10 FAEMEES' BULLETIN '770. 



FOOD. 



The food requirements of canaries are very simple. The prime 

 requisite is a supply of canary seed to which is added a small quantity 

 of rape seed and a little hemp. Persons having only a few birds 

 asually buy this seed ready mixed from dealers. The seed should 

 be clean, well matured, and not old. If canaries do not seem to 

 thrive it is well to examine the seed supply and crack open a few of 

 the seeds to make certain that empty husks alone are not being fed. 

 Too much hemp seed should be avoided, as it is very fattening. ' 



In addition to this staple d^iet, lettuce, chickweed, or a bit of apple 

 should be placed between the wires of the cage frequently. Bread 

 that has been moistened in scalded milk, given cold, is also beneficial 

 at times. If supplies of moist food are not kept strictly fresh and 

 clean, bacterial diseases may result. In feeding moist foods special 

 dishes with holders that slip in through the wires of the cage are 

 recommended. These are sometimes known as food holders or 

 slides. Soft foods must not be made too wet. In the case of bread, 

 enough liquid to soften the food, but not to run or to render it a 

 paste, is sufficient. Perhaps once a week egg food may be given. 

 This is prepared by mincing an entire hard-boiled egg and adding 

 to it an equal quantity of bread or unsalted cracker crumbs. 



Care should be taken to use this egg food onlj^ when fresh. Cuttle 

 bone should always be available to the canary, and at times it is well 

 to give prepared foods that may be secured from dealers. 



During the breeding season egg food must be given daily as soon 

 as the birds are paired. It may be discontinued or given at intervals 

 of three or four days when the female is incubating. The yolk of 

 hard-boiled egg only may be given for the first day after the young 

 hatch. Bread crumbs are added to this gradually, until on the third 

 day egg food as ordinarily prepared is supplied. The usual seed 

 supply should always be present, no matter what other food is given. 

 Attempt should be made to regulate the supply of egg food or other 

 soft food so that all is eaten without waste. The actual quantity 

 will vary with individual birds. When the 3'oung are four or five 

 daj^s old green food may be fed, but egg food mast be given until 

 they are fully grown and able to crack canary seed for themselves. 

 Meal worms occasionally are good for birds that are not thriving. 

 A craving for animal food may be satisfied by bits of raw steak. 

 It is not well to continue feeding raw meat, as it will cause a foul 

 odor about the cage. For delicate birds, rape seed soaked in water 

 over night and carefidly drained until dry is beneficial. T\^ien the 

 old birds are caring for well-grown j'Oung, feeding cracked hemp 

 seed will lighten their labor. Maw seed (poppi'' seed) is favored by 

 English canary fanciers as a stimulant, but its use must be guarded. 



