370 The Canary Book. 



It takes about five minutes to wash a bird, and twenty minutes 

 to get it quite dry. You must not let them get too dry in 

 the box or cage used for that purpose. I have found it a good 

 plan to place the drying box on the top of a basin containing 

 hot water, as the moisture arising therefrom prevents the birds 

 from drying too rapidly, which causes the feathers to become 

 hard and loose fitting, and detracts so greatly from a bird's 

 appearance as to risk its chance of winning a prize. As soon 

 as you observe a bird to be about two-thirds dry, remove it to 

 the airing-off cage. This cage should be placed upon a chair, 

 not too far from the fire, with a light covering over it, and must 

 be removed gradually as the birds get quite dry, to cool them. 

 Lastly uncover the cage, and remove it to the far side of the 

 room. An hour aftewards the birds may be returned to their 

 domiciles. If the tail or wing feather should get twisted awry 

 or curled up, give the bird some water to wash itself. If this 

 does not remedy the fault, catch it, and put the feather or 

 featheis so crumpled or ruffled in a little warm water, then 

 draw them a few times gently between your finger and thumb, 

 and they will soon resume their wonted appearance. If the 

 soap is not thoroughly removed from the feathers, they will 

 curl and twist and spoil the look of the birds. 



After you have washed one bird you will require to put more 

 hot water into each basin to bring up the temperature to about 

 SOdeg., and this will need to be done after each operation. 

 Spread the damp cloths over the drying cage each time after 

 they have been used. Carefully examine the wing and tail 

 feathers of your bird, and if any are found broken they should 

 be withdrawn at once, but until they grow again, the bird will 

 not be in a fit condition to show. There should be eighteen 

 flying feathers in each wing and twelve in the tail. It takes 

 six weeks for a feather to grow to its full length, but if one 

 feather is drawn from the tail or the wing the bird may be 

 shown as soon as the new feather becomes distinctly visible to 

 the naked eye. I think it is best to wash all birds intended 

 for exhibition two or three days before they are required to 

 be sent off. 



