CAISTAEIES : THEIR CAKE AXD MANAGEMENT. 13 



fill color foods have red pepper as a base. For a long time methods 

 of preparing and feeding them were kept secret, but now they are 

 outlined in many manuals on canary keeping. 



A standard color food may be prepared as follows: To the ordi- 

 nary egg food (one hard-boiled egg chopped fine with an equal 

 bulk of bread crumbs or unsalted cracker crumbs) add a teaspoon- 

 ful of ground sweet red pepper. Mix until the food shows an even 

 reddish tint throughout. Each bird to be experimented upon should 

 receive one small teaspoonful daily. The quantity of pepper is 

 increased gradually, until two heaping teaspoonfuls are used. Addi- 

 tion of a little brown sugar and a few drops of pure olive oil is 

 beneficial, and a small quantity of hot red pepper, gives a better 

 flavor. The food should be prepared fresh each day. In mixing, 

 allowance must be made for variation in the size of eggs used. In 

 color feeding some canary breeders increase the proportion of sweet 

 red pepper until four teaspoonfuls are added to the usual quantity of 

 egg food. Half a teaspoonful of this concentrated food is allowed 

 each bird. This method may be used during a short, quick molt. 



In selecting canaries for experiments in color feeding preference 

 should be given to strong, vigorous, male birds. During digestion 

 and assimilation this food puts more or less of a strain upon the 

 system, and birds that are old or constitutionally weak may not 

 thrive, or may even succumb under the treatment. Color food may 

 be given young canaries at the age of 7 or 8 weeks to produce a deep 

 color at their first molt. Birds with color that is naturally full and 

 rich should be selected. Those having greenish markings or those 

 descended from a male parent well marked with green are prefer- 

 able. Pale birds seldom color well. 



Color feeding to be successful must be started as soon as the birds 

 are ready to molt, and feeding must be continued until no more pin 

 feathers can be found anywhere on the body when the feathers are 

 carefully blown aside. The usual supply of seed must be kept in 

 the cage, for canaries can not subsist on the color food alone. 

 Should a bird refuse the color food, the seed supply may be removed 

 for a short time morning and evening and the color food substituted. 

 Usually in a day or two the stimulating food will be eaten eagerly. 

 Linseeds should be given (as during the regular molt) to impart a 

 gloss to the new feathers. The birds chosen for color feeding should 

 be kept in a dim light away from the windows and with the cages 

 shaded. Open-front cages are easily provided with a screen of 

 paper or cloth, but care must be taken to leave space for ventilation. 



The color food actually supplies an enriched color element to the 

 blood that otherwise is lacking. Until the artificial color is firmly 

 fixed in the matured feather it fades easily when exposed to strong 

 light. Direct sunlight must be avoided. It has been found, too. 



