CHAPTER IX. 



BIRD ROOMS AND BIRD HOUSES. 



THERE is seen no stronger evidence of the hold the 

 hobby of bird-keeping has upon those who follow it, 

 than in the many shifts and inconveniences they put up 

 with in their efforts to cater for their pets. The kitchen, 

 the scullery, the bedroom, the passages, and even the 

 bathroom have been used by the ardent fancier for the 

 housing of his exhibition stock. One would sometimes 

 think it would be impossible to keep birds healthy and 

 well under some of these conditions, but cleanliness 

 and care will do much, while by many shifts and dodges 

 the fancier tries hard to improve the surroundings. 



If we can only manage to set apart one room, how- 

 ever small, entirely to the birds, " our lines will run in 

 pleasant places." Such a room must be properlv venti- 

 lated, fitted, and arranged, and kept in order, for unless 

 these items are carried out satisfactorily, we shall not 

 only be unsuccessful in our hobby, but, what is more, 

 w^e shall certainly not deserve to succeed. In the room 

 there should be a place for everything, and everything 

 in its place. 



IMPORTANCE OF EFFICIENT VENTILATION. 



We will first deal with the question of ventilating 

 our bird-room. As this is a matter of vital importance 

 to the health of the inmates, we must be most careful 

 in dealing with it, as birds are such delicate, frail 

 little things, that although pure fresh air is as natural to 

 them as water is to a fish, they are nevertheless quite un- 

 able to withstand the effects of a cold current of air 

 playing directly upon them anything in a nature of a 

 draught will generally have fatal results. 



