CANARY AND CAGEBIRD NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 26 November 1936, Page 6

CANARY AND CAGEBIRD NOTES.

(By “Unflighted.”) CANARY BREEDING—SECOND NEST. AVlien the young birds of your first J nest are from a fortnight to three | weeks old, the hen will very possibly show signs of wanting to go lo nest again, jl neretore, .give her another nest pun and some Iresb nesting material. lif this is not done, she will very likely i commence to pluck the young. iSnouid ' the young not be able to cater tor themselves when the Jien goes to nest again, the cock will look alter them and they will suffer no harm. When a month old they will be able to look after themselves and should be removed to another cage—known as a flight cage—that is, a cage two or three times tile size of a breeuing cage. In such a cage they will be enabled to take the exercise which is so necessary lor their future well-being.

The soft food should be continued until they are six or seven weeks old, when it may gradually be discontinued and the young got on to hard seed. But do not sLop the soft food all at once: do it gradually, or you may lose all your birds. After they can crack seeds they will come to little harm and will want little attention from their owner, beyond a regular supply of seed, water and green load, and a clean out of the cage once a week. Always have a lump of cuttlefish hanging in the cage. MOULTING SEASON. When the young birds are about ten to twelve weeks old they commence to

cast feathers. This is their first moult, and you will notice only the body feathers are moulted —the tail and flight feathers remain intact. The food at this period is about the same as usual—the seed and fresh water. Green food is given every day, and raw carrot offered now and then will be highly appreciated. The hath now plays an important part, and you should not fail to give them one every day. Queries on cage birds are answered free each week. Address to “Unflighted,” care “Standard” Office, Palmerston North.