HATCHING AND REARING 



139 



Feeding 

 in Flights 

 or Aviaries. 



small flight 



birds will soon wear a dejected appearance, 

 and poor health quickly follow. 



Give plenty of good soimd seed, and note 

 that stimulating, fattening food may be 

 given more freely in aviaries, 

 where the birds have plenty 

 of space for exercise, than in 

 the more limited area of 

 cages. There should be a 

 suppl)' of rijje seed heads without green 

 leaves, including bunches of white flowering 

 dandelion heads and plantain stalks, which, 

 when almost ripe, are of a deep 

 reddish colour, and are tiien at 

 the best stage for the birds. Two 

 or three of these stalks should be 

 interlaced in the wires at distances 

 apart, and at a convenient height 

 for the birds, so that several can 

 partake of them at the same 

 time, which they cannot do if 

 given in one large btinch. The 

 seed heads are not only tpiickly 

 devoured, but they also make a. 

 valuable addition to the birds' 

 dietary, and assist to check pluck- 

 ing by kcci)ing them occupied. A 

 bunch or two of shepherd's purse 

 may also be given to the yoimgstcrs 

 after they are taken from their parents. 

 These ripe wild seeds are perfectly safe so 

 long as the green foliage is not given as 

 well, for the latter may cause diarrhoea. 



A little egg-food can be given once a 

 day at this stage, and clean sand or saw- 

 dust, at least once a week, must be sprinkled 

 on the bottom of the cage. All soiled stuff 

 must be removed, and clean drinking 

 water be given witli the addition of a bath 

 everj' morning, while the weather is warm. 

 In any case, birds must have drinking 

 water fresh daily, and the bath at least 

 once a week. This is quite often enough 

 when the weather gets colder, even if time 

 permits of it being given more often. 

 Everjirhing will then have been done to 

 develop a hardy constitution and robust 

 growth. 



The self-supjilying seed-hopper and water 

 fountain shown on pages 79 and 80 are the 

 suitable furnishing for a portion of a room 



wired oft as an aviary ; or a drinking foun- 

 tain such as Jones's Hygienic Fountain, 

 illustrated herewith, and obtainable from 

 Messrs. Trower and Company, Caledonian 

 Road, London, we consider preferable to 

 that illustrated on page 80, because the 

 Jones fountain is all glass, and will con- 

 sequently attract the yoimg birds more 

 readily than the earthenware bottom which 

 completes the foiuitain shown on page 80. 

 For large flight cages, two or three 

 seed-hoppers, hung at intervals along the 



Ills of 

 Young Birds 



JONES'S HYGIENIC GLASS WATER VESSEL. 



front of the cages, will be sufficient for 

 the seed supply, and the ordinary drinking 

 vessels, or a couple of the conical fountains 

 shown on j^age 59, may be arranged in 

 like manner. 



We wish we could at once go to the next 

 part of our subject without a " but." 

 The flight cage, however, 

 is often the scene of a 

 malady wliich carries off 

 many young birds. It is not our intention 

 in this place to enter on the subject of 

 diseases, but we refer to this particular 

 form as belonging to management and 

 rearing. During the earlier part of their 

 existence young birds spend a good deal 

 of time in sleep ; but a healthy sleep must 

 not be mistaken for unhealthy listlessness. 

 Our reference to sleeping applies more 

 j^articularly to the young bird when it 

 first leaves the nest, any time between the 

 age of seventeen days or a month ; after 



