CAGE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 9 (Supplement)

CAGE BIRDS

T>REVIOUS articles have dealt with various aspects of the problem of successfully breeding finches in captivity. Accommodation, design of the aviary, and its position to avoid the cold " southerly and -south westerly winds, have all been considered. Points such as the provision of ample teatree or other bushy shrubs and accommodation free from draughts have been emphasised. The principal enemy of the successful aviculturalist is the mouse, and means to defeat him were considered last week. There remain, however, several points in the general treatment of (inches which should be mentioned before discussing the needs of particular species. A satisfactory supply of drinking water is essential to attain success. Water from a clean stream in the bush would be better than that straight from a tap of the town supply. Exposure to sun, air and rain breeds life in the water. The Water Supply With birds, the principal danger to their supply is the risk of contamination by fermenting food etc. The risk of infection food can be minimised by placing the water well away from the seed hopper or food tray ? but it is more difficult to avoid infection from excreta. The space above the drinking vessel should be entirely clear of any projection on which the birds can perches, or any projection on which the birds can rest. l)o not have any fancy perch near the edge of the water vessel itself. A removable cover is an additional precaution recommended as it also prevents the direct rays of the sun from reaching the water and so stimulating the growth of vegetable matter on the edge of the dish. A drinking vessel slightly raised from the ground is less likely to become soiled than one at ground level. The water should not be very deep—two inches is ample for comparatively largo birds for bathing purposes. Cleaning the vessel two or possibly, three times a week is sufficient, but use a hard scrubbing brush ana so removo any slimo or growth which may have started. If the water pot has a rough interior, sprinkling with salt and sand and scrubbing will assist in obtaining a clean surface. Size of Container

If you can arrange for the collection of rain water in a tank, from a clean roof, this will be better than the ordinary city supply. In hot weather, a large number of birds will consume much water in drinking and in bathing, and it is advisable to have a reservo dish. If the size of the in-door or out-door aviary does not necessitate the use of a second supply of water, be sure that the one vessel you are using contains sufficient for several days, remembering that during a single day of excessive heat, birds may use as much water as they would normally consume in half a week. Overcrowding is another menace, and, particularly when sjjecies are badly assorted, successful breeding is. prevented. The temptation is ever-present to acquire a pair of birds, place them in the aviary, and disregard the fact that their natural enemy, or at any rate, a bird with which they are usually unfriendly, may be there. The fancier with several small aviaries at his disposal certainly has a great advantage. He can put a few of the larger types in one place, some of the medium-sized in another, and keep a further enclosure for finches of the smaller species.

By TAILFEATHERS

Letters requesting information regarding the care of cage birds will be answered in this column, each week. Headers are invited to write to Tailfeathers, Mew Zealand Herald Office, Auckland.

Many kindß will persecute those smaller than themselves. Size is not the only consideration in deciding which species will be associated, for sometimes a small bird is well-known as possessing a pugnacious nature, and. must be treated accordingly. Before adding to your collection, study the habits of the bird which you contemplate purchasing. Ample books dealing with this aspect of aviculture are available —you should profit by other people's experience. For instance, many of the Australian finches can be kept together with perfect safety in confined quarters. Some of those from Africa, however, want much more room, and a given area should contain a fewer number of pairs.. You must resist that temptation to buy more birds when you have not sufficient accommodation for those you already possess. Build more aviaries, in-door or out-door, before augmenting your collection. Evening up tho Sexes Unequal numbers of the sexes will produce trouble, particularly during the breeding season. If you are short of one sex in a particular species you can use the opposite sex of an allied species, and probably .hybrids will be the result, but if you have several spare cocks or, worse still, several surplus hens the whole of the aviary will be in a state of commotion and spitefulness.

Have a stock-taking of _your birds during the winter. Then, if you are unable te even up the seses, you can at least introduce a few more suitable partners or, at the worst, removo a few birds from the general collection*, to bachelor quarters. An annual counting of stock is advissible, even with those who sub-divide their species to the greatest extent, for many unexpected results are often found. (ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS) H.S., Remuera; Mexican Flower Tree, Budgerigar.—lt is useless planting any shrubs in an out-door aviary containing budgerigars. They will ea» the leaf buds «s they develop, and thus within a few months kill the tree. The best methpd ia to plant a grass seed mixture containing a high percentage of perenniel rye. Leave a few patches of bare soil two or three feet in circumference, and transplant into them half-grown silverbeet plants. This will give the birds green food for months. Spinach and sow thistles can also be grown in the aviary as green food. Budgerigars in an out-door flight eat a smaller amount of green stuff than they would if enclosed in a smaller aviary or cage. In close captivity it is destroyed for amusement or occupation. In an aviary, they eat for food only. R. 8., Hukerenui, Mules—The goldfinches for the winter would bo safe y yr Zebras, Strawberries, etc., but should be removed to another aviary before the breeding season commences. There is no duty oil birds imported from Australia, but many regulations have to bo complied with,-in-cluding the application for a permit to trie Minister of Internal Affairs. Unles you wish to import in a large way, it wovld cheaper and bettor to buy locally. "Lovebirds," Remuera—The cross between the Fischer and Nyassa lovebird ia fertile. They make r. nest in which to sleep, not necessarily in which to breed. Contrary to general belief, they are not free breeders, and it may be months before eggs are laid. Leave them alone with food t and accommodation to suit ♦hem, and hope for the best, watching them to be sure that you have a true pair.' While experience does assist you in sexing lovebirdsgfthey are most difficult in this .respect. With some species size is not an indication of sex. in the Masked, the cock is generally the smaller—in the Fischers he is usually the larger. With your hybrid, the male should have a wider and flatter skull than the female. Another mark of sex is the space between the pelvic bones. In the cock they lie close together, while in the hen they are from a quarter to half an inch apart If one of the birds is feeding the other, they are almost certain to be a true pair.