CAGE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 10 (Supplement)

CAGE BIRDS

By TAILFEATHERS

Letters requesting Information regarding tho caro of oago birds will be answerod in this column each week. Readers are invited to write to Tallfeathers, New Zealand Herald Office, Auckland. IN mule breeding, the time when the cock goldfinch ia permitted to go with the hen canary in her compartment of the double breeder is most important. Remember that the canary will probably come into breeding condition before the goldfinch, which is invariably a late breedei\ There aro other factors which have to be considered. Even if you succeed in getting full eggs and the canary hatches them, you have no guarantee that the youngsters will survive during cold nights. Much trouble can bo avoided by exercising patience.

Should your efforts to retard the hen canary coming into breeding condition bo unsuccessful, do not bo alarmed if sho lays a few eggs on the floor of the cage. Let her do so and wait until you are certain the cock goldfinch is ready for breeding. On no account introduce the nest until you arc satisfied the time is opportune. Colour of the Beak The cock goldfinch must bo studied very carefully. Fortunately, he has a sure indicator by which you can tell when he is ready. Watch the colour of tho beak of tho goldfinch. During tho winter it will bo dark horn in colour. With the approach of spring and the stimulating food you give him, tho horn colour will gradually disappear, and in later spring his beak will be dark only for about a quarter of an inch back from the tip. With the warmer weather, this slight discolouration will disappear, and his beak become perfectly clear except for a dark line down the ridge of the beak. This is the critical period.

Breeding Condition There aro other definite signs by which you may know the goldfinch is in breeding condition. He will be on full song and on occasions spread his wings and tail, swaying his body from side to side. All this is to attract the hen canary, and ho will continue it, particularly in the early morning. Between times, ho may pause and feed his feet instead of being able to feed the hen. Now is the time to withdraw the slide and, after a day or two, put in the nest pan, together with the nesting material, soft cow-hair and other materials which you have found from experience to be preferred by tho hen.

Some fanciers adopt a little subterfuge by placing a cock canary in a show cage in full sight of the hen, early in the morning. There will therefore bo competition as to which cock bird can attract the hen most. The goldfinch, being in the same compartment, certainly has the advantage. The adoption of this little idea will probably ensure tho eggs being full. Destructive Goldfinch

Should the goldfinch become destructive, tearing the nest to pieces, sometimes as fast as the hen builds it, allow the run of the breeding cage to him for an hour only in the morning and in the evening, the rest of tho day shutting him in his own quarters by means of the slide. .Remove the eggs of the canary as laid, substituting them for dummies, ana return, removing tho dummies, when she has laid three eggs. Incubation will now start, and the date should be noted so that you are not disappointed in your anxiety concerning the result.

The duties of the goldfinch cock are now completed, and he should bo put in a separate cage, preferably within sight of tho hen, until he is required again.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "Worried," Remuera.— Budgerigar: About this time of tho year the annual moult or the renewal of all the feathers, commences. This is apparently starting with your bird, which is assisting tho loosening of the feathers by pulling them with its beak. At moulting time, tho skin becomes slightly irritated, and this also causes tho bird to apparently peck himself. You havo helped to produce the irritation by not spraying the bird regularly. A slight amount of dampness on the plumage is necessary to maintain the oil in tho feathers, and by keeping the bird caged up all the time in a small wooden box cage, you have automatically deprived him of tho benefit of having his plumage dampened by light riiin. You can materially assist him in shedding his coat by spraying threo or four times a week (daily, if you are able) with a spray of water in which a small amount of powdered borax has been dissolved. Use a scent spray, or better still, ono of tho special bird sprays stocked by all pet shops. Consistent spraying during the moult will result in a more perfect appearance when tho new feathers aro fully developed and, in addition, will assist the bird at tho most trying time of the year. Give extra quantities of millet spray and of mineral salts, remembering that in addition to the ordinary amount of food required, the bird has to grow a complete new covering of feathers in a few weeks.

A.F.W., Rotorua. —Canary! Unfortunately, the body of the bird was so decomposed 011 arrival that correct diagnosis was impossible. Uso watercress instead of lettuce for a period, but it is probable that your losses havo been caused by putting the birds on to a hard seed diet too quickly. Continuation of their soft biscuit-roaring meal is necessary until the young birds have moulted, if you care to give details of your management, tho error would probably bo more apparent. Q.K., Ponsonby.—Canary Book: Most bird shops stock a very full range of books on canaries. Get one that does not go into the science too deeply, as for a start a simplo book, such as ono for beginners, is most useful. Too many of the advanced books assume that a breeder knows various things, and therefore does not give tho detail necessary. "Worried," Whangarei.—Canary: Thero is a very small mito which 011 occasions lives in the ears of birds and sometimes causes doath. Quassia chips which you can get from a chemist, boiled in water, and then tho solution put into tho bath water of the canary regularly, will help tho bird to bo clear of all insect life. .Examine tho crevices of your cage for red mito. This is a hot weather pest. In any case, it is advisablo to plungo the cage into boiling water and then paint it with creosote stain, particularly under the drawer-board. Soften the growth in the ear by bathing in lukewarm water and endeavour to remove tho outer portion of tho growth. Then drop peroxide of hydrogen on to it, and tho cheesy matt.er will quickly bo eaten away. Treat both cars, as when one ear is badly infected, tho >other usually suffers to a certain extent. Dry tho feathers of the bird when finished, and put a drop of glycerine into each ear. As ear trouble is not usual, a roport on the progress of tho patient would be appreciated. "Spring Cleaning," Avondale. Spring cleaning of aviaries and bird-rooms is best done in the .autumn, when you aro going over your young birds, breeding having been completed and well in advance of tho arduous preparation for shows. There aro two periods in the year when rooms and enclosures should bo examined, cleaned, painted, etc.; tho first is just before the breeding season starts and tho second is toward the end of February and (Hiring March, when tho moult is almost over. Cleanliness of food vessels and water containers is necessary at all times, and during hot weather the use of boiling water and soap is advisable to kill any germs in the food vessels.

"Budgie," Ohinewai.—Budgerigar: Tho average bird leaves the nest when it is approximately twenty-eight days old. Its feet do not have to be cleaned if the nest has been kept reasonably clean and tho birds fed properly. If their feet have got balls of dirt on them, bo careful in their removal, otherwise you will tear off the claw in each ball, and it will never grow. Soak the foot, in warm water for a quartor of an hour' or so, then carefully crush tho hall. On no uccount pull it Uso enro in crushing, otherwise tho claw will be damaged. It is possible to cut the ball by holding it on a hard surface and alternately wetting and paring the ball away. Tho operation is a delicate one.