XIV. How to Breed Birds.



175



tlie influences (often the reverse of genial) of our Spring, and by-

July the year has turned, the moult commences and the oppor¬

tunity of nesting for that y^ear is lost. Of course we know that

many broods are successfully reared in the latter part of the

summer, but we are endeavouring to show that the measure of

success might have been much greater had the stock come into

‘ condition ’ sooner. Those species that never breed owing to this

cause largely outnumber those that do. Our first efforts, there¬

fore, should be to get our stock into breeding condition as soon

as possible, let us say by the end of April, and for this purpose at

least two or three months preparation is necessary.


First of all, the sexes should be kept apart, where they can

neither see nor hear each other. They should be kept in an

aviary with inside and outside flight, in which they should be

allowed to fly on fine and warm days; the inner aviary should,,

however, always be warm (not hot) especially at nights. They

should not be allowed in the outer flight till towards mid-day,

and shut up again before sunset. Actual cold, provided the

weather be fine, will do them no harm for their few hours flight,

but on raw days, especially if accompanied by rain and wind,

they should only be allowed out for a very short time or not at

all. The next important consideration is food: this should be

abundant and nourishing, but of not too fatty a nature, as a fat bird

will never breed ; fresh green food, bath, grit, and other hygienic

adjuncts should be carefully attended to, and the result of such a.

treatment, if conscientiously followed, will not fail to bring the

birds into ‘condition.’ It is of course much easier to write about

these matters than to carry them out successfully, the main

stumbling block being the question of food, and as this article is

not on any particular species it is impracticable to give any special

menu.


The main facts to be aimed at, however, are fresh air,

exercise, moderate warmth, good, but not fattening, food. I need

hardly state here the signs of a bird being in good condition.

Glossiness of plumage, brightness of eye, alertness, quarrelsome¬

ness, restlessness, song, or frequent repetition of a call note, full

development of any ornamental plumage, etc. ; these are signs

of ‘condition,’ and until a bird shows them no attempt should be

made to lning the sexes together.



