CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 74, 24 February 1938, Page 16

CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

(By “Unflighted.”) THE HOUSEHOLD PET. This week I intend to deal with the pet canary—the one bird that is the pet of the entire family and who is kept solely for his song and the desire' to have a live pet. In hundreds of thousands of British homes can be found the one bird. People who keep such love them intensely, yet often through ignorance and carelessness treat them very badly, keeping them in unsuitable cages and giving them food which is not at all conducive to their health and vigour. The best form of a cage for the home pet is one about fifteen or sixteen inches long, nine wide, and fifteen high Smaller cages do not allow the birds to take sufficient exercise. If care is taken to hang the cage in a place free from draughts it may be an allwire cage, and there cannot be much doubt that an all-wire cage is more conducive to the health and happiness of the bird confined in it than one that has only a wire front. The wire cage allows a bird to enjoy the light, to take an interest in all that goes on around his little home, and must give him more pleasure and happiness than one that has wooden top, sides, and back, and completely shuts out all outside interests. But if the bird is kept in a place that is draughty then the latter cage is best. Those who keep one or two pet canaries are not as a rule as careful as they should be in dealing with the question of seed. It may be canary seed that they get, or it may be a mixture of seeds, but very often it is of inferior quality and as a result the health of the bird or birds suffers, and then the owner winders why, and also why “Dickie” does not sing. The best seed must be always bought, and in. my opinion the packet seed is best for pet canaries. This seed is usually dust-free, and owing to the fact that it is packed into cardboard packets it remains free of dust. Birds that are kept for song should never be hung above the level of a gas light, as so many are. They should be kept on a stand or side table of the room of their mistress. The cage should always have a piece of cuttlefish bone attached to the wires by a piece of string or wire, and every day the bird should be given a sprig of green food, such as watercress, groundsel, chickweed, dandelion, or lettuce; when green food is not obtainable a piece of sweet apple or ‘ pear may be given, whilst a piece of boiled carrot is greatly relished at any time. The cage of a song canary should be cleaned every day, and the cage bottom strewn with nice gritty sand. Sand is needed to assist the bird in the grinding of its food. One word before we leave the pet canary. Never forget that all canaries are fond of’ water, not only for drinking, but also for bathing. In summer a bath should be given every morning and in winter every other morning. If the pet canary is treated as advised he will live a long life and delight you with his song for many a day. •