38



Mr. Albert Pam,



Perches should be provided for all birds, except vultures,

waders, waterfowl, and such birds as partridges, tinamous, etc.,

which live on the ground. These perches should not be fixed to

the cages but should be let into sockets at the sides, so that

they can be easily taken out and cleaned : they should of course

vary in thickness according to the size of the birds. For larger

birds one perch should be placed near the bottom of the cage, just

high enough to prevent the birds’ tails from touching the floor of

cage, while for smaller birds two or more perches should be arranged,

care being taken that they are not above one another. For very

small birds, like sun and humming birds, it is best to use natural

branches or twigs, leaving ample flight room for these as well

as for finches, tanagers, and such birds. It is therefore neces¬

sary that these cages should be fairly high, and a square shape

is very useful. For all larger birds the cages must be made low,

only sufficient head room being provided to allow the birds to

stretch themselves comfortably on their perches (when provided), as

they are otherwise apt to fly up when disturbed and injure their

heads; this applies particularly to pigeons, doves, partridges, and

birds of similar habits. When a cage is fitted with perches it is

best to provide a false bottom made of wood, with a handle, so that

it can be withdrawn easily and put back ; the opening for this false

bottom should always be in front of the cage. If there are no

perches an opening should be left along tbe front, say one or two

inches from the floor, for cleaning and washing down, and it should

be made possible to close this opening, to prevent draughts, by

means of a strip of wood hinged from above.


For small birds the front of the cage should consist of very

small mesh thick gauge galvanised wire netting (I prefer the square

pattern to the round) and similar netting should be stretched about

two inches over the false bottom, as this tends to keep the birds’

feet and plumage much cleaner, the droppings falling through the

wire on to the false bottom and the food is thus not so liable to be

sullied. For large birds a cage front made of wooden slats or

laths about one or two inches apart, according to the size of the

birds, is usually best and cheapest, but care must be taken with

storks and others which are apt to peck and thrust with their beaks,



