CAGE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

CAGE BIRDS

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS E.L., Green Lane. Budgerigar; Fly Paper—Take a little petto! and dip in it a piece of old, soft tag. With this rub the feathers of your bird and you will find that the petrol will dissolve the stirky substance that'was on the fly paper. Keep rubbing until the cloth shows no sign of dirt,. Perform this task in the sun if possible, as the bird will then dry quicker afterwards, and, /ibov3 all, realise the dangerous character of petrol. If thj bird seems a little dopey do not be alarmed—this will be an aftereffect of the petrol fumes. The following day, if it is bright and sunny, spray the bird with water and, when dry, the feathers will show no trace of the sticky solution.

"Urgent," Waitara. —BudgcMgar: .full name and address is required with every question. JCom do plumes are always used, if given. The loss of your bird's leg would not be jauscd by disease. Vermin c-f some description has probably bitten the leg of the bird while jou were away, broken the bone and severed the siinews to such an extent that they could not heal up unassisted. With the circulation of blood thus stopped, the leg would wither and eventually drop off at the fracture. Examination of the stump might give an indication of the original cause, if the flesh has grown over the bone and healed, tlin bird should survive quite happily and live for a considerable time. If, however, the bone is protruding, it would be advisable to break it off sufficiently short to enable the flesh to be drawn over the bone and held in position with sticking plaster until it has healed. There is just a possibility that the birds may have been quarre'ling and one nipped and completely broken the leg of the other. Vermin, however, is the more likely cause. •Canary," Grey Lynn.—Canary: The moult is now starting with your bird. This is the most trying time >f the year for canaries, as, :n addition to maintaining their usual bodily functions, they have to grow a complete new covering of feathers in a few weeks. A hard seed diet is not enough at this time of the year, und small quantities of one of the various condition foods on the market should be given at least, three times a v.cck together with extra quantities of tonic seed. A rapid moult is more satisfactory than a long drawn-out one A little powdered sul-

By TAILFEATHERS

Letters requesting Information regarding the care of cage birds will be answered In this column «aoh week. Readers are Invited to write to Tailfoathers, New Zealand Herald Office, Auckland.

phur dropped in the water will assist the moult by loosening the feathers. A rusty nail in (he drinking water is sometimes used as a tonic. Keep the bowels open with a little Glauber salts given in the drinking water. Be careful that the bird is kept out of draughts and, if it is a household pet, stop shifting it about different parts of the house and let it remain in one position until the moult is completed. Do not handle a bird •vhen it is moultinsr, as young canaries are rather litble to die of heart failuro. Many expert fanciers pin their faith on a veterinary phospherine as a tonic during this period. It is easily administered, and requires small doses only and is extremely efficient. "Cautions," Ponsonby.—Canary: Keep the exes separate and you will have less damage. to plumage during the moult. "Puzzled," Morningside.—Budgerigar: It is possiblo that your bird is 'not chewing its feathers on account of that acquired vice, but is just assisting in removing feathers now loose in their sockets owing to the moult. This is the time of the year when moisture on the feathers is necessary to assist not only in shedding the old feathers but in acquiring new ones with a sheen upon them. Nature wastes nothinrr. If you keep the bird in a box cage throughout the year, the oil in the feathers which keeps the bird dr.v when wild or in an out-door aviary will gradually disappear and the smooth, sleek appearance caused by feathers full of oil will disappear altogether. The feathers will become brittle, frayed at the edges and curved outwards instead of lying down smoothly on the body. Soft rain on the bird is the best benutificr, but if its cago or circumstances will not permit this, the use of a special bird spiny or scent spray with water will enable you to keep the plumage in its natural, perfect condition. Waterfowl do not get wet to the skin when swimming—only the exterior part of their feathers gets wet and even then, the oil content is so high 1 hat except for a few feathers, the majority arc perfectly dry when the bird leaves the water. Verification of the old saying that "oil and water do not inix."

. R.L., Waerenga.—Budgerigar: It is too late this season to allow the birds to go to nest. It is quite likely that their previous owner has already allowed them to breed. Over-breeding weakens the birds and jeopardises the chances of successful breeding in subsequent years. Sow thistle, spinach and silver beet are the greens recommended