CAGE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23375, 17 June 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

CAGE BIRDS

By TAILFEATHERS ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "Hiriemoa," Hamilton. —Post Mortem: Iho canary arrived in fairly fresh condition. The bird's death had apparently been caused by liver complaint of at least a fow wee a standing. Its detention in a'small cage would not therefore, have had anything to do with its 'untimely death. The previous treatment in giving it over-rich food may have brought on the complaint, which also may have been caused by dirty drinking water or by complications. In the circumstances, it appears unreasonable to hold you in any way responsible for its death after the few days only that you had it in your possession. •: "Nickie," Mission Bay.—Budgerigar: Maybe your pet bird is slightly afflicted with French rtioult, one of the symptoms of winch is thinness, together with a long, pointed tail. In addition to the usual treatment, such as cuttlefish, bono, sea shell, and greens, etc, give him two or three inches of a millet spray per day and extra quantities of hulled oats and good white millet seed in his seed mixture. The oats and the millet are definitely fattening foods and would overcome any lack of condition if incorrect food were his trouble. It is not advisable to givo him a mate if you desire to keep the bird in his present tame condition as a pet. The loneliness of a bird, particularly at this time of tho year, is a myth. Be sure that the bird has some time during tho week in the open air, where he will hnvo the advantage of direct rays of the sun and benefit of wind and rain. The breastbone of tho normal budgerigar should not be very prominent, and each sido of it should be well covered by the breast muscles.

N.W. Pctono. —Post Mortem; Gouldian Finch: The growth round the beak has been tho cause of death, as its roots have undoubtedly penetrated the brain. In the circumstances, I do not think that anything you could have done would have saved it. Painting with iodine would have improved the surface only. Personally, I have not come across such a case before, most troubles being confined to undue growth of the beak, which can bo kept in check by trimming and feeding sufficient grit. The disease would not be contagious, but as a safety measure always remember to wash your own hands in an antiseptic solution after handling doubtful cases. "Cock Robin," Mangere East.—Canary r This is not tho time of -tho year to consider pairing your birds. Canaries will give the best results if they are paired together toward the end of September, or oven October, when tho weather is much milder. While you can pos sibly get tho hen to lay eggs now by offering a nest pan and nesting materials, you are definitely running the risk of egg-binding and or unfertile eggs. The wire ring in the cage Is the remains only of a zinc nest pan. During the end of September, introduce a zinc or porcelain nest pan, put a felt lining in the nest and offer the usual nesting materials, all of which you can buy at a good bird or pot shop. During August, commence to give a little canary rearing food to the birds two or three times a week and gradually increase the amount. Give a little tonic seed also and as tho weather improves, increase the condition food. The birds will then be in fit condition to breed during September or October and make a success of their first nest. You can take two nests during the season. T will send you a pamphlet giving full details on how to rear canaries, but please do not try to commence breeding too soon. "Budtrio," To Kopurn.—Budgerigar Deformities: It is most unusual for the beak of a budgerigar to (?row into its throat, and exceptionally rare for two birds out of three to be similarly afflicted. Beak deformities are often attributed to feeding wheat or too great a quantity of soaked seeds when tho bird is young in the nest. A few years ago, soaked wheat was advocated as a rearing food. Aftor its use by a considerable number of fanciers, beak deformities became plentiful. It is probable that the same thing would occur if you gave the birds an excessive quantity of soft hulled oats. Pare the beak back to a normal shape, .put several lumps of old mortar in the cage in addition to cuttlefish, and a few round pebbles as playthings. Feed on small, hard, brown millet, which will take an effort to shell, and will so provide extra work for the bird's beak. Leave one pair of birds only in tho cage and remove the third, who has probably been the cause of lack of breeding previously. As it is probable that this column will lie ceasing shortly, I will send you a copy of notes on breeding budgerigars. J.C., Te Kawa. —Budgerigar: Overcrowding may possibly have contributed to the loss of your budgerigar. Unsuitable foqd is also likely, as the seeds for goldfinches are definitely not Suitable for budcrerigars. Keep your canaries, zebra's and goldfinches in a separate enclosure, and feed your budpcricars on assorted millets, a little canary seed, and a little hulled oats, Give them a couple of drops of olive oil direct to the beak twice a week for* say, a-fortnight, by which time tiie indigestion should have been cured. "Bird Lover,Otahuhu.—Mule:'Give tho bird some red colour, food mixed up in canary rearing condition food, but increase the proportion or red colour food slowly. Feed also marigold seeds from the garden, as many as the bird will eat.