12 



BIRD NEWS 



sieve. After ten days, crushed seed 

 maybe added. In all cases give the 

 food at blood heat. In feeding, use 

 a soft quill, a piece of card or other 

 simple spoon. 



A chick twenty-six days old is 

 generally able to feed itself. But 

 don't change the food to suddenly. 

 Birds must be weaned as carefully 

 as babies. You can safely keep for 

 seven or eight weeks — the baby mix- 

 ture of egg, crushed rape, bread and 

 green food. Be very regular in time 

 of feeding. Very careful and cleanly in 

 its preparation. Sour food is fatal — 

 don't permit such a condition. Don't 

 give water before five weeks of age — 

 bring them unto it slowly. 

 The Second Nest. 



When the chicks are some three 

 weeks old, the hen will show signs 

 of wanting to nest again. Give her 

 the same accomodation and attention 

 as when first set. The cock will 

 probably continue to feed the young 

 ones, if he has already been doing 

 so. If the cock has been removed, 

 turn him into the cage for an hour 

 or two daily until pairing is ob- 

 tained; then withdraw him. Remove 

 the young ones and wean bird as 

 soon as possible. 



Moulting;. 



The moulting season extends from 

 .luly to November in each year. The 

 younger bred birds, that is bred be- 

 fore August, originally moult freer 

 and better than the later broods. 



Moulting is generally considered a 

 critical time in the bird room — but 

 'healthy stock, good care, good ven- 

 tilation and common sense will at 

 all times reduce the dangers to a 

 minimum. The exhibitor has the 

 added anxiety of "good feather" to 

 trouble over — but that also is more 

 likely to be secured by just the afore- 

 mentioned qualifications. 



Young Birds Moult. 



Chicks generally begin to moult 



between the age of eight and ten 

 v/eeks. It is not uncommon to find 

 that young birds hatched in May 

 will often throw feathers before those 

 that are hatched in April or end of 

 March. The moulting bird generally 

 becomes "dopey," loften goes asleep 

 during the day, and looks quite down 

 and out. It seems to go about the 

 cage hunting for something. A few 

 days later some loose feathers lying 

 in the cage will tell the story. Now 

 watch the breast of the bird and in 

 a few days two narrow stripes of new 

 feathers will appear on each side of 

 the breast. This is what the fanciers 

 term "begin to break." The brighter 

 and quicker these lines show, the 

 better is the prospect. 



Food During Moult 



Feed liberally but "cut out" every 

 thing which could possibly ferment or 

 go sour. 



In addition to ordinary seed, give 

 inga, maw, a few crushed oats, ripe 

 plantain and linseed. The latter 

 (crushed linseed-meal) added to the 

 egg and biscuit food is excellent. 



A little beef suet and as the moult 

 advances, boiled carrot thrice weekly 

 tightens the feather and adds bloom. 

 Great care is needed to keep all 

 draughts away from the birds during 

 the moult. 



Never at this time change the birds 

 from one temperature to another, 

 keep them where they were when 

 moulting set in — otherwise they may 

 "stick" in the moult. Birds tardy in 

 beginning to moult may however be 

 stimulated, by changing into warmer 

 quarters or by placing a thin flannel 

 covering over the cage. 



A little fluid magnesia or a pinch 

 of epson salts added to the drinking 

 water is very useful when moulting 

 sets in. Some fanciers add whiskey 

 and lemon juice. It is sometimes 

 recommended to moult the birds in 

 dark rooms. 



