CHAPTER III 



BREEDING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT 



It is in the springtime, the early springtime, that the 

 thoughts of canary lovers turn towards the mating 

 of their stocks. That is the majority. There are some 

 who think about it months before, and these are the ones 

 who make a success of it. 



Preparation for the breeding season should really begin 

 in the autumn shortly after the moult is finished. That 

 is the time to select the breeding stock for the next year. 

 Then the birds are in full plumage and grand body con- 

 dition. All their points are to be seen at their best, and 

 weaknesses are also easily discovered at this period. 

 More than that, the history of the birds is fresh in the 

 mind of the owner. He can easily remember how they 

 have progressed during the rearing and moulting, and 

 thus is guided to more satisfactory decisions than if he 

 leaves his selections to the following spring. 



Studying the Family History. 



Another point, having selected his potential breeders, 

 he can match them up on paper, and during the winter 

 he can un-match them should any of them develop 

 faults not seen at the time of selection. Thus when 

 the spring comes he will have so thoroughly grounded 

 himself in the pedigrees, family and personal history 

 of each bird that he proposes mating that the final pairing 

 up will be as near perfection as is possible. 



Amongst those selected for breeding will certainly be 

 some that will have to be shown during the winter ; 

 these will be given single cages, but the others, those 

 that come under that designation of stock birds, should 

 be placed in large flights, so that they may secure plenty 



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