XIV. How to Breed Birds.



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the males. One or two moderate-sized cages should previously

have been placed in the aviary, and, when the hens have got

accustomed to these cages, the males should be put in, each one

in a separate cage. All the males that are intended to breed in

the aviary should be paired at the same time, and it will conduce

to future peace if these males have already been living together.

The best time to cage up the males is after dark or just before

dusk. Owing to the birds taking fright and knocking themselves

about it is often impossible to move them after dark, and it

should then be done just before they go to roost ; the main idea,

however, is that they should remain quiet when first moved and

wake up in their new quarters, by this means they will be far less

disturbed by their change and no violent fighting is likely to take

place. On the evening of the second or third day the doors

should be opened and the birds allowed to find their way into

the aviary in the morning.


If these instructions have been followed out there is not

likely to be any serious trouble, but the aviary should be watched

for the next day or two. The next step will be to remove the

surplus hens, and this can be done as soon as it is seen which

pairs have mated. This may take place almost immediately, or

not for some days, but if the birds are really in condition it will

not be long, and once that has been successfully accomplished

the first step is completed.


Our attention must now be concentrated on the second

great factor, that of stimuli , for a bird in breeding condition and

mated will not necessarily breed, or at the most will only drop

her eggs if the surroundings are not to her liking, and, in the

case of some species, they will not even mate until they see the

materials and locality for their future home at hand.


The first important point to consider under the head of

‘ stimuli’ is the other inhabitants of the aviary. The ideal con¬

ditions is of course to give each pair an aviary to themselves,

but when space does not admit of this arrangement a golden rule

to remember is to place in the same aviary species which are

least nearly related. During the nesting season—except in the

case of those species which breed in colonies—a bird is always

most pugnacious towards its own kind, or those of other nearly

related species.



