54 



CANARIES 



and resort to a little hand feeding. Many young hens 

 are rather backward at feeding for the first few days, and 

 some old ones too, and if the young are helped over this 

 initial stage by the owner the hens will take up the feeding 

 and go on well. Again, sometimes there is a " weakling " 

 amongst the young, and when feeding time comes round 



When kept together in the nest young birds seldom meet with 

 accidents. Therefore never be over-anxious in getting them to leave 



it too early. 



its more vigorous brothers and sisters thrust it on one 

 side, until eventually it dies absolutely of starvation. 

 Therefore if a single youngster is found with httle or 

 no food in its crop it should be hand-fed, and thus enabled 

 to hold its own with its more vigorous brethren. A httle 

 assistance in such cases saves many a good bird. 



It sometimes happens that a young bird is pulled out 

 of the nest by the mother if she is startled, and jumps 

 off her nest quickly, or it may be pushed over by the other 

 birds, if the nest is a full one. Should such happen 

 and the bird, when found on the floor of the cage, appear 

 to be cold and dead, do not take such for granted. Take 

 the bird and hold it between both hands whilst you 

 breathe upon it for a few moments. In many cases signs 



