272 OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



MANAGEMENT OF CANARIES 



Cages. The common wire bird cages used for one or two 

 canaries are so well known that no description of them is neces- 

 sary. For larger numbers larger cages must be provided. Large 

 cages cannot always be obtained at stores which sell the small ones, 

 but they may be obtained from bird stores in the large cities, or 

 made to order by a local mechanic. Indeed, any clever boy who 

 has learned to use tools can make one at very little cost. While 

 the small cages are usually made all of metal, the large ones are 

 commonly made with wooden frames. A small cage has a remov- 

 able bottom. A large cage must have two bottoms the outer 

 one fixed, the inner one in the form of a movable drawer. A 

 metal drawer is easier to keep clean than a wooden one. 



Position of the cage. The cage in an ordinary room should 

 be hung where its occupants will be comfortable and safe. The 

 greatest foe of the domestic canary is the house cat. Some cats 

 can be trained to let canaries alone, but very few can be trusted 

 to make no attempt to get a canary when left alone in a room 

 with it. When canaries and cats are kept in the same house, 

 the cage should hang in a place from which cats can be excluded 

 when they cannot be watched. The comfort of the bird will often 

 require that the position of the cage be changed once or oftener 

 during the day, according to the season or to some particular 

 condition. Thus, a sunny window may be very pleasant at some 

 times and too warm at others, or a bird may tire of being con- 

 stantly in the same place. The bird keeper has to learn to know, 

 by observing the actions of birds, when they are comfortable 

 and contented, and must use judgment in placing the cage to 

 suit them. 



Feeding. Canaries live mostly on ripe seeds, but they are also 

 very fond of the leaves, flowers, and green seeds of many com- 

 mon plants. Being such small birds, they eat only small seeds. 

 The seeds most used as food for canaries are hempseed, flaxseed, 



