MOULTING AND COLOUR FEEDING 8i 



have a cage to itself. In some cases they fasten a sloping 

 shutter to the front, so that the bird may be kept quiet, 

 and that the light may not reach it. These cages vary 

 in size, but generally speaking are about 13 in. or 14 in. 

 long, the same in height, and 8 in. deep. 



My own opinion is that it pays to moult prospective 

 winners of every breed in a separate cage. It means 

 the expenditure of more labour and time than when 

 several are moulted together in a larger cage, but it 

 gives better results and therefore pays. 



Many breeders put their best birds in couples to moult, 

 and give each pair, or couple, the run of a single breeding 

 cage. This saves work, also the provision of special 

 moulting cages. But there is always the risk of two 

 birds, caged by themselves, quarrelling and damaging 

 each other's plumage. Personally I have found three or 

 four do better than two. There does not seem to be so 

 much fighting. When only two birds occupy a cage, 

 one of the pair usually wants to boss his mate and this 

 causes trouble. There is one rule that must always be 

 observed, be it two, three or four birds that you moult 

 together, they must all be put in the cage at the same 

 time. If this is not done they seldom settle down together, 

 and quarrels are frequent. 



Stack Moulting Cages together. 



When a number of birds are being moulted in a room 

 it is advisable to have all the cages containing the best 

 birds stacked together. The reason for this is that a 

 rod or rope may be fixed from end to end of the stack, 

 and a sheet running on small curtain rings attached 

 thereto, so as to shield the birds from the light and keep 

 them clean and quiet. This only applies to the show birds. 

 The ordinary stock birds may be moulted together in 

 batches, according to the size of the flight cages. 



With such varieties as Belgians, Borders, Dutch Frills, 

 Crests and Crest Breds, Lancashires, and Scots Fancies, 

 more hberty of individual thought may be given. In 

 these colour is not of great importance on the show bench, 

 and excepting with valuable Crests and Coppies they do 

 not need to be caged separately, but it is always advisable 



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