The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-04
RAISING SQUADS FOR MARKET.
10000 Pigeons On One Pennsylvania
Farm


cons abounded in the American forests
OF a century or two ago it was per-
haps no unusual thing to see 10000
of these birds gathered together. But
such sight is rare today. Indeed
there Is probably but one place in the
entire United States where so large a
flock of pigeons can be found. and
that is on pigeon farm near the lit :
tie town of North Wales, in South
eastern Pennsylvania
The birds are housed in a series of
large, airy buildings and provided
with clean and comfortable nests, an
abundance of choice food and a suffi-
cient screened outdoor space wherein
to exercise their wings. All day long
the gentle cooling of the thousands Of
birds gives musical proof of their con-
tentment. In return for their board
and lodgings they are expected to
match out as many squads as possible
and rear them until they are fit for
the market. From this farm is OBJ
tained the greater proportion of the
squads that go to the markets of New
York, Philadelphia and the various
winter and summer resorts of the
East.
Pigeon raising, says E. C. Cum
mings. the man who founded and de-
veloped this farm. is more profitable
and less vexatious than poultry rails
ing. provided the man who undertakes
1t thoroughly understands the habits
and the needs of pigeons.
Almost every one knows something
about raising chickens. or thinks he
does, and four town dwellers out of
five like to dream of a time in the
future when they may own little
places out in the country and raise
chickens and supply eggs for the city
markets. But pigeon raising on a
large scale and solely for profit has
been undertaken in few instances thus
far, Notwithstanding the high prices
WHICH SQUADS command.
To begin, no incubators are required
in raising pigeons. and thus an impor-
tant item of expense necessary to the
poultry farm is saved. Pigeons are
remarkable for their monogamous
habits, and when once the cock and
the hen are suitably mated they re-
main firmly attached to each other.
Both assume equal shares in the du-
ties of their household. including the
incubation of the eggs and the care of
the young. However, the matter of
mating must be we'll studied to avoid
losses. for In a mismated or ill-assort-
ed pen the cocks, unlike the proven
bal dove of peace. are likely to create
havoc. destroying squads and eggs in
fighting for the possession Of nests.
At the Cummings farm all is harmony,
for only well-mated birds are intro
duced in the pens.
AS each pair Of pigeons rear six or
seven pairs Of squads in a year and
as the wholesale price Of squads is
from SO to $6 a dozen it is apparent
that there is opportunity for consider
able profit on a farm where 10000
pairs of pigeons are expected to de-
vote themselves solely to the breeding
Of squads.
The squads are naked and helpless
little creatures and require careful
attention. Almost invariably there
are just two in a nest. Their method
of feeding is unique. The SQUAD in
serts its beak into that Of either of the
parent birds and from the lining of
the parents crop the SQUAD obtains
creamy secretion. After few days the
food that the parents have consumed
Is mingled with this secretion, and
thus nourishment is provided for the
little one for about nine days. When
they are 20 to 25 days old they are
ready for market
TO reduce the death rate of squads
to minimum Is the chief concern of
the pigeon farmer. On the Cummings
farm success has been attained
through proper construction of build
ings and strict cleanliness. The roofs
are impervious to rain and snow. but
there Is abundant ventilation. Con-
crete floors keep out rats, a particu.
iarly voracious foe of squads. The
floors are covered with a thin layer
of sand and air-slaked lime. and once
week this is raked. The buildings
are divided into pens by 16 feet in
dimensions. Compartments for nests
are built In six tiers. giving each pair