Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1911 — Squab Courtship. [ARTICLE]

Squab Courtship.

The squab farm is an interesting place. Belgian homers are the best breeders. The parents birds are the pick of all the flocks. They pair young. The male selects his partner, and his wooing Is not easy. At first he Is pocked at angrily. He is a persistent fellow though, and will not be repulsed. The object of his attention tries to escape by flight He pursues relentlessly; when she flies he flies after her;,, when she runs he runs after her, when she roosts he roosts beside her. This keeps up on the average for two days, then Miss Pigeon relents, evidently deciding It would be hard hearted to deny so ardent a lover. The couple then settle down to a staid married life. They average five pairs of squabs a year. Eggs are hatched In eighteen days, and four weeks later the squabs go to market They grow like weeds, at the end of the four weeks being fully feathered pigeons.