The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-01-15

panies is that the birds they sell you
are mated breeders and will get
down to work in very short time
after they reach you. In many cases
the birds are either too young, or
too DID, and in very few cases do the
majority of the birds begin produc
ing young for some time after they
are in their new homes.
These things are not a serious re-
! Election upon the birds purchased but
more upon the companies that sold
| them. First of all the Homer pigeon,
| for many reasons to be discussed
later, is the best squad breeder.
Home is instinct with him He clings
to home even more than do members
of the human family. Let him get
we'll established in the loft in which
he was born-say for six months or
! year-and he wants to remain
there until he dies. Ship him away
| and place him in a new home and
| it will be weeks and months before
| he and his mate will start to build
| their nests. The first few weeks he
will sit about and NOPE because of
the change of quarters, and let him
once escape from the loft and he
will start for home as fast as his
wings will carry him. He may not
reach therein the majority of cases,
if his home is more than thousand
miles away, he will nOt-but he will
at least make the effort 1t takes
several months for a flock OF old
pigeons brought from the east to set
| tie down to hard work. This at least
has been my experience. Of course
some of the birds will get down much
earlier, but the flock as whole will
| be very slow about it.
| For, the reasons which have stated
| believe it to be much better plan
| for those who intend entering the
squad business TO purchase young
| birds They can be bought when
about five weeks old, moved into
| new loft and soon become accus-
toned to it. In this country young
birds get down to work much earlier
than in the east, because of the
equitable climate and absence of eX-
| IRENE cold weather. | have birds in
my loft that had young at four
months. True, the first egg of young
birds is usually infertile, but the pair
raises one bird all right and after
| that settle down to business and are
as good as old birds.
Iho great advantage OIL buying
young birds is that they may be
given their liberty. After being kept
in the loft for several weeks, we'll
| fed and properly looked after gener-
ally, they may be liberated with no
danger of losing any. Eastern SQUAD
companies tell you that there is no
advantage in giving your birds lib
erty, but the best Homer experts in
the country have contended time and
again that if kept in confinement
flock of Homers will cease to pro-
duce SQUADS in three or four years
whereas if given their liberty they
will keep up the good work for eight
or ten and even twelve years. Lib
Grated birds are stronger and health
| Ter than birds in confinement If
| the Homer pigeon is purchased he
never annoys neighbOrs by alighting
On their barns, outhOuses or in their
Yards. The real Homer is either on
the wing or in or close to his owl
| loft.
Briefly speaking, the Homer is the
best bird for squad breeding-ne is
more prolific than the other breeds,
producing from six to eight pairs OF
young a year, takes fine care of his
| vounp and has them ready for the