CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 97, 23 March 1940, Page 10

CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

Remembering that wo stated that South-east, was tiie ideal facing position for the budgerigar cage, confirination comes from a breeder who states: “ft a room in which budgerigars arc to breed in faces north, oast or west, there is. in my opinion, a real danger of failure The position is not so bad in (be case of open-air flights, because usually the drawback of a different aspect to a southern one is overcome to some extent. For instance, in our own place wo have a combined aviary and bird-room with open exlending outwards cm cither side. 1 liese face east and west, respectively and altimiurii neither lias the correct position the birds get tiie morning sunlight, which always sweeps, across the perches. Morning sunlight is absolutely essential to good breeding results, and. in fact, all birds must have access to it if good health is to lie maintained.” Novices should not worry too much this season if their breeding results are poor. As stated last week, canary, and in fact all cage bird owners have had a very poor season. Experienced breeders have had tiiis happen many times, and their advice to all beginners is “keep on, another season is sure to make up for it.” Don’t ho tempted to neglect the birds just because this season’s handicap of changeable weather lias been all against, good results. Otherwise there may bo still another season of misfortune. This to many would be tile limit. Correct ventilation is essential In every bird-room. Vi tin tod air ascends; fresh air takes its place. Have a good, quick urea ns of exit, preferably near the roof, with a corresponding ventilator near tiie floor to allow for the admission of a stream of pure air. A freshness in' the atmosphere will always then he felt and the general health of Die birds will the more easily be maintained. A chili can cause egg binding and death may result. Take care then that no cold draught can enter the breeding cage, otherwise the above trouble may happen. The unseasonable weather experienced during the breeding season may have been the cause of fatalities altogether unexpected. Arentilation is necessary, but a cli aught makes conditions in tiie bird-room as bad as if there were no mm :111s of ventilation other than Die door. An English parrot owner says his bird likes tomatoes and its condition has improved considerably since lie began, feeding it with them.