CAGE BIRDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

CAGE BIRDS

By Tailfeathers

W.L.R., To Aroha. —The budgerigar breeding notes will bo forwarded to you at once. "Nemo," To Awamutu.—The budgerigar breeding notes will be forwarded as requested, and it is to be hoped that the doubts you liavo will bo cleared up by tho pamphlet. H.N.C., Devonport.—Tho canary breeding notes will be forwarded to you. Follow them exactly, as they have been proved successful for New Zealand conditions by eminent fanciers as well as by amateurs. M.G., Te Aroha.—The canary rearing notes will be sent as requested. Tho stamped ad dressed envelope for them is all that Is roquired. They are too expensive to print in tiio present restricted column. . • P.McB., Matamata.—Tho pamphlets on canary and budgerigur breeding will bo forwarded to you. You can send tho 2d postage by return. J3o sure and lot tho other girls at school who have birds read the notes as they aro cortain to get assistanco from them. P.D., Kaikoho.—Tho budgerigar breeding notes will bo forwarded, but you aro reminded that stamp for same was not enclosed. These notes take the place of articles in this column wliich arc not able to bo given in full owing tc tho numbor of questions asked. 0.R., Kohlmarama.—Canary: It is probable that tho whole of the four eggs will bo fertile. Tho hen will manage to rear two or tlireo youngsters by horsolf, and may even do tho four well. Do not put another cock bird into the breeding cage, as he will wan) tho hen to go to nest again, and neglect the young ones already hatched out. C.D.W., Mount Albert.—Canary-Bndgeri-gar; Both theso birds should bo allowed to breed now. Tho woathor is right, and if tha birds have been correctly treated they will bo in proper breeding condition. Apparently, your constant reading of the notes has caused you to become a bird fancier. Weil, you should start otT by 'knowing tho causes and remedies of other fanciers' mistakes before you encounter your own difficulties. Bird-keeping In England Under War Conditions.—Every phaso of animal life in England i,s affected by tho war. and a correspondent thero advises that the Lord Privy Seal has issued official advice to owners of domestic pots on what to do with them when war is threatened. Ho advised that they send them into the country to thoso parts which aro not classed as "dangerous," and to do so before an emergency occurred. Gas. of course, produces tho greatest danger for domestic pets. C.G.E., Remuera.—Copies of pamphlets on canaries and budgerigars will bo sent to you. ■lt is just at tho {ight time of tho year to start tho budgerigars breeding, and auy time within tho next fortnight or threo weeks is right for tho canaries. Master tho management _as detailed in tho pamphlets before experimenting. Many thanks for advising that you havo. adopted tho treatment suggested with your parrot and obtained wonderful results. M.G.S., Grey Lynn.—Pet budgerigar: It is presumed that your bird is a cock. The brown on the feathers directly to the rear of tho cere or blue skin around tho nostrils often _ dovelops during the breeding season, and is not at all detrimental. It will disappear during tho moult. Your bird requires weekly spraying with water or he will feel tho ill-oflectß of being kept in a dry atmosphoro too long. Try putting him out of doors sometimes, certainly out of draughts, but where ho can pet the benefit of sunshine, light rain and wind. You will prolong his life by so doing.W.A.R.S., Whakatane.—Paint: you must tako tho risk and leave the hen alone, otherwise you may lose the entire nest. There is no way of telling definitely which are hens and which are cocks among tho young budgies, although if you take one with a good, bold head it is more likely to bo a cock than otherwise. Tho first indications are the chango in colour of tho cere or skin round tho nostrils, tho cock's going bluer and the hen's becoming paler. Give youri birds ample cuttlefish, plenty of green food, cover tho bottom of the cage with sea shell sand and a few pebbles, offer one of the nunlerous forms of iodino nibbles on the market, and it is quite likely that the birds will not touch the paint'on tiie inside of tho cage, as you will have provided minerals and occupation by the above treatment. If by chance you should have used the word "enamel" for the interior covering of the cage, this will be quitfc satisfactory, as it will havo dried with such a hard surface that the birds will not have started peeling it off. If tho interior is painted with real paint. p emove it at the first opportunity.