BIRD NEWS 



11 



THE CANARY 



Practical Notes on General Manage- 

 ment and Breeding. . No. 5. 



Cage-bred canaries are as a rule 

 T)ad architects. No matter what 

 form of nest be selected it is well to 

 throw into the cage some bits of 

 candlewick cut in short lengths, a 

 little clean cow-hair, dried moss or 

 such like material, don't use it too 

 freely. 



The hen not infrequently throws 

 it all out of the nest just before she 

 lays, even so the provision of ma- 

 terial has a sort of psychological ef- 

 fect, it encourages the hen to go to 

 nest, and further if she has already 

 a nest of young ones it prevents her 

 from plucking her progeny. 



When a hen has prepared her 

 nest it is generally an indication 

 that she will probably lay soon. At 

 this time a supply of green food let- 

 tuce, water cress, chickweed, ground- 

 sel or cabbage sprouts may be given. 

 Some fanciers like to place a piece 

 of raw apple, banana or a bit of 

 beef suet for the birds to peck at. 

 It is a good practice, a variety of 

 diet often saves trouble, such as egg- 

 binding. 



It is not advisable to allow a hen 

 with eggs too free access to a bath. 

 There are some hens, however, 

 which seem to be natural born 

 mothers and just always do the 

 right thing. Others "ain't got no 

 sense" and would as soon flounder 

 into a bath and then return, water 

 soaked to eggs, with an unfortunate 

 after-result. Close observation and 

 an appreciation of the natural quali- 

 ties of the respective birds are the 

 best guide for the fancier. We have 

 often noticed that the broody hens 

 would nestle into a bunch of water 

 cress, or chickweed which was moist 

 with dew or from being washed off. 

 The amount of water thus obtained 

 can do no harm, and if some hen 



likes this form of cooling off it won't 

 do any harm to gratify her wishes. 

 One important point in placing nests 

 in a cage is, do not place them too 

 near the roof of the cage. Many 

 clear eggs are the result of so doing,, 

 it being impossible for the males to 

 fertilize the eggs. In this connec- 

 tion it must be borne in mind that 

 birds pair in different ways and 

 there must be no obstacle to prevnt 

 them doing so when and where they 

 select. Sometimes in spite of your 

 most elaborate preparations a hen 

 will elect to gather a few odds and 

 ends into a corner of the floor of the 

 cage and then make a nest. You 

 must humor her place a nest-box 

 upon the floor, and you will be for- 

 tunate if she accepts the comprom- 

 ise. We can not urge too strongly 

 that in proportion to your instincts 

 of observation and adaption so will 

 your success be as a raiser of birds. 

 Egg-Bound. — Canaries generally 

 lay early in the morning. If you 

 should see a breeding hen, sitting 

 "around" dull, mopy with plumage 

 all ruffled up — sometime about the 

 lunch hour — catch her very gently, 

 examine the abdomen, and vent very 

 carefully, if these are swollen, di- 

 lated, red and hot, almost certainly 

 the hen is egg-bound — that is, can 

 not lay the egg: Never attempt to 

 force the egg out of the vent. Never 

 break the egg, thinking the smaller 

 size will make things all right — • 

 both practices lead to dismal results. 

 Anoint the vent by means of a small 

 hair pencil, or feather with a few 

 drops of warm olive oil. Wait an 

 hour, if possible, then if no results, 

 give her two or three drops of 

 warmed castor oil, wrap her up in a 

 bit of cloth, leaving her head out, 

 place near a fire or in the sun. If 

 she passes the egg and seems weak, 

 give her a few drops of wine and 

 water or very dilute tincture of nux 



