200 Management of Cages 



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The wire flights must, of course, be firmly and 

 closely secured to the wall by iron bolts, &c., and the 

 supports and framework are best in iron. 



It is advisable to leave the floor perfectly clear of 

 encumbrances, partly because it looks better, and partly 

 because the mice, which are difficult to keep out, have 

 less chance of finding a permanent shelter. 



The roosting house or houses at the back must be 

 well built ; and the roof should have felting between 

 tiles and plaster, to keep it cool in summer and warm 

 in winter. Perhaps it is advisable to feed the birds 

 inside, because the food (seed or insectivorous mixture) 

 keeps dry in wet weather ; besides which, the birds 

 are not induced to keep out too much, which, even in 

 the hardest weather, they are very apt to do. 



And the food must not be on the ground, nor 

 under any perches, but on a table with legs of a build 

 that will puzzle mice to climb. Outside, any tit-bits 

 that will be eaten up during the day can be placed, 

 along with green food and mealworms. 



For the water, if there is a handy supply, it is 

 much better to adopt the plan in the Western 

 Aviaries of the Zoological Gardens of London. 

 Shallow concrete basins with rims, into which the water 

 runs by means of a pipe, right through each pen. 



A waste pipe must be constructed to draw the 

 water off each morning, so that the basins can be 

 brushed out. 



But they must be shallow, at any rate towards the 

 rim, or birds, especially new arrivals in perhaps shabby 

 plumage, will be drowned. 



