SQUAB MANAGEMENT
June- August
What is imporatant in purchasing birds?
Making sure they come from a reputable breeder and raised with the best biosecurity
What are the main markets of squab
fine dining establishments,
markets catering to high end shoppers,
certain ethnic populations (Chinese Americans)
on-line specialty meats
What is a custard cup?
Small, deep individual bowl-shaped dishes (6-10 ounces) designed for oven use and perfect for baking eggs, individual custards or quiches.
What is a quiche dish?
A round, shallow straight sided ceramic dish usually with scalloped edges, for oven use. Sometimes called a flan or tart dish. It comes in different sizes.
You can also use a pie pan to bake a quiche
When is pigeon production the lowest in natural lighting?
December to February
What are the biggest disease concerns when building a house for pigeons?
Exclusion of wild birds and rodents
How many squab are produced annually each year?
2 million squab
What is an omelet pan?
A shallow slope-sided non-stick skillet 7-10 inches in diameter.
A double omelet pan consists of 2 shallow rectangular or semicircular pans attached by hinges.
What is a poacher?
A rack that holds cups sized to fit one egg, over simmering water, or a colander-like form that holds and egg as it is poaches in simmering water.
What is the recommended time for artificial lighting?
16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness
16L:8D
What type of drugs should be used to treat diseases?
Only things labeled for pigeons.
Where are most squab produced?
California and South Carolina
What is a cooker?
An electric appliance that steam cooks eggs in the shell. Most have inserts or cups for steam-poached eggs and some have a flat insert for cooking fried or scrambled eggs and omelets.
What is a piercer?
A sharp pointed tool for gently pricking a very small hole in the large end of an eggshell. May allow some air to escape and some water to seep into the egg during cooking, which may make peeling easier. However, it often produces hairline cracks in the shell, making eggs more vulnerable to bacteria. Not recommended.
What can you expect from one breeding pair in the way of performance?
16+ eggs per year
breeder mortality is less than 2%
squab mortality is less than 2%
squab market weight is 1.35-1.45 lbs
feed conversion is 6.2 pounds for every squab produced (6.2:1)
Who should direct the treatment of diseases?
Only a veterinarian
What does DRV stand for and what are they?
Daily Reference Values
--they help consumers in interpreting information about the nutrient in a food and in comparing nutritional values of food products
--established for children over 4 (not protein) and adults
--cover total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, potassium, protein
--RDIs (Reference Daily Intakes) cover vitamins and minerals for children less than 4 (including proteins) and pregnant and lactating women
What is a crepe pan?
A shallow, slope-sided skillet, 6-8 inches in diameter. They can be inexpensive to sophisticated electric models. Some appear to be cooking the crepes on the outside of the pan.
What is a ring?
A round band, with or without a handle, to hold a fried egg during cooking.
Where does most squab management take place?
Large integrated companies or through squab cooperatives.
If there is an unusual amount of mortality, what should be done?
Make use of the state animal diagnostic laboratory system.
What is DV?
a food label term that represents amount of protein, fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate (dietary fiber and sugar), vitamins, and minerals, expressed in percentage of a specific nutrient that a person should consume per day. Include both DRV (Daily Reference Values) and the RDI (Reference Daily Intakes)
-- it is a yard stick for food comparisons.
What is a coddler?
Small cup made of porcelain, heatproof glass or pottery with screw-on top
To use, break egg into cup, screw on top and submerge in simmering water until egg is cooked
You can also coddle eggs in a small jelly sized canning jar
What is a separator?
A small cup centered in a round frame made of plastic, metal or ceramic. The cup catches the yolk while slots around the frame let the white slip through a container beneath the separator. You can also use a kitchen funnel to separate eggs.