CHAPTER VI. 



METHODS OF FEEDING. 



IN an aviary where a number of birds are flying it is 

 impossible to supply seed in the ordinary way, because 

 we should not be able to gauge properly the eating 

 capacity of the inmates. They must be given certain 

 seeds in quantity, and to do this there is nothing to 

 equal a self feeding hopper as shown in Fig. 20. This 

 should be made of thin wood, with a glass front, and 

 one can then see at a glance when the supply of seed 

 is getting low. It should have two feeding holes; one 

 will admit light, while the bird is feeding from the other. 

 But even this hopper 

 must be watched, or 

 they will crack and eat 

 the seed with their 

 heads inside, dropping 

 the husk there instead 

 of outside, and thus 

 covering up the un- 

 eaten seeds so that 

 others are unable to get 

 at them. For birds 

 the size of Finches, the 

 feeding holes should 

 not be more than three- 

 quarters of an inch in 

 diameter. 



It is not a good plan 

 to put mixed seed in the 

 hopper, unless only 



Fig. 20. Hanging Seed Hopper ; 

 dotted lines show interior fittings. 



such staple food as 



canary and rape; even 



then a double hopper is 



much to be preferred, one compartment for the canary 



and one for rape. Any of the more oily seeds, such as 



hemp, linseed, niger, etc., should be given in separate 



vessels. 



