The Largest Pigeon Farm in the World

An interesting video on the famous Johnson Pigeon near Los Angelos. Prior to its destruction by a flood in 1914, it was the largest squab farm in the world.

American Squab Culture: Raising Pigeons for Squabs

This special re-print edition of E.H. Eggleston's “American Squab Culture” from 1916 includes everything a person needs to know about how to raise pigeons for meat purposes. At over 200 pages, this book contains a mountain of practical information on how to raise your own steady supply of quality pigeon meat in your own backyard from only a very moderate investment. Included is everything the beginner needs to know about raising pigeons for squabs, including how to house them, how to set your own pigeon loft up, their feeding requirements, how to cure basic pigeon diseases, how to select breeders and how to process your own squabs. This treasure trove of information is lavishly illustrated with period photographs.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Squab-Culture-Raising-Pigeons/dp/151776064X

New Book Released! Raising Pigeons For Meat

http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Pigeons-Meat-Squabs-Book/dp/1517680859/

We are really pleased to present this special re-print edition of E.H. Rice's “National Standard Squab Book” from 1915 includes everything a person needs to know about how to raise pigeons for meat purposes. At over 400 pages, this book contains a mountain of practical information on how to raise your own steady supply of quality pigeon meat in your own backyard from only a very moderate investment. Included is everything the beginner needs to know about raising pigeons for squabs, including how to house them, how to set your own pigeon loft up, their feeding requirements, how to cure basic pigeon diseases, how to select breeders and how to process your own squabs. Also included are hundreds of letters from turn of the century breeders who raised their own squabs for the kitchen table, as well as for market purposes, who shared their own practical experiences on how they raised their own meat pigeons, along with hundreds of economic shortcuts on low cost housing, feeders, watering systems and other tips. Also included are expert answers to common and uncommon questions on the subject. This treasure trove of information is lavishly illustrated with period photographs.

Get it on Amazon.com from the link below!
http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Pigeons-Meat-Squabs-Book/dp/1517680859/

Just because it's a White King, doesn't mean it's a Utility King!

An old fashioned White Utility King
from the publisher's loft

As often happens with breeds of animals that are often originally bred for utility or sporting purposes, it doesn't take long until some breeders begin to change them with other goals in mind.

The White King pigeon breed was first developed in the United States for squabbing purposes back in the 1890's. According to most sources, the breed was developed by crossbreeding the Duchesse, which is a rare Italian Mondain breed with white plumage and feathered legs; the Racing Homer, the Maltese and the Giant Runt pigeon. The first White Kings were selected for their snow white plumage (hence yellow-white skin), large size, fast growth rate and their fast breeding rate. These attributes helped the breed to quickly establish itself as one of the most valuable breeds in the booming commercial squab industry, which prior to about 1920 had been largely dominated by Racing Homers which had been selected for plumper squabs opposed to their homing abilities

By the 1930's and 1940's, some pigeon fanciers began to select their White Kings with another purpose in mind and began to exhibit them in pigeon shows around the country. These fanciers sought a cobbier, harder feathered bird with a more erect posture. They crossbred their Kings with other breeds like White Schietti Modenas to attain their breeding goals.

In the meantime, following World War Two, the popularity of pigeons as food began to decline except among the wealthy classes, resulting in fewer numbers of White Kings being bred each year for their original purpose.

These days, it is sometimes to difficult to find good squabbing bloodlines of White Kings and other Utility Pigeon breeds. Most of the White Kings you see available in newspaper ads, on Craigslist or on online pigeon auction sites are Show Kings or Show King crosses.

Before investing your hard earned money into breeding stock, it is recommended that you learn as much about real Utility Pigeon Breeds by studying them in books on the subject and getting to know a breeder who actually keeps his birds with meat production in mind. A little bit of study and shopping around for the right birds will save you money and time in the long run.

Show King Pigeons from Wikipedia.org

Welcome to How To Raise Pigeons For Meat

Welcome to How To Raise Squabs, your source for information on how to raise pigeons for meat!

Please  be sure to take a look at all our books on Self Reliance and Animal Breeding over at Amazon.com

Texas Pioneer cock in squab loft of the Publisher

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Photo of young squabs