71 



. CHAPTER IX. 



MOULTING. THE CANARY'S PLUMAGE. 



The next great event in the life of a young Canary is its first moult, indications of which begin 

 to present themselves when about two months old, though, no doubt, preparations have been going 

 on unseen for some time. In adult birds moulting commences about the month of July ; but the 

 time varies greatly according to circumstances, the whole period extending over the next three 

 months. With the decline of vigour the moulting begins ; indeed, the latter is always accepted 

 as an index of the former, and the breeder notes the presence of a few feathers in the bottom 

 of his cages as sure indications of the beginning of the end of his breeding season. We are 

 referring now entirely to adult birds, and may say here that the first sign of incipient moult — the 

 shedding of one or two quill feathers — is to be regarded as the signal to discontinue breeding 

 with such birds as show it. They may not at first manifest any disposition to give up the duties 

 of domestic life, but desire is sure to fail as the drain on the system consequent on moulting 

 progresses ; and even if it be found that the hen is sitting on " full " eggs at the time when 

 the moult begins, it is best to remove them at once and not allow her to exhaust herself in 

 endeavouring to discharge two duties at once. The chances are greatly against a hen's sitting 

 even her thirteen days ; and it is certainly too much to expect that, with failing energies and 

 a constitutional sickness coming on, she will continue for a still longer period to perform duties 

 which are born of a physical condition altogether different from that incident to the moulting 

 period. The cocks are, however, generally the first to succumb, in which case few or none of 

 the late eggs will be found to be fertile. 



We cannot do better now than take this opportunity of dismissing our breeding stock for a 

 while, and leave them to moult and recruit their exhausted energies in their winter quarters, 

 which we prepare for them by opening all partition-doors and drawing out all slides, and after 

 giving the cages a thorough autumn whitewashing, turn them, as far as such arrangements will 

 permit, into flights. Now will be the time to go over the old stock, with a view to putting aside 

 for further use such as have answered our expectations by accomplishing fair results, and putting 

 into the sale-cage those we intend to dispose of; and having done this roughly, by making a 

 comprehensive selection which will bear further thinning out, the old hens may all be run together, 

 and will require no further attention beyond a supply of good nourishing food and an occasional 

 bath on sunny days. We do not advocate the indiscriminate use of the bath during moulting, 

 but an occasional dip is beneficial. Such hens as possess show properties, and are wanted for 

 exhibition, must be caged off separately, not necessarily singly, to be put through the mill on the 

 special diet which we shall treat of presently. The same with the cocks : many of these may 

 have show properties of a permanent character, and may be required to travel the circuit again. 

 To do them justice they ought to be put into separate cages, but the remainder will do well 

 enough in a roomy flight ; and as the blood in their veins is not so hot now as it was in the 

 spring, they will soon be tired of quarrelling, if they only have plenty of room to get out of each 

 other's way. 



The young birds will also require to be drafted over, and most probably a selection of hens 



