-shaded checkers,
AVE ENIX G
HOW A BIG OHIO PLANT SHIPS SQUABS, by F. J. Bunce. On Monday morning while the attend- ant is watering, and before the birds are fed, the rounds of the pens are made and all of the squabs that have dropped to the floor over Sunday are placed ina crate, and these with enough more to make six dozen, are re- moved to the killing room
for the early morning start. AE
These are enough squabs to run the pickers several hours and give the breeders plenty of time to feed the young before more squabs are re- quired for the killing room.
There is no set age at which a squab should be marketed. Some will be ready at three and a half weeks, some at four and some not until five weeks of age. If the squab on the nest is solid and plump and is full feathered under the wing, it is ready for the market. Do not hurry them off the nest un- less it be absolutely necessary to fill an order, as a few days longer on the nest may make ten-pound squabs of birds that would not weigh more than eight pounds if dressed too soon.
We do not suspend the squabs from a string to pick them, as the most of the large plants do, but pick them in the hand. Our picker has always contended that he could pick a squab while the other picker was hanging his up and taking it down.
Place the left hand around the base of the wings after drawing them together and draw the head back between the thumb and first finger. Insert the killing-knife well back in the mouth and draw'it sharply upand forward, twisting the knife as you remove it from the mouth. Care should be taken not to insert the knife too deeply into the brain, as the birc will bleed too freely and cause the skin to set before the feathers have been removed.
As soon as the incision has been made, re- move the wing and tail-feathers first, follow- ing this with the neck, and then the balance of the body.
The squabs are then placed in the buckets to remove the animal heat. When the buck- ets become full, the bodies of the squabs are washed off, the blood is removed from the mouth and the filth from the feet, and they are placed in another and larger tub, where they remain until it is time to pack them.
We wish to say here that we never leave the squabs in the tanks over night, if we can avoid it, as they are apt to get soft. If un- avoidable, ice the water heavily, but always do your best to get them out on the first train for their destination.
319
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EXTERIOR OF ONE OF THIS OHIO PLANT'S HOUSES.
Never use a box for packing your squabs as some will recommend, for the simple reason that the express messengers will up-end the package, also pile other boxes on your ship- ment, and when it reaches your market, your commission man reports it arrived in bad order and you are given a nice little cut in your remittance.
We use a small keg for small orders and a cracker barrel for larger shipments. First fill your barrel or keg with water and let it stand until it drains out to swell it, then line it with a good grade of white parchment paper to make it air-tight. This also helps the ap- pearance of your package. Before placing any ice in the package bore a small hole in the bottom of the barrel to drain off the water which would gather from the melting of the ice. Place a iarge scoopful of finely cracked ice in the bottom of the barrel, then place in the barrel in very nice order a layer of squabs, a thin layer of ice and another layer of squabs, repeating until barrel is three-fourths full. Then fill to edge with ice cracked to about the size of a man’s fist. Fold the balance of your parchment paper over the top, remove the hoop, place a piece of burlap over the barrel, replace the hoop and drive down in place, holding it in place with small lath nails. Fasten your express tag to a strong cord or wire and run through the burlap, fastening same securely.
Question: I have bought a set of steel figures to number leg bands but the figure 9 is missing. Answer: To make figure 9 hold the figure 6 die upside down. None of these ects hes both a9 anda6. One die serves for
oth,
FLYING PEN WITH BOB WIRES. The small holes guarded by the bobs can be seen at the top of the flying pen. The pigeons cannot get out unless the bobs are raised. They can enter when- ever they please by pushing back the bobs.
TWIGS ARE GOOD FOR NESTING MATERIAL, by James Y. Egbert. I have tried hay, straw, pine needles, leaves and twigs for nesting material. The birds will use twigs in preference to any other material, building a neat, compact nest lined with a few wisps of hay or straw. I cut the twigs into five or six-inch lengths and place them in a berry crate, then after the squabs are taken from the nest I clean the twigs and replace them in the crate. In this way, the pigeons use the twigs over and over again and the breeder does not have to supply so much new nesting material.
suppose that on the seashore, where Homer pigeons originated, they used twigs lined with dry grass in their nest building.
I find it is a good idea, in preparing my garden, to plant a few rows of sunflowers, and in the odd corners or along the border scattered seeds may be sown. In this way a squab raiser can have all the sunflower seeds he needs for hi> pigeons at a trifling cost. Pigeons are very fond of these seeds and if a breeder raises his own the feed bill is cut down just so much. Sunflowers require little cultivation and will grow and thrive in almost any location.
Question: Are squabs ever scalded before plucking? Answer: Yes, but it is not neces- sary, nor do the dealers want them scalded. They should be dry-picked.
APPENDIX «G
SEVEN YEARS’ PROF- ITABLE XPERIENCE, by P. A. Heiermann. I have been raising squabs for nearly seven years and have found it a good pay- ing business. I started with one pair of common pig- eons. After having them a few months and learning their habits, I bought ten pairs of good Homers. Their squabs were much larger than the common pigeon squabs. I then be- gan tosave all of the largest squabs and banded them so as not to inbreed, and numbered the bands and kept arecordofthem. At present I am getting from $3 to $5 a dozen for my Homer squabs_ dressed, according to size, but at wholesale I get $3.50 a dozen straight through.
I sell most of my squabs at retail, and then cannot supply all my orders.
The city in which I live has.a population of about sixty thousand and I have a home market: for all the squabs I wish to put out. My squab plant is on the car line and can be reached _ from all parts of the city.
I never have donated any squabs to get customers, but at first when I had no market for them I telephoned parties whom I thought would want them and I soon found places to sell. When I got a new customer I always gave him a few of my cards, and by so doing I soon built up a large trade, as a satisfied cus- tomer is the best advertisement.
I feed wheat, cracked corn, peas, kaffir corn, millet, hempseed and other different kinds of grain, but I always keep changing so as not to feed one kind too long. I feed three times a day in long troughs, and do not use any self-feeders, but in the moulting season I do not feed so much. I always keep plenty of fresh water before them at all times, also grit, oyster shells, charcoal and rock salt.
It costs me about $1.25 a year to feed a pair of breeding Homers.
Question: Can you tell me how it comes that one of the pairs of blue checkers has an almost white-feathered squab? Answer: Colored Homers do not breed true to color. Blue checkers may breed blue bars, or blue checkers, or any other color. A white young- ster from colored-plumaged birds is rare, like a white calf from a black bull and black cow, and is generally called a throw-back, or re- version to one of several constituent types. The white Homers breed true to color as a rule.
APPENDIX -G
WHAT ONE PAIR OF CARNEA PRODUCED, by Mrs. . M. White. The first of May, 1908, I bought a pair of Carneaux, In fourteen months I bred forty from that one pair. I send you two films show- ing me feeding my pigeons. In my story you will notice that I say I fed some of the squabs after taking them away from the parent birds. I did this by chew- ing up soda crackers and then moistening them in my own mouth with malted milk. Then I held the squab to my mouth and fed the bird in the ratural way. Any squabs may be readily nourished in this manner. As they grew older, I gave them grain by hand.
In the upper picture Mrs. White is feeding two squabs in the natural way. In the lower picture she is feeding two squabs out of her hand. Her experience with one pair of Carneaux is quite a jolt to those who are afraid of inbreeding. Starting with only one pair of Carneaux, she has done more in _ fourteen months than another might with six pairs in the same period, having turned out a good-sized flock of two-score birds. Ofcourse she could have accom- plished nothing without inbreeding. It was all inbreeding, except the young bred by the orig- inal pair. Her flock are fine, large and rugged birds. This is the record of one pair of good Car- neaux in competent hands.
DELAWARE HOTELS PAYING $4.50 A DOZEN, by N. H. Case. I can sell my four-weeks-old squabs faster than I can raise them. There are three large hotels in my nearest town in this State (Delaware) whose proprietors all say they will give me $4.50 a dozen, foras many asl canraise. They want them killed and bled. They offer me this price for both winter and summer. Each hotel keeper says he can handle from two to two and one-half dozens a day, so it looks as though there ought to be money in them— no expressage and payment on delivery.
321
MRS. WHITE AND CARNEAUX.
I am sure there is a fine opening here for squabs as San Antonio (Texas) is a city of 100,000 population and nothing of the kind here. I never have seen anything but common squabs here and very few of them. A friend, Mr. Hobbs, is working in a near- by country town, and he says they are al- Ways ringing up from San Antonio asking a they can find any squabs.—J. W. Mann,
exas.
322 APPENDIX G
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NORTH CAROLINA SQUABS IN OPEN AIR, by ulius A. Caldwell, M.D. e have been experiment- ing with twenty-five pairs of the best Homers. We put them in a wire pen 24 feet x 12 feet x 12 feet built against an old house whose roof projected out about five feet. This afforded some protection from the
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CANADA COTE BUILT OF COTTON CLOTH, by F. V. Dickson. It may be of in- terest to your readers to hear something about a Canadian squab plant.
Last fall I tried the experiment of building a squabhouse with cotton walls, two stories in height. Ordinary cotton, at ten cents per yard, was used. This was tacked to the up- right scantlings, which were set at a proper distance to suit the width of the cotton. Poul- try netting was put on outside of the cotton. On the east side, from which direction come our prevailing high winds, another thickness of cotton was put on. This house was cheap to build, and is light, dry,:and airy. It is cold, but I have as vet seen no harm resulting from that cause. A number of my birds have been occupying it during the past winter, and they have done as well, and raised as many squabs, as any of my other birds. At present the flock consists of about three hundred and sixty pairs of birds. For the squabs I get $4 a dozen, the buyer paying the express charges.
Question: What, if any, is the difference between the squab-breeding Homer and what is generally called the Carrier pigeon? If the Homer is not the same as the pigeon generally used for long-distance flights, can it be trained for such flights? Answer: ‘There is no dif- ference between the squab-breeding Homer and the message-carrying pigeon. A carrier pigeon is a Homer which has been trained. There is a variety of pigeons known as English Carriers, but these are not used for message carrying. Everybody breeding squabs from Homers can fly the young which he is raising.
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SPLIT PEAS, by Edward Gerhard. A good tonic for pigeons is horse radish. Plant it close up to the fly- ing pen so the birds can get at the leaves to eat them. They are very fond of them. I feed my pig- eons split peas, which they enjoy. These peas do not cost me very much. I get them for seventy-five cents a bushel. It is the cheapest feed that I buy. With wheat at $1.20 a bushel, it does not pay to feed very much wheat. I am raising squabs weighing from twelve ounces to sixteen ounces apiece, with the help of mysplit peas. These squabs make the finest eating any one can have placed before him
ONE YEAR’S WORK, by’ Ward Edwards. One year ago this month I purchased four pairs of the best Homers. I now have one hundred and thirty-five pigeons in all. Of course they are not all old enough to raise yet, but if they continue to raise as fast, by another year I will have over a thousand. I should have bought more breeders and not had to wait this long for them to multiply. I have followed the directions in Rice’s Manual very closely and had no trouble with my flock. I have kept close track of my matings and have had little or no trouble of inbreeding. I sell many squabs to private tesidences and although raising to multiply have made a nice little sum along with it.
eS Dee SSS
Question: Is rye a good food for pigeons? Answer: If cheap and pure, it is useful in connection with the other grains, but most rye contains ergot, or false rye, which acts as a mild poison, harmful to both pigeons and poultry. The ergot grains are larger than the Tye grains. When you buy rye, look at the grains and if they are not uniform in size and color, don’t buy.
APPENDIX G 323
FLOCK OF GOOD HOMERS, by Leroy Wiles. The two squabs in the picture are Homer squabs. The father is a large red checker and the mother is a black Homer. These squabs weighed one pound apiece, when four weeks old. They are black checkers. Both of them turned out to be males. One is now mated and has a nest with two eggs. I banded the one that is mated with one of the bands of the usual size and it would just go around his leg, so you can see what a leg he has. The little boy holding the nestbowl is my brother He is nine years old. I amnineteen. I think that he is going to be just like me in regard to pigeons, as he likes to go out with me and watch them eat and feed their young ones. I have some more squabs growing up and I think they will be fully as large as the two in the picture.
I SELL SQUABS FOR FIVE CENTS AN OUNCE, by W.E. Blakslee. I have a way for keeping young squabs in the nests made around on the ground. I nail four pieces of board a foot long into box shape and set it over the nest. — This keeps the squabs quiet and the old birds have free access to them all the time. The young birds cannot get over the top of it, and the old ones can easily get into it for feeding them any time.
I find it a simple matter to work up more trade than one wants if you go at it in the right way. I adopt the plan of selling my birds by weight—five cents per ounce. When asked what my price is, and I tell them this they exclaim that they can buy all the squabs they want for forty-five cents apiece. There are many flocks of common pigeons in this surrounding country. I don’t run down the birds that they are buying, nor do I stand and argue the question with them. I ask them to weigh the birds they buy and see what my price would make them cost. They find they are getting more six and seven- ounce birds than anything else and at my price they would cost only thirty and thirty- five cents instead of forty-five cents. They come back to me and want to see my squabs and are astonished at the size of them. They find I have squabs instead of jack-knives to sell. Most of my squabs are eleven and twelve ounces. I have some eight and nine
MY BROTHER AND MY BIG HOMER SQUABS.
and I have a good many twelve to fourteen. I have no trouble in making customers under- stand that they are getting meat for their money—for they have proved the fact to their own satisfaction. When you have the right squabs, your biggest trouble is too many wanting them.
Question: Do you know of any way to dispose of pigeon wings? It seems to me that there must be some concern which buys them. Answer: The wings of the colored Homers are not used to any extent on women’s hats, but the wings of white Homers or white pigeons of any kind are in active demand by milliners. Wholesale milliners try to buy these for ten cents apiece. They sell them to the retailers for thirty cents to fifty cents apiece, and when the milliner makes up the hat for her customer she gets from $1 to $2 for the white wing. I would advise you to sell your white wings for at least twenty-five cents each.
Question: One young Homer that hatched had a great deal of white in it, although the old ones were blue. Is this liable to hap- pen any time? Amswer: Yes. The colored Homers do not breed true to color.
WELLE
WIRE NAILS INSTEAD OF CLEATS.
Question: I would like to inquire if stale bread crumbled into small pieces about the size of corn would be good to feed to squabs. I do not mean exclusively but at times. I have a large bakery and have considerable stale bread which I thought I might be able to use to good advantage in connection with the squab business. Answer: Yes.
Question: Do pigeons breed as well on the seashore as inland? Awnmswer: I think so. The species originated in the cliffs on the seashore, according to the ancient writers. I have seen a fine flock of squab breeders at Buzzards Bay, where they fly out over the salt marshes and get a good deal of their living from small snails, eaten shell and all.
Question: Can peat moss be used for nesting material? Answer: Yes, and it will drive away lice. It is good for nests for setting hens (fowls) for the same reason. An attempt was made in Indiana to use this peat moss for upholstering furniture but this did not work very well. It is used for bedding horses.
APPENDIX G
ONE DOLLAR FOR EVERY LOUSE FOUND ON MY BIRDS, by F. Beltran. As I believe in exchanging ideas, I am going to tell you about my last arrange- ment ot nestboxes such as I draw them here. The whole thing is plain. The bottoms rest on only four nails, two on each side, that is all. My aim has al- ways been to have not the smallest hiding place for mites, etc., and when I could not avoid having them, then to have them movable so as to be sure to reach the pests, easily, whenever I wanted. Everything inside of my house is absolutely smooth ana affords no hiding place for those pests that live in the cracks here in our Mexi- can climate. The lice which live on the bodies of the birds would be also a thing of the past in every house of mine, if only the man in charge would keep as close a watch on the squab-raising pens as J] keep on the breeding stock and raising pens, where I would give a dollar for every louse found on the bodies of the birds.
SET YOUR STANDARD HIGH. It is not merely the birds, it is the intelli- gence and skill behind them. In buying breeding stock, whether pigeons or poul- try, of a man you are not buying simply his birds but you buy his knowledge, skill and experience. He has attained a cer- tain standard which may be high or low, as you can judge for yourself by reading what he says, and knowing his record in the business. All Homers and all Carneaux are not by any means alike. The best ones are furnished by the men of most skill and intelligence, because they have set their standard high and do business accordingly. The man of nostanding may offer to sell you birds at half the price of the man whose standing is high, and it almost invariably happens that such birds indeed are found to be worth about half price, because the offering of them at a low price is a confes- sion of the advertiser that he has not a high standard and is not making his birds indis- pensable, but is satisfied to take the trade of people who want the cheapest they can buy, and such people are satisfied with poor stock.
I have seen something in the magazine about high altitudes and dry climates. Up in this part of Canada it is very dry and we have to make our pigeons breed on the ground so as to get the dampness, for the eggs will dry out if they are up on the wall in nest- boxes. So we do not put more than twenty pairs of pigeons in a house twelve by twelve, and we let them build nests on the ground.— J. H. Smith, Saskatchewan.
Question: Are pigeon wings salable? An- swer: The wings of colored Homers are not used to any extent on women’s hats, but the white wings are readily salable to wholesale milliners.
APPENDIX G 325
HOW TO TAKE PIG- EON PICTURES. Almost everybody has a camera these days and with a small one, costing two dollars, it is possible to take excel- lent pigeon pictures. The film can be enlarged to any size.
Choose a day when the sun is out and take them in the flying pen when they are walking around on the ground. Do not take them while they are on the perches because then they are drawn out of shape. They strike a natural and handsome pose when they are on the ground. Youshouldsit on a board on the ground. Hold your camera not over six inches from the ground and point it at the birds. Have a pocketful of hempseed and throw it out to the birds in front of the camera from four to eight feet from where you are sitting. Do not snap the birds while they are pushing and_ scrambling for the hempseed but wait until they have eaten and raised their heads expect- antly as if looking for more. This is the time to press the button. Try to get a group of the birds in this manner, showing six or eight birds. The best view of a pigeon is obtained broad side, but sometimes an excellent picture is ob- tained from the front or even from the back, such a view showing the width of the shoul- ders. Photographs showing squabs_ four weeks old alive or dressed or novelty pic- tures like{the one on this page are always interesting.
COMMON SQUABS TQO SMALL, by Charles F. Manahan. I watch and study the ways and habits of my Homers whenever I have time. I live near a summer resort in Mary- land in the Blue Ridge Mountains and have a small truck farm and haul my vegetables to these cottages and hotels. I think I can sell the squabs from several hundred pairs after I get them introduced, as there is nothing in this neighborhood but common pigeons. Where I sell them, the people say they are the finest they have ever bought. On one occasion I did not have enough and told the person that I could get a pair of a neighbor to make out the number. After I had the head and feathers off, I saw much difference, so I put the pair I got from the neighbor on
months old, squabs just three weeks old.—Gottlieb Pfister, New
GRANDPA, BABY AND SQUABS. I send a photograph of myself and grandchild, Miss Janet Pfister, eighteen
York.
the scales and the two weighed just a pound. I then put one of the Homers on and it weighed fifteen ounces, so the Homer squab weighed only one ounce less than the pair of common ones.
Question: I have been contemplating for two or three months trying the squab business. I wrote to a commission house in Chicago to give me prices on squabs and they quoted me $5.50 per dozen for eight-pounds-or-over squabs. I also wrote to another commission house about the sale of squabs and they sent me a price list in which it priced squabs at $2.50 and $3 a dozen for choice squabs, and as low as $1.50 a dozen. Answer: If you were to go into a hat store and offer a man $1 for a hat which you happened to see and liked, and he should laugh and tell you you could not have it for $1, that the regular price was $3, would you be disappointed because he would not take your $1 and give you the hat? You are not obliged tosell for $1 a dozen just because you are offered that amount.
326
NEW YORK CITY SQUAB MARKET BOOMING, by William R. McLaughlin. The New York City squab market, with which I have been intimately connected for many years, buying and selling to a trade which I know thoroughly, is steadily increasing in demand, especially in January and the fol- lowing eight months, when no game can be had. There is no possibility of overdoing the production, as the squab business is here to stay. There is a good demand all the year round for birds running from seven pounds to twelve pounds to the dozen, at good paying prices, and breeders should place themselves right at the start by buying birds enough to ship from five to ten dozen squabs at a time. In this way they will save considerable on express, as the charge on this quantity is a trifle more than on one, two or three dozen shipments. The very small shipments are unsatisfactory to handle as they do not con- tain enough birds of any particular size to keep a good average scale.
There is no line of goods I handle which has grown so much in the last few years as squabs, especially since the squabs have been sold ac- cording to grade and size, and I believe they will continually crowd to the front. I want squabs all the time.
I know there is nothing around a farm pay- ing any better and holding to a more steady price all year round, than good squabs from seven to nine pounds.
As regards increase, I will say that in one little town in New Jersey where I-started a few shippers and got them to raise according to the scale of selling by weight per dozen, when I first started, the business in that section was something like $5000 a year and has since grown to $25,000 a year, and you could not get them to go-baek to the old way for love or money. They have all made money and grown from small shippers to large ones.
I DO.MY KILLING IN THE EARLY MORNING, by B. F. Babcock. I have two days in each week for the killing of my squabs—Wednesdays for the city markets, and Saturdavs for my home orders. At this time of year (July) I start in killing at five a.m., and have all squabs killed, plucked and delivered by ten a.m. have two covered baskets which I take with me to the lofts and the squabs which are to be killed are put in them. Then they are taken to where I kill and pick them.
I have a boy who does all the killing and helps pick. My wife and myself do the most of the picking. As soon as. the squabs are picked they are thrown into a pail of cold water. For my home trade, I leave them in the water only until all are picked. Their feet and mouths are all cleaned of foul matter, then they are delivered to the customers. do all delivering myself. For the_ city market they are left in the water from five to six hours, according to what train they are to be shipped.
APPENDIX .G
I have at home a large hotel trade, having a standing order of four to six dozen a week. Prices range from twenty-five to seventy-five cents each according to size and weight, the average being about fifty cents each. In shipping squahs to the city markets I pack all squahbs in ice, first putting in a laver of ice, then a layer of squabs. I have not shipped vecy many to the city markets as my home trade takes nearly all that I can raise, but have always when shipping received the highest market prices.
The inexperienced wiil at first find in using the squab killing knife, that they do not stick the squabs right and that some will jive for quite a long time, and have to be stuck the second time. This has been my experience so I tried this plan so as not to let the squabs suffer any.
I made a killing machine, the same as described in the National Standard Squab Book, pages 114-115, which breaks their necks and kills them at once. I then use the squab knife and bleed them. As soon as the squabs are plucked they are at once placed either in a pail or tub of cold water, into which some salt has been put. If you use a twelve-quart pail put in three to four pinches of salt, that is, what you can hold with your thumb and fingers. If a tub is used put in according to size. This will give the squabs the fine white skin desired by the New York market, taking out all the dark or red spots. It also gives them plumpness.
I leave them in water from four to five hours, which takes out all the animal heat. then clean the feet of all foul matter and wash all the blood from their beaks and mouths and wrap their heads in white tissue paper. The paper costs very little and the trouble will more than repay any one. It gives a fine, clean appearance when your dealer opens the box and your squabs will bring the top prices.
I pack all shipments in ice, putting in a layer of ice first, then a layer of squabs, keeping this rotation up until the box is filled, but being very careful not to get the box too full. No breeder will ever be sorry for any extra pains he takes with his shipments, as it will pay in the long run.
SOFTENS PEAS IN WATER, by Elmer Streckwald. I know a woman breeding squabs who softens peas by moistening them in water. Her idea is that they will not be so hard to digest, especially for the young pigeons. I have not tried this myself. Of course they should be softened fresh at each feeding time, or allowed to soak three or four hours before feeding time, for if they were allowed to stay damp over night they would ferment. This woman also feeds her squabs on bread crumbs and she has told me that she finds the use of a moist mixture an im- provement over the dry feeding. This spring I sold my squabs to middlemen in Boston for $4 and $4.25 a dozen. My plant is paying a profit.
INDEX
TO NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK
Africa, Plymouth Rock Homers for...... 128 Alum, use of for canker. = Der ceac il A news agent's side line ..... Pe28 An old man’s success with squabs. . sae ed Antwerp Biceoas: Bh A er ee eee 06 Appendix A.. eer 39) Bet Soro gl os}
Cree 55-0 alte)
IDs 6 5 0 ocr a lltsts)
Pe Mee OO)
G53 oS
Artificial fattening of squabs.. Sata e cee me 110 nitaly.. . 244
eee ae Plymouth Rock Homers to. .263 Average ability necessary to raise sq uabs. seit} Banding squabs. . PPG AG Aa Be eae 7) On leg to show sex. . GMELIN Lee ee
Oruintiswpe er dee Mi ene ee eho ay Mly Seamless. . ee odlalil Barley for feed. 55, 214 Barn loft for breeding loft. 3 60 bet) Baskets, cleaning of. See te eA For shipping pigeons. Sa see TPN ero eo) Bathing necessary for pigeons......... 20m ol In cold weather sasaaee Pere an Oe
In running water. 54.
Bath pan. i 5 By Management oben > 458}
On a pipe. -205 Beginners, troubles of. . Bee LOS Big squab farms. . 1838265 Flock from small beginnings. ..159, 161
169, 201, 269, 271, 279, 299.
Billing and treading. . eel 022240 Bill of fare, squabs on St FLouis . Pee DOS Birds, taming of. ee eon Blood and breeding count ... .188 Branching out in squab business. . -139, 161, 182 Breeding age of pigeons................. 5 aes} Dark-colored squabs .... 71
Master of by mating and banding. ‘ Of pigeons an ancient lens 2
One pair per month. 5 0)
Pen.. 5 Change to when mated. eeOD Changing to Sy, pen 8 Sasreie .249 iraestorcolore..« . nee 1132249 Breeders, shipping of. Br eee SE OT Buckwheat tor feed: .../ sniadeee tei.) 5D iBiildinestonaloktaeee ee nee shee lemon Cost pemlinealfoote ose eee ee seen oe 41 Construction of sass eee ae so Cheapest on record. .....-2.-.2.-...-2¢9 Expensive not necessary.......... 21
Floor of, best to make............ 41
Hen house remodeled......... 110, 170
More than one Story, pigs SARE 2 110, 242
One in Minnesota. eee ONG
Of unit house. . ..3f, 44
Points for location of. saecra DL:
Roof of. . ae oar one Business management necessary. Mea eee ey “120
a
Cabbage as feed for pigeons.... Gil, Toa Canada peas necessary for breeders. aoe Customers, see ‘‘Letter’’ and “Maree § kets.”
Canker, pigeon disease. . . 89 Cleanliness prevents. . 91
Cape Horn, Plymouth Rock ‘Homers around. . 144 Card index system | for loft . aa Care of pigeons. Brie 5 eva Carhome pigeons. ae BOB, Carneaux pigeons. é (297, 239
How to breed fifteen pairs er year .231
Carrier pigeons....... 110 Catching pigeons. SIR NE Wile 104 Cats around loft, how to kill... |. RNa MU ead Cement floor for loft. . ah 43, 112 Ceylon, shipping Homers CORR Nee eel OS, Chair seats for nest bottoms.............205 Changinessqualbstinenes tae nee een S71 Charcoaliform pigeons. 7.0.42 52 oo ose oe ee 20% Cheapest loft on. TECORGM ah fast cen eee OO) Chicago, see ‘‘Markets.’’ City lofts . : Seater 15 In garret of house. SUA Reo Sealine red eae 30 Clamoring for sauabe in State of Washing- ton. Cee OS Cleaning floor of loft. . nog C8 Baskets. . Sih eae Oe Cleanliness essential for success....... 20, 33 Lack of causes failures. . es OO Prevents SHOE oo nas vo nd ae oalllly Coal ashes irritating to pigeons. ...249 Codfish good for pigeons. ere 196 Cold weather does not affect breeding . Beato}, ALP/
Gelert feathers, disregard in mating. 69, is 2
Color of legs. . .102 Colored bands . 3 .198 Commission men want squabs. . ei Letters of Chicase: .1389 Cleveland. . he ..144
Kansas City... nade .144
ING WeVion kaye ny se ee Pia 188-192 Scranton. . Bes ~143
State of Washington. . .149 Common pigeons a failure for squabs . 76, 164 Experiences with. . .129, 286
Five hundred pairs. Pero
For trap shooting. a. Leh
Poor investment. .270 Concrete floor for loft. . Ae eA, Control of mating by banding squabs esti BOF Cost OE keeping pair of pigeons ... .20, 111, 125 Sixty-five cents per pair. .293 Seventy-five cents per pair. are ee 277 Eighty cents per pair... ..... .283, 293 Eighty-five cents per pair......... '913 Cottage squabhouse . .273 Country Gentleman, editorial i in. Fiom 123 Life, editorialin. EEG amr aor Cowameasitontecda ene enn nD 03
1
328
Cracked corn for feed. . dd ashame se tueetor OD From sour grain bad..... rian Lot
Dark loft for new flock.................. 89 Skinned squabs. . eee or eam Daughter cares for flock.................196 Deaf woman's success...................295 Diarrhea, wheat causes............... 2s 00 RicearepulatorOn. . saat se . 2. 102 Doctoring pigeons useless............... 92 Drinking watenes =. ies Stents eee nO) Plenty necessary... ee) Serene y | Fountain. 2. .... Pereeeseseseesees Ol Cleansing of . DAME a rahe OD
From bottle.................. 802 Driving by male......... sit Eee Meaty its OO Earning power of small flock............223 Editorials, Country Gentleman. Se Raion etier LO Country Lije. . Bastien stars Mise oO Designer. . pase SS, SES (5).
Farm Fournal. . Bae tar eneeneea bal | Vick’s Magazine. . Mae eu neuer ee ee oe le,
Egg crates for nestboxes.........-...... 27 Eggs, fertile and infertile. . Se Se oe Bean OD Laying of by pigeon. - faye OS Pigeon laying more than two... ...187 PigeOnM1Ot SO] des tere aie cease LOZ Electric light in loft. Beton Bee 74010) England, shipping breeders to. . 106 Entrails, not removed in shipping squabs. 105 Excess of cocks, how to maga down.......241 Experience with self-feeder...........-.. 20 Of Lunn Brothers...... ore.)
Of Washington, D. ‘C.,man........300
With five hundred common pigeons, 164 Of squab breeders in States, see
“Letters”’. arate aeetoed . 113-302
Express rate on live Hinds ncn escen eye 97,145 Shipments by weight. . eee yall ©) Modlos Angeles’: 22 vee. sands sams GLAD PrepayinSdcvqulese tere) oa oo oe saree LAD, Failures in squab raising, causes of........ 94 Family squab trade in Pennsylvania. .....299
Fanciers prize Plymouth Rock Homers. ..137
Fancy prices not necessary for pean .19, 129 Fantail pigeons... . siaievee Bia eae Farm Fournal, editorial in... EAL Fast work ....155, 180, 193, 215, “216, 221, 224 Twelve out’ ot thirteen pate in twelve daysic ie fea eee =a lk Feather souvenirs. .261 Removing from squabs for market. 83 Feed, as to section of the country. ee eS) And water. ne it yeray Soe Buckwheat for. . eA oo Cabbage good as dainty... Beno | elfeyr/ Canada peas necessary . Sakon gee DO) Corn whole and cracked.. Bs is Oe) In summer. ane) Cracked from sour ‘grain ‘bad... .197 Green as relish .. .61, 187, 199, 202, 280 Hempseed . are 56 Lettuce and parsley. -280, “199
Mixture of grains. 59, 202
INDEX
Feed (continued) Marshmallow weed. . A Old, hard and dry grains. ane Principal grains in your section. ean Ot Properly balanced sas iseiee Gye FOU
iRiceitor diarrhea. ....02 ca ce ae aenemneOe Shivers...... Jat el OS Sprouted grain dangerous AS ee nT Staple feed. Fie ye eee 50 In South Carolina. . welts susGaie ZOO Variety of necessary. oars inte eee) Wheat, red the best. . ca taate ne aus aa esa OO Causes most troubles...........173 Poorasetbacks2.. 2 ashes sen LO White not good. . eae LOS Feeding dainties, . Poly eoay ee salto et SO By hand.. Se TRE eae Sa eens @LOG In Italy. . 22 244 Effect on color of meat. 69 Green feed. . 61, 187, 199, 280 Inself-feeder....... .54, 60, 280 Trough under................-296 Mr. Tyson’s experience.......... 62 Pennsylvania customer. ........280 Locust leaves. . Ee eee Gerseniel Oe Table scraps, never. sain Fett memea eee Twice aday.. : eet OE A Floor of loft, construction of. 41, 43 Cleaning of. . Ae (nas eae aS Flying pen, location of. . S(t SAN RO A ten-foot.. deme LOU For three- story building. . AS One for several units. Pave cites ce LOD Flying, training homers for..............1¢5 Fountain, drinking. . okie wiatigiat tyes, ey (OU Fourteen-fold increase in one year. <a Bomeeco OU Foreign shipment of Seated Rock : Homers: Atricas aot ce: A .128 Australia. ae “212 Canada hase ‘160, 163, 181, 208 Ceylon. . EE AEIG2 nolan di tetas ine ote thee nko deuoaee 106 France. . 129 Wancouverit. ci nicctatisese «6 o0 0% 136 Garret, pigeon leruinise despa nuater meee aecata HOD! Gentian asa tonic. . akan a eee te Getting ahead.. aienah doula eahetetantemt OO Getting prices of squabs. . Haare eee BOS. Going light.. ieee eee emo Good grain for good birds: 266 os bo fo LD Grapevine sticks for nests . Lonnie ake atee oe Gravelinwilying, pene. os see tee 57 Green feed for pigeons............ ‘61, 187, "280 Pigeons crave. eres 199 Grit necessary. td ik eke en iy In protected box. . Peete ere (0) Different from sand. Spicte ands Giallo Glass for grit. emi tenta fee STON, Health grit the best. wanialtvaee sO Hatching, see eden In pairs. ; iereccu acess Health prs the best... 116, 136 Praise for... 5 18 Heat in squabhouse - unnecessary. Meee oe OO Some beneficial. . Pe aieaestepl OS Too much detrimental. . ee arte cattle Used beneficially. . Papeete U0]
INDEX 329 Hempseed necessary . . O6 Laying and hatching (continued) ( Hens laying on floor. . aalaly Drivin sy bycmaa lee yagi nrrenley tt 63 Plymouth Rock hens supplied. . . 182 Treading and billing..........102, 240 Homers, see ‘Plymouth Rock Homers.”” Impregnation by male............120 Bewarelol cheapie! s 2%). 05440: 78 Laying eggs.. i soe OF Crossing with common pigeons.... 77 Period of incubation. . 63, 67 Disregard color in Drecding: .69, 73, 247 Care of squabs. . ao (ls) Marks of. . 76 Hatching in pairs. Sis A EER RSA IOS 102 Nature of to return to o lott. 77) Leg-band outfit...... poocovboougdooonD 116 White.. : nous 220 Letters, reasons for printing............ 152 Hospital trade. for squabs. . .139 Originalsionsiless ere ane een 153 Hotel keeper raising. . .179 Letters, a few 0m successful ee ers. aes é Iiceinishippingsquabsm says sss 05. ‘Alabama... 133, 161, ane Illustrations, index to. 10 AE ane 455,158, 183 Importance of good stock. . SON Aare had sya) C BERGE 2 198, 129, 131/134" 136" 154 Importance of mated pairs in loft. . 17 aul on 189, Tee ee ee es eee Canada........... 160,163, 181, 208 rm colorado. Reranch jr pair... ae ie anes 1134, 159, 160, 204 One pair per month possible. . 75 claware Increase of flocks of customers: Geeae ac 157, 160, 198, 205 Heo) G10. 124 Bees nas Illinois. .. ..134, 160, 165, 171, 195, 197 3 to 87 pairs. a | ees oe ie Indian Territory ih aiaval Siatsisisinvetel tarsi atoee 208 Siton48 pairssaae teen 133 Indiana. . vets 133, 293 36 to 150 pairs..............133 early esninonia 254 12 to 350 pairs..............159 owa -129, 132, 1 195, 271 6to 5Opairs.............,160 Kansas... .. 9, 269 25 to 138 pairs..............161 Kentucky. . 128, 135, 163 80 to 500 pairs 164 Louisiana. . Hise 157, 161,178 6 to 100 pairs. Bay Coen RTE Massachusetts . IRR, 136, 139, 154, 164 Gio sil Sipairseeae eee LOD 169, 225, 400, GOjto200 pairs eee ee) Michigan -. 128, 131, 159, 163, 174, 271 12to100 pairs..............191 Minnesotaeecmemceereincice 159, 181, 267 196300 pains. cl. an 1) 4645195 Maine... -132, 161, 164, 254 19 to 250 pairs..............269 Maryland... 3 -171 UGitoAOOpairseee ee eal Missouri. . 128, 161, 164, 167, 214 12 to 325 pairs..............274 Montana.. .135, 203, ae 301 12 to 350 pairs..............279 Nebraska. . 165, 191 30to 180 pairs............ ..299 New Jersey. 128, 130, 134, 163, "168, 170 Monsixweeksi eee alos al63 N eee 65 ee three months ...... .136, 160 Noe Farapehiees : . 144, Hee oreeente ss unary New York 182, 157, 160, 165, 176,188 Bee ae one North Carolina. .127, 134, 167, 178, 259
Six-fold increase in one year. .292 Twenty-one fold increase in
Uy ep eat PUN Ri ee DOD
Inbreeding. . eta ies rae ome MMe eho el OS Against. . a dlBY/ Instruction in Manual prevents sickness... .131 llowavaigoodisquab State. .o 4s eee en Le WA iirCOETec eras ae Oe oes ee eae 56 Killing and cooling squabs............ 79, 104 Ma chines ivan en rere ae eee crete 114
Wart hilenih es ees So Sa aa 117 Kernidness prontables sree so eee 187 Large flocks are successful. . 94
Large orders of Plymouth Rock ‘Homers, “163 165, 169, 201. Lawyera successful Lan Clearer ie OG Payinewandshatchings sere seein ae 63 Wecountiot by, Dixoniny.ace vere: 240
Lettuce as feed...
Ohio a . 128, 134, 136, 158, 160, 163, 173 Oklahoma. . : . 201, 254 Oregon.. é 133, 159 Pennsylvania . ,.132 nis3e 134, 180, 193 280, 299, 301. Rhode Island. ..... inte . 160, 164 SouthwDalkotayasmree .175, 202 South Carolina........... -210, 224, ae Tennessee. . Texas. . .128, 135, 157, 169, 218, “3E5 Utah. be ob 0 bee, 70) VErmiOnte he cia eer ee ere 267 Virginia. .......159, 160, 168, 273, 295 Washington..... 127, 128, 134, 163, 211 West Virginia........ 210, 211, 255, 299 IWASCOnSINEE Eee 172,174, 184, 212 : .199, 250 Lice, tobacco stems remedy f for eee Dust remedy for. Peat tet "193
330
Lime, slaked on floor of house ...... .201, 202 ive Stockiexpress rate: - 5 s.ces sseeie che 97 Loft, see ‘‘Building.”’
Pays better than farm ac se cere «lid
Locust leaves for feed. +P
bane distance shipments ‘of Homers .. 165.
Loss of pigeons by sickness, see “P. R. Homers.”’
Loss by not knowing Biymou Rock
Bo COE, 144, 162
Homers. . eer . .196 Lost one breeder in three. years. Hons eELOO Manual, purpose of.. we ee LOL
Facts backed ‘by ¢ evidence.......... 152 Practical. vid sua as ana LOO Worth $10 toacustomer..........290 Manure, sale of pigeon........... Sonl4 (lie Marshmallow weed for feed..............187 Mating age of pigeons. sr Se A RAE ety LOS According to nature. one peony al pole feathers, disregard ir in. . 69, 43 24 Equipment at Melrose Farm... ....180 Master of by banding Puna eee 72 Pigeons. . : .. .67, 96 To avoid inbreeding See eee (a0l03 Two ways of.. ber Ne eA Oates OL Mating coop............-. Sates 0 ean eR o1°) SIZEIOLE mace sis ais ee sce ae LOS: Markets. chaptenOn. ss. 022 sce eee seen 83 ATI ATISAS tie a kaye cere ae eee OS: BOSON: sine eeceds tans oe eee ee, ZO Canadas .:. scales eae ee ell 209N2 76 Caliiorniaussa eee eo Onoe a ries SOO eee Rea 16, 139, 274. Cleveland. . es oe el Colorado. . Rea :287 District of Columbia...... 197, 257, 275 Elmira, N.Y... Peers F200 Indian Territory... es 254 Iowa.. Se ee (17, 297 Kansas City... ote 144, 152, 167 Louisiana. . Bae eee Meee ee ..214 Minnesota. . coca .188 New Jersey.. By nce ‘172, 201, 913, 296 New York...... 141, 149, 182, 185, 192 Ohio.. - 159 Oklahoma. . ee ct a ienane pd Pennsylvania. . Ba .299 Pittsburg. . Sur -152, 246, 290 Rhode Island. . = eke :175 Scranton. . Sn. hes AS Saratoga Springs. . Oo ee Ae ODO South Carolina...................197 SUROUIS aah nek. hee te ee? SUmiinemres Onis pss suse ane 139 Texas. . Seer, & eeZoor eke Washington... techs -149, 197.5 Qo to Wisconsin. . ag Sis 219 Messengers, Homers as. eM Se ahr oil: Millet for feed. Pe en OO Minister, pigeons for recreation. eee LOO Mixed feed. pane 202 Moulting, Homers not work during. . enlOo Feed sunflower seed ae palais Moving eggs and squabs.. J ac 245
NADDIESY Hic dieletinseisiiis erate stenare aun ieie stare AO
INDEX
Nestbowls and pans. ..i...0..ecceene00.. 45
INGiech oletshex cyto) PPP eG acre ee LUE
Sie an Pict wheat d eleeaetars FAO OG
Trowel for.. Saishardeesataaat Seamer La
Necessary.. aia thar sapere OD)
Ordering and d shipping. . oes ecenog a Nesting material. a
‘In manure....... 149, 179/208
Grape sticks for. . Se 223
Twigs for. ; Sisal 281
Nests on floor. . Popes eee ea sea
News agent’s side line. . .128
Dee quotations of squabs . : 84, 119, 149
New. York squab qaotaons: expnatien of. ENE ag Le ‘World, editorial.
: 127 Commission merchants s ..185, 188, 190
192. Nineteen to'500) pairs... .2..-2+.0. sees 2 1269 Nestboxes. . Smee ai eee Number and location............. 29 Cleaning of.. cee ees. cae eR OR Construction of........ S20 tO ORAS Covering front of. . Bese ogticinan a eLOO! Lime in. . ares eS PT OAT Of exe crates. . Le Oo ber Pak Picture of. . Pee he. ae ee OD, Oats not liked by pigeons. Tene .174 Old man’s success. .187
One-pound squabs ‘from Homers 173, 175, 181 218, 258, 282, 283.
One sick bird in 18 months’ spree dine .. 158 Orders for supplies... ... aera h Ot @ystershellitor pigeons= 223. a.6 ca sleet. OM Packing and shipping squabs......... 104, 105 Partitions in loft. ee. 44 Paying plant in handsome building. . -200 Perches, construction of........... 25, Sie 32 Of tobacco caddies... ....-...-..-246 Pipeoniarl ments cs.cesd.c teeter oe cease ena, OO) Canker. . Peer tats, Alum a preventive ‘and cure... . . Ol Cleanliness prevents.......... 91 Diarrhea, CatiSes) acs os wepeeaee eoeneie 56 Ricea FreHIAGON Ob. shee 62 Going light... ahdteldee PA are OD, Shivers 5.54. 32 warner wide: sae OD Pigeon eggs not sold. . Se anges acta, sage OD, Pigeons sold in pairs. lOS Pigeons, see “Plymouth Rock Homers.” Around Cape Horn. . Sessa Me Ae Crave green food. os etna BOD Difference in feeding squabs. Rear as 725. oH Doctoring sick, useless..... 93 Flying a Ways cee wees ‘180, 220, 249 Wild. Pane ioe oi .104, 175 Hens supplied. . nae aS Importance of good Stock ene 134 Keeping wired in.... .104 ae sale of... ROS lA 7aeli79 Mat $693 71-0103 Shipped 3000 miles........ .183 Pine'needles for mestSe. c.acc: cen he ete oe OO Planning for large IG faye ee Bs Plymouth Rock Homers. 5. 2). -.yacmsl en WhO Always healthiyiiacs ails uenberaitenae 157
INDEX
Plymouth Rock Homers (continued) order a day oom eeitorne and
Washington. . Bee ee eer aliat: Ata christening. . Hames 91168 Allat work in six ‘weeks... S56 cutlets) Blood and breeding count .... .183 Bred by United States Government 156 Best along the line. 3 . 204
In National Pigeon Shown a137
Breeders . 134, "135, 155, ae 174, 182
Better than claimed. | 174, 199 - Convinces by success. ............133 Complimented by expert judge Hace 175 Extras superior to Runts.........157 Exxpert tributes tonesne ne ctmnae. seecao HasyitOmalscame ieee eee ee oo ee eee cea Specie aiahel Greil AACA ARONA For South Africa. . esate ZS Five weeks’ work. . eee el oO
Five dollars per dozen prove qual ity 5 le} Gand ‘showing i in one month........ 165 Homers vs. common pigeons. . 147 In Washington University. . .156 Long journeys. .144, 154, 162, 165 Large order follows small. aeGS _ Making money in Missouri......... 128 Make clean sweep of prizes....... .136 News agent’s side line............128 No trouble raising. .128 None lost by sickness. 129, 155, “159, 160 171, 210.
None lost for 14 months...........196 Neversaw, better.) .)0.. 2005.2... 132 Nothing equalto.............161, 176 No medicine used for.............201 Other Homers not equal to........132 Others have not qualities of. ......223 Perfect shipment to France........ 129 Plump squabs from. . Poses Coin oO), Prized by fanciers. . SAS ie/ Prize winners . .136, 137, “202, 203, 260 Practical demonstration of. .162
Sully at work. . .,180, 215, 216, 221
Twelve out of 13 pas in 13 egeye: 211 Racing with. 189
Rugged stock. . Lag ENO Ek rs 5A Resultsttellifor- me. ees ee 174 Shipping of breeders. . M97
Strength and vigor shown by long
journeys. .144, 154, 162 165 Success for eight weeks. 5060 dle Successful experiment with. 3 oodles} Satishied! customers.) sae 127 Superior tojalltothers=- 4 sees. LoL Steady growth of. Saar Mer sae Ce LO) Two years’ experience with.. eG To be relied upon. . . 134 Three hundred twelve - pairs to Colo-
rado.. We rivatetin vee rae
Plymouth Rock Squab Company.......... 113 Appreciation of from Texas cus-
tomer. malts: Complimented “bs 7 California cus-
tomer. fon AS
Dealers advised ‘to buy of: 5 oo llets)
Gave extra pairs with order. 54 He)
331
Plymouth Rock Squab Company coreiated: Generously treats customers.
Good words from competitor....... “Toe Guarantee of good............130, 168 Generous and honest.............. 160
Had monopoly of trade for six years. Mak teea ian irae) Only place for | pure ‘stock. elo) Pleasant to do business with. . .132, 158 Postmaster’s progress with squabs........ 223 Poultry papers, squab oruclss IT cee ep aS. Pouter pigeons... SOe a eee Ed Profits vary with individual. . cee pat ea | age Of $3000 to $5000 Ber year. Aenea) Per pair of breeders. ae Wc eme re Cah Progress in eleven months.............. .280 Pulling tail feathers of young. Nayar, @LOG Quail, laws governing sale of......... 118, 182 Quick start of 700-pair flock. : . 201 Questions and answers. .101
Quotations of squab prices .
(84, 119, 186, 246 Explanation of. ‘ . 85
Racing Homers.. areca aes LOA Plymouth Rock Homers..........189 Raising pigeons on sea-coast............ otha Rates of express on live pigeons. : 99 Rats, prevent breeding pinecs Obie (23, “aes ee
In ground under loft. . : :
To get rid of.. Ee Soe Rearing pen. Peaatrae ica opr oa eR Red wheat for feed.. ae 56,117 Rice for diarrhea. . tec ens 282 Rock salt for pigeons. eee os 201 Roof, construction for loft... Segtsreat 43 Roosts, CONSEGUCTIOMOL steels ctl: eee)
Of eopacce) CAddicSHr Ee Centre +0 Runt pigeons. . CREDEE e wcehclt) Loh OG
Failures. : ek
Not desirable. . atest eel cleioe icra aut Salt cat... EG OLE ERGO e cioateieiey cl gles
Use of: 228! irene len ye UO
Necessary for pigeons. Be esc es Gill
Rock salt best. . iehye eiepteece ene (il Self-feeder. Pibrsco EPP R DED
Trough under. . SS Oo OTERO tLe Sexsideterminin golem el iacr 19, 69
By dissection of bird. : . 105
Impossible to tell at eight weeks ks of
age ;
How to tell... 50 oe)
Of squabs in ‘nest, usually a pair. .107 Shelf on nestbox. . 0S Shipping crate for live birds............. 97 Skylight for loft. . RAR REE HEARN LL Slaked lime on floor of Totty ses .201, 202 Small flock best forastart......... 19, 94, 240
Quadrupled in five months....... .221 Squabsthatchino ee eee ener Oo)
AMeqado) alls auoigobouL so ae.o Op Oe db'aD 0 65
Bandingjoranees oe 71, 111, 117,239
Breed cheaply and oes . 30
Call for food. . 20k ails 60
Changing in nests. Senin ‘187
Changing in nests. +0... +187
532
Squabs (continued)s
Dark-fleshed'squabs.... «2 ica. .«- lS Failures in raising. aie jereleigncs Steereter 19a Feeding of by breeders...... Binetanteie 65
Fan diticcatusso tines . 106, 110
Ini Italy. ot ated eae RO AA Farm of i100 pairs. . Mtns aes SL OO Great demand for.... ie e.aeussoeL Great growth of industry. ofa ev aS 125 Heated loft unnecessary . pe Geet) Heat beneficial in loft. . £3420 0200 Too much heat detrimental . ee al 6 In poultry press. ae eae ee .148 Killing and cooling. . § jcneeaeetan raugateh hs 79- 82 Cooling in water. 2... .2.+. 83 Killing machine. . re A eae reat Killing with Inifes 2s roe os «117 Making money at ten cents each... .129 Markets, chapter on. DP Somethin o 3) Markets broadened. . Wo bai eee Not drawn before selling BP gtr 105, 206 Not game. duane stayitelne ie custo se @LoO On the farm. . Sara neers O25) Practical side of raising. eentavee O62 Prices of explained. hac tentang (OO Pulling tail feathers of. Se LOO Swamped with orders for.. ere
Selling at twenty-three davs old....197 Sickness’of prevented by Manual. ..131
Weaning of. s ellld With feathers for Boston market... 83 Wert 66 pen dozen Sc Stee cahaintales Steam-heated loft.. Ia heaton en 00): Starting a new flock... peter lake San oO In two-horse stall. . saving tes oe OO Success depends on individual. Latest, lide And failure, causes of. . 94
Remarkable from small beginnings, “195 2015,216;2215.279:
Sunflower seeds for feed............- 171, 219
pce aro beads oid Aeneid eacaturens eA. Supplement. . Nilei ed hiss see gallo Swiss chard as feed... af rate 2O2 Sulphur or iron water not injurious . <6 SRALAS Table scraps not fed to pigeons........... 62 Thief of pigeons, how caught.............125 Three-thousand-dollar plant ............ 15 Three-hundred-pairorder............. 165 Three-thousand-dollar profits: resis Rea ene LO Time, best to start a loft. TG Le) Tin roofer in squab business... . See OO Tobacco stems for nesting materials...... 49
Dust for lice... tae el 93
Tanneries don’ 7 like i jn manure. .49,179 Mraininehliers:, 222 aces ea secu So oer ae cee LOG Treading by male. eck We orale eee LOD Trough under self- F6BdEP. caretoc geo i298 Trowel for cleaning nestboxes............111 Twigs for nesting material...........251, 281
Mum bler pigeons.cacc p< cess hse wen se ne eed
INDEX
Unit house.... outa a ewee A
eoecus
Dimensions. i Sidire afanener ae pores eet MOD Cement floor for. . Haha valdeaauenateete LO Cost per lineal foot... suey etorstreetane ill Hloonofeena.. ceteeeeee ee eed, 43 Flying pen for.. Aaieicone se et eremie O: Location of. OPS a eS Nestboxes in. ; srayay eevee OO, Nestboxes, crowding i We ae lS ee 112 Partitions in UE tintin sae 44 Plans for.. peat aaa Plans satisfactory. . Setieteacio loo Plans ten-unit house. . Thierens AO, IROOfOf sce. Rt ny ees Working drawings for... ee eee rail United States Cee experiments with Homers... see 8) Official well’ pleased. . aiticiSte 6 oe lS9 Ventilation of loft. . MUA creo: Vick’s Magazine, editorial in. eee ee eel Vinegar for tonic. . RU eee enon etek AO Lois Watch your grain dealer. eyo eee elf Water and feed. . Deo) Ol Pure for drinking and bathing. Spiiste ° 20 Running for Da rHing eee or In cold weather. stiithand Benue ces KOA Drinking fountain. mol Drinking fountain from a bottle... .302 Weakening effect of wheat........... 117,173 Weaning young birds. . eevee ast tere a eee Wheat, red the best. SS eee OO Causes most trouble. Ree Air en! Lifs: PoE ssctbacks: Se ee ieee sO White.. Fe Ae SE TIGD Whitewashing loft. yada mee Windows, protecting Olek eS Wire nettingioversillsyc: 4. ducks 4 hen Shay All Women as breeders. . ; Dias al vate OU: Young woman successful. Meese LAS) Pleased with investment. Haseod Raised 200 pairs. seh eeplot Of Virginia orders second lot. 2nl54
From small building to large plant. .161 Increased flock from 25 to 275 birds aa A second order from. .
Postmistress as squab ‘breeder. “166 Gets orders for more than the Sup ply.. : 2167 Good results in one Year.. Bote se Ce: Pleasant business for. PP poeta rn Ur iTs In British Columbiay so o42cc72 SO A New Jersey woman.............201 In: Indiana wins prize. .,:......5--.202 Breeder in Kentucky.............224 Gets her price forsquabs......... .259 Deaf woman succeeds.............295
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