64 'AVIARIES, BIRD-ROOMS AND CAGES. 



(instead of the strips). But insects will then often 

 gather thickly underneath the bottoms of the cages; the 

 strips are much the better, as they leave little space for 

 the insects. 



After we have put the staging into position, it must 

 be Tnade firm by fastening it to the door or window- 

 frame. If it does not come close enough to either of 

 these to screw or nail direct to it, an iron or wooden 

 rod can be fixed from one to the other in order to steady 

 it. 



Staging like this is not at all difficult to make, and 

 has the merit of being easily taken down and put 

 together again for cleaning purposes. Further, if the 

 cages are made uniform in size, they will be interchang- 

 able, and the birds can be moved into different positions 

 whenever thought necessary. 



FLIGHT CAGES RECOMMENDED. 



In every bird-room there should be flight cages, or 

 a small flight or aviary. They are not only very handy 

 to put several spare birds or young ones into, but can 

 also be used as flights for the stock birds during the 

 winter months. Flight cages should not be less than 

 30 inches in length, or they lose their distinctiveness, 

 and become merely ordinary cages. The proper flight 

 cage is one large enough to enable the birds to take 

 more than the ordinary amount of exercise that is, 

 more than they would obtain in an ordinary cage. 



It is only during recent years that the majority of 

 breeders have come to recognize the importance of exer- 

 cise upon the health of their stock. In consequence, 

 however, few bird-rooms are now found without large 

 flights or aviaries. We all know the importance of 

 .allowing the stock hens as much freedom and exercise 

 as we possibly can during the winter months. In these 

 flights they build up their strength and lay in a reserve 

 of stamina for the coming arduous breeding season ; 

 they, beyond this, greatly influence egg-production 

 and the prevention of egg-binding. Therefore, in 

 planning the staging and fittings of our bird-room we 

 must remember to reserve an odd corner in which to fix 

 up a flight for the birds. 



