The national standard squab book . a pair to takea proper nest, supposing there be one at disposal; but if any trouble beanticipated, any kind of a cage of lath or wire may be fixed to the front ofthe breeding box, and the birds then confined for a few days in sight of therest of the loft, till they have got thoroughly used to their new abode. Wecan hardly remember an instance, howe\er, 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 atthe entrances: thus, a half-br
The national standard squab book . a pair to takea proper nest, supposing there be one at disposal; but if any trouble beanticipated, any kind of a cage of lath or wire may be fixed to the front ofthe breeding box, and the birds then confined for a few days in sight of therest of the loft, till they have got thoroughly used to their new abode. Wecan hardly remember an instance, howe\er, 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 atthe entrances: thus, a half-brick inay be placed at one hole; and passing thenext, something else at the next alternate one, by which the birds will readilylearn their proper breeding-places. One more caution must be added in regardto mating the birds. It frequently happens that, on account of proved sterlingqualities, it is desired to breed from an old pigeon as long as any fertile eggscan be obtained from him; and this can only be done by matching him ?LYMOUTH ROCK EXTRA HOMER MALE 250 APPENDIX F 251 a very young hen. Such a pair will frequently breed well; and we havehad fine strong young ones from an old Barb over ten years of age, whichwon many prizes. But it is in such cases particularly needful to avoidhaving in the .same loft any lively young cock with a strong voice, for if thisbe the case, the young hen will frequently leave her eggs to reach and pairwith the young bird, even though he be already mated, and thus all theowners j^lans are liable to be frustrated. For although ])igeons as a rulepair with great fidelity, exceptions are by no means rare; and cases havebeen known in which a cock has mated with two hens, and even assistedboth in hatching and rearing their young; while we once possessed a cockwhich, though he never aided them in family duties, regularly paired with noless than five hens. This case being so very remarkable, we took particularnotice of it, and can vouch for the truth
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