The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-10-08

market, were dressed exactly &C
cording to the local requirements, and
delivered to the wholesaler in prime
condition. 1t is evident, while these
figures are not offered as indicating
the prices that the small-scale or new
SQUAD raiser can secure, they do
establish that care in selecting breeds
to produce iarge-sized squads is a
prime requisite.
Best Varieties for SQUAD Raising
OF the squad raising varieties the
Homer is considered the most popular
variety. The habit of this bird Of
returning home if allowed freedom
makes it necessary to confine pigeons
purchased from other lofts. The
Carneaux pigeon has recently become
popular as SQUAD producer. This
variety is somewhat larger than The
Homer and it is stated is about as
prolific. Several other varieties Of
pigeons larger than the Homer arc
used on small scale in squa1 raising
especially in crossing with the Homer
and Carneaux to increase the size O.
squads. The Runt is one of tbc
largest, but is not as prolific or as
good brooder or feeder as the
Homer.
Some of the other varieties re-
ported used as SQUAD breeders are the
Dragon, White. Maltese or hen
pigeon, the White King, and the
common pigeon.
Feeding Pigeons
A good mixed feed may be made
of staple grains, using equal parts,
by weight, of cracked corn, hard red
wheat, kafir corn, and Canada peas,
with a small quantity 90 per cent?
of hemp and millet seed added during
the molting period. Other grains
which may be substituted for or
added to these are peanuts, oats o.
hulled oats, buckwheat, Egyptia;
corn, barley, cowpeas, and milo maize
while a small quantity Of stale bread,
rice, rape, millet, canary, vetch, and
sunfower seed may be fed for
variety. Canada peas are expensive,
but seem to be essential to the best
results, especially during the breed
ing season, and apparently take the
place of green feed to some extent.
Peanuts are being used to some
extent in place of Canada peas.
Green fed such as cut clover, alfalfa
and grass, lettuce, and plantain leaves
may be fed to advantage, but is not
absolutely essential.
A variety of good hard grains is
essential to success, and grains which
are in poor condition should not be
fed. Old grains which are hard are
better than new soft grains, especi-
ally for pigeons with squads. Red
wheat is considered better than white
wheat by many pigeon breeders.
Good wheat screenings are often fed
with success, as they usually contain
a variety of seeds. Various stimulat-
| ing seeds, such as lentils and vetch,
are sometimes fed as tonic to breed
| ing birds during the melting period
The grain may be fed on the floor
of the pen, in troughs, or kept before
the birds in hoppers. 1t is not
generally considered advisable to feed
the grain on the ground, especially
on heavy soil where it may get wet
and moldy. Unless the floor is kept
clean it is better to feed the grain in
troughs than on the floor. The
troughs should be made so that the
| pigeons will not roost on them and
soil the feed with their droppings.
Hoppers are used with good success
but may attract rats in some pigeon
houses. They should be fitted with
wires or nails about 2 inches apart so
that the pigeons can not waste the
feed by throwing it out onto the floor.
If the grain is not fed in hoppers the
| pigeons should be fed twice daily, in
the morning and in the afternoon, at
regular hours, giving from 11ato 2
quarts Of grain at each meal to 20
pairs of pigeons and adding an extra
pint if the pigeons have many squa' s.
The feeder must regulate the quantity