52 AVIARIES, BIRD-ROOMS AND CAGES. 



It is very seldom, however, we get a room that faces 

 due north. It may incline slightly to either the east 

 or west, and this little deviation makes a considerable 

 difference meaning two. or three hours' sunshine in the 

 room either in the morning or evening, when our breed- 

 ing birds would commence feeding either at the peep of 

 day, or they would continue very late into the evening. 



When erecting the staging in a north-east room we 

 should, of course, utilise the w ? all facing the east as 

 much as possible, as this will be the position getting 

 the first morning light. In like manner a north-west 

 room would be best with the staging against th^ wall 

 facing the west ; this during the summer months would 

 get a fair amount of sunshine during the afternoon. In 

 each case due regard must be given to the position of 

 the door. 



THE EAST, AND THE EAST WIND. 



A room facing due east is not to be despised, for i>n 

 the summer months we shall get several hours of direct 

 sunlight early in the morning, and shade during the 

 heat of the day. But the fancier who possessed such a 

 room would have to be an early riser in order to get the 

 full benefit of such a position, or he would have to take 

 the precaution of feeding the birds the last thing at night 

 before retiring. The light would be good all over the 

 room, and the staging could be fixed as would be most 

 convenient, the best positions of course being given to 

 the best pairs. It would not be advisable to commence 

 breeding operations very early in this room, for the cold 

 cutting east wind w-ould be sure to find its way in some- 

 where, and might spell disaster to the breeding hens. 

 We should need to w^ait until the weather was properly 

 settled and the wind in the right quarter. 



When the east wind is blowing, setting right on to 

 the room, it is almost impossible to ventilate as one 

 would wish. The best plan is to do so by means of the 

 door and an open window in another part of the house 

 facing w T est. In the early spring months a thick curtain 

 or covering of some kind should be put over the window 

 at night, when the wind blows direct towards it; this 

 will be better than using heat, especially before the birds 

 have started nesting. 



