CAGE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22402, 24 April 1936, Page 9 (Supplement)

CAGE BIRDS

In mule breeding, the time when the cock goldfinch is permitted to go with the hen canary in her compartment of tho double breeder is most important. Remember that the canary will probably come into breeding condition before the goldfinch, which is invariably a late breeder. There are other factors which have to be considered. Even if you succeed in getting full eggs and the canary hatches them, 3*oll have no guarantee that the youngsters will survive during the cold nights. Much trouble can be avoided by exercising patience. Should your efforts to retard the hen canary coming into breeding condition be unsuccessful, do not be alarmed if she 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 tho nest until you are satisfied the time is opportune. The cock goldfinch must be studied very carefully. Fortunately, he has a suro indicator by which you can tell when he is ready. Watch the colour of the beak of the goldfinch. During the winter it will be dark horn in colour. With the approach of spring and the stimulating food you give him, the 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. This is the critical period. Breeding-time For Goldfinch There are other definite signs by which you may know tho goldfinch is in breeding condition. Ho will be on full song and on occasions spread his wings and tail, swaying his body from 3ide to side. All this is to attract the hen canary, and he 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 tho 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 be 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 the eggs being full. 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 the day shutting him in his own quarters by means of tho slide. Remove the eggs of the canary as laid, substituting them with dummies, and return, removing the dummies, when she has laid three eggs. Incubation will now 'start, and the date should he noted so that you are not disappointed ui your anxiety concerning

By TAILFEATHERS

Letters requesting information regarding the care of cage bird* will be answered in this column each week. Readers are invited to write to Tailfeathers, New Zealand Herald Office, Auckland.

the result. The duties of the goldfinch cock are now completed, and he should be put in a separate cage, preferably within sight of the hen, until he is required again. (To be Continued.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS D.A.G., Aka Aka.—White Eye: You are going to an unnecessary amount of trouble to break the white eyes into captivity. It is not necessary to put them into a small cage for the first week or so. Your feeding is only fair, and you are entirely wrong in trying to force those insects, fruit nd nectaeating birds to take seed. White eyes take very easily to captivity; in fact, thousands 01 them die owing to lack of food in a state of nature at this time of the year, lhey are only too pleased to get food and shelter. When you have caught your selected wax eye or Zosterop, to give it its proper name, put it in the aviary and it will be at home with the other small finches that you have, providing you offer the right food, (live it half an apple, a nice, sweet, ripe one for preference. If you have a few ripe figs, so much the better. If these are not available, soak some of the dried figs. In addition, give it an insect mixture, obtainable from most bird shops for feeding principally to insectivorous birds such as Pekin Nightingales or Shamas. This mixture contains the essential food to take the place of live insects. On a diet of apples, figs, pears, bananas and such-like fruit, plus an insect mixture, with occasional gentles or mealworms, the Zosterop will live for years in captivity. Until you have had considerable experience, I do not recommend trying to breed them, for then they require large quantities of live food, including aphis. The cock is not larger than the hen, and there is little difference in colouring. The cock bird, however, has a very nice little song, and you could be guided by this in picking a true pair. Use your present method of obtaining birds for newly-caught goldfinches, feeding them according to these notes on plenty of crushed hemp and niger seed, as well as on thistle heads. The cock Zebra finch has the markings on its face and sides Keep the two Zosterops that are in the best physical condition, releasing the other. H.P.K., Waitoa.—Budgerigar: Many thanks for reply. Would be pleased to know if you succeed in breeding from this yellow hen next year, and whether any of her progeny are similarly afflicted. J.J.N., Remuera.—Canary: An oval perch of approximately 5/Bin. by Jin., and made of soft wood, is suitable for a canary. It is also an ddvantage to have a few other perches of slightly different diameter to exercise all the muscles. The claws of the canary need to be cut regularly, but never make the claw bleed by cutting the red vein visible in the oer.tre of the claw. One sixteenth of an inch away from the end of the vein is usually safe. Scaly leg in canaries is not caused only by age. but sometimes by minute insects, which live behind the scales. It can be done away with by the use of a scaly leg ointment, available in most bird shops. It is advisable to give the leg an occasional dressing with olive oil. Should the claws or logs appear swollen, wrap some flannel round the perches and dampen this cloth with olive oil. Incorrect feeding can also cause bad legs. H.H.C., Mt. Eden. —Canary: The young cock will mate up with the twc-year-old canary hen during the coming spring. Thiß is an ideal combination. See that no nesting material is available, nnd it will not be necessary to separate them until the approach of spring. Do not pair them up too early, otherwise you will run the risk of clear eggs. E.T., Waihi.—Canary: Indigestion is a possible cause of swollen feet. There is also a germ which gets between the'elaw and the toe (particularly when conditions are rather dirty) and gradually rots off the claw. The application of a little kerosene to the toes will sometimes cure this. Wrap flannel round the perches and dampen the flannel with olive oil. Put Glauber salts, a piece about the size of a pea, in the drinking water, equal in volume to about half a tea-cup. Feed ample green food and give small quantities of a canary-rearing biscuit meal. Make sure that the cage is scrubbed with strong disinfectant. Advise me if this treat' racnt does not improve the birds.