BREEDING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT 71 



Place the three front toes together, as shown in Fig. E, 

 and slip the ring over them. Gently press back the rear 

 toe against the back of the leg (Fig. F), and without force 

 slip the ring over. The back toe as it comes back into 

 position ensures the ring being kept on. 



Should the three toes of the young be a tight fit for 

 the ring, dip the ring into soapy water ; if this is ineffectual 

 don't force. Better an unrung bird than a crippled one. 



If the young birds are rung towards evening, the hen 

 will seldom interfere with the rings. Some hens, however, 

 have a decided objection to them ; the bright glitter is 

 irresistible, and the mutilation of the young follows. 

 For this reason it is well to cover the rings with flesh- 

 coloured valve rubber, a preventive I have never known 

 to fail. 



Fig. D depicts a tool for rubbering the rings made from 

 a hackle-pin and handled with an ordinary awl handle. 

 The pin is cut at the place where the taper of it is slightly 

 less than the internal size of the ring. The ring is slipped 

 over the point of the tool and slightly wetted, the valve 

 rubber being then pressed over the ring. Withdrawing 

 the ring and cutting the surplus rubber away completes 

 the operation. 



Fig. G represents a holder for rings ; it is made from 

 a short piece of brass wire with a small washer or roove 

 riveted on the end. The rings are put on backwards, i.e.^ 

 the largest number to the bottom, which ensures the rings 

 being used in correct order of sequence. 



Weaning The Young. 



When the young birds are removed from their parents 

 which generally speaking is when they are a month old, 

 they must continue with the same food as they have 

 been receiving in the breeding cage, until they are seven 

 weeks old. If they are strong and hearty they will be 

 able to crack hard seed when they are six weeks old, 

 and as soon as they can do this the quantity of egg food 

 given them should be gradually decreased. Do not 

 change the food too suddenly. Sudden changes of food 

 are bad, and apt to upset birds, both old and young at any 

 time in their existence. 



When young birds are being weaned, they may be given 



