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Correspondence.


CORRESPONDENCE.



BREEDING BUDGERIGARS, &C.


SIR,—It may interest some of your readers to hear that from two

pairs of Budgerigars I have already reared 32 young ones and both have nests now,

one brood already fledged. About March one cock died and I did not get another

for some weeks but the hen nested and much to my astonishment reared a family.

The first brood reared was seven, but I have been unable to count the later ones

as there seemed to be a regular supply of a young bird about every three days or so.

They have all been strong birds except one which had its feathers gnawed as if

by mice, but it lived all right until a cat got it. I cannot keep out the mice but

they don’t seem to disturb the nests.


In the same aviary I have a pair of Madagascar Lovebirds which reared

four young ones. Cutthroats which have reared one and would have reared

many more but for accidents. I think it must be one of the other birds which

throws out their young ones and should like to know which. I suspect Java

Sparrows ; mice never seem to go near the nest and I doubt if they could

get to it.


In the same aviary I have a Rufous-necked Weaver, pair of Pekin Robins,

pair of Java Sparrows, pair of Popes and lately added a Black-cheeked Love¬

bird. The Popes and Robins seemed to wish to nest but were too crowded.

The young Budgerigars, they are all the common green ones, are put into

another aviary when old enough. I find the old ones are very fond of a little

cheese and indeed most of my birds are. They also get bread soaked in sugar

and water, dry bread, cake and the usual seeds and green stuff. One pane of the

sitting room window opens into the aviary so that they can have bits of after¬

noon tea put through. I intend turning a pair of Red-faced and Bluewing

Lovebirds into this aviary soon. It is about 16 ft. long and 6 ft. wide in a snug

corner but short of sun in winter. Ivy, rose and clematis grow up the wall,

but only the ivy is allowed to grow many leaves until it passes through the

wire top, when the rose spreads out and forms a nice shelter.


The wood work was painted red to go with the red sandstone wall but has

gone an ugly purplish colour as usual with iron reds. The other aviary is done

with “ stop rot,” which gives the woodwork a pretty sort of fumed oak look

and is in every way much nicer.


A pair of Bluewing Lovebirds were put in recently by mistake and both got

pecked (the hen to death) before next morning, but probably that was because

they had clipped wings and were new. Birds hate a new bird, with a 11 failing ”

especially, but I am going to put the cock bird back shortly as he can now fly a.

little. The Red-faced Lovebirds will also be put in shortly.


Alfred a. Thom.



