r ten pounds to the
dozen if dressed. Band one bird on the right leg and the other on the
left and put back in the nest again. This banding is merely to keep
from inbreeding and marking so as not to kill, and has nothing to do
with their being males or females. It is impossible to tell with
certainly the sex of a pigeon without noting its actions. With squabs
it is still harder, and although after becoming experienced, it is
possible to make accurate guesses, one is apt to make a mistake even
with old birds.

The squabs banded should be left with the parent birds till they are
eight weeks' old. Then remove to separate pens. The birds banded on the
right leg should go in one pen and the youngsters banded on the left
leg in a separate pen. This will prevent nest mates going together and
avoid inbreeding.

The feeding and care for these birds should be the same as for old
breeders, except that they should not have large American Corn and only
five per cent. peas. The grit should have a little olive oil mixed with
it once a week. The birds will thrive satisfactorily for about one
month in their new quarters and then care has to be taken to see that
they do not get out in rainy weather, as they undergo a moult and are
very subject to cold. This moulting time lasts for about three weeks,
and when they get past this stage you will see signs of the birds
mating. Do not be in any hurry to mate them, as their first eggs are
usually bad and they sometimes will break their matings when taken out
too young.

The safest way to mate young pigeons is to catch the birds sitting on
eggs. Color band the hen on the left leg, who usually sits in the
morning till around 11 o'clock. The corresponding band should be
fastened somewhere on the nest, and when you see the mate sitting on
the eggs, in the afternoon, you must catch him, and band on the right
leg. Catching pigeons is usually done with a landing net or crab net
with a short handle. The birds should always be caught from behind, if
flying, so as not to injure them. After you have caught the pair, they
should be removed to a separate pen so that they can start to breed
without interference. If the eggs are good that they were sitting on,
they can be placed under other birds that have eggs of about the same
age, and sometimes are raised satisfactorily. Do not make the mistake
of just leaving all your youngsters alone and trusting they will form
even pairs, for if you do, there are su