HINTS FOR BIRD KEEPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

HINTS FOR BIRD KEEPERS.

Canaries: If you keep a canary remember that be is your most helpless prisoner, so that if vou neglect to feed him he cannot get food for himself. Give your canary some seed (rape, canary and millet mixed), and fresh water every morning; clean the perches and give plenty of dry sand every other dav: get him to take a bath, which he will enjoy when used to it, but be careful to drv the cage and perches after. Let him always have a lump of sugar and such fruit- as apple and pear, and any greenstuff in moderation; even grass is bettei than nothing. In cold weather give a little crushed hemp seed. Cut the nails occasionally, but be careful not to draw blood. If he'hangs at the window, let it be out of the draught, as it is often cold there, and cover the cage up at night always, leaving the top open for air. It you hang him out of doors, shade part of the cage from the sun (which often makes the birds feel ill) with a cover, which must be fastened down to prevent it from blowing lip. Do not hang a bird near the ceiling—the air is verv bad there.

Parrots.—Parrots being restless, destructive birds, should never be without something to break up, such as empty cotton reels, fir cones, bits of wood _ (not the splintering kind), and pieces off trees the reason they often pluck out their featheis is because'they have nothing else to do. Food upon canary, maize and millet, and fruit and nuts in "moderation, plain biscuit and crust, but their tastes differ so that one will like what another will not touch; if much dry food is given water must be in the cage; never give animal cheese, it is very important that grit (small gravel) be mixed with the seed. —Copied. From Bathia Luttrell, Maroera.