DRESSING THE BIRDS' BEAKS. 



necessity to do so. The Frills were all that could 

 be desired in rearing their own young. Nineteen 

 years ago, from thirty pairs, I reared 132 birds in 

 my present lofts, and I had not a single feeder on 

 the place ! Whether, however, it is the number of 

 years of confinement in aviaries or not that has 

 affected their rearing instincts, I cannot say, but, 

 undoubtedly, Frills have deteriorated in this 

 respect . 



All the same, I relate a remarkable instance 

 of a young Satinette cock taking on paternal 

 duties as a feeder. The occurrence took place 

 whilst residing at Knowle over 20 years ago. 

 In a Norwich three-decker, I had in the middle 

 compartment a pair of blue-laced Satinettes 

 feeding one young ; it was not their own, but 

 one I had placed under their care at about a 

 week old. They fed it quite nicely up to about 

 three weeks old, and then took a dislike to it; 

 the hen, if you please, being the chief offender; 

 for, in addition to not feeding it, the hen had 

 commenced to peck it about the head. I had 

 in the upper compartment of the three-decker a 

 young blue-laced Satinette cock, six weeks old, 

 and which was doing well for himself; so just 

 for a temporary expedient, and to save the 

 youngster from further harm, I placed it with 

 the six-weeks-old bird. The three-weeks -old 

 youngster was very hungry, and immediately 

 he caught sight of his six-weeks-old brother, 

 waddled up to him, squealing to be fed, and, to 



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