18 Farmers' Bulletin 1327. 



haustive account of diseases, but in the following notes information 

 is given on the more usual complaints of canaries. 



When canaries become sick the first care should be to see that the 

 diet is proper and to examine into the general sanitary conditions 

 under which the birds are living. If canaries are confined in com- 

 pany with others, sick birds must be removed at once to a separate 

 cage, since their companions will continually peck and worry them. 

 Where numbers of canaries are kept, as a precaution to prevent 

 spread of contagious or infectious diseases ailing birds should be re- 

 moved from the bird room. It is always well to move a sick bird 

 to a warm place. Heat and protection from drafts work wonders 

 with ailing canaries and often are sufficient alone to restore them to 

 health. 



When medicine is necessary it is best to administer it in the drink- 

 ing water. If this can not be done it may be given directly in the 

 bill by means of a quill or a medicine dropper. In administering 

 medicines it must be remembered that a canary is small and that a 

 single drop in most cases is a large dose. Indiscriminate dosing of 

 birds with various remedies is to be avoided. 



The few instructions that follow are not to be regarded as in- 

 fallible, but they may be of assistance in simple ailments. When a 

 bird is seriously ill there is usually little chance of its recovery. 



BROKEN LIMBS. 



In case of bad fractures or injuries it is perhaps best for all con- 

 cerned to end the trouble by killing the bird. If a valuable bird 

 breaks a leg, a slender splint of wood wrapped in a slight wisp of 

 cotton and held by a bandage may be applied with care. This sup- 

 port must not be touched for two or three weeks, but then it may be 

 removed entirely. When the break occurs in the lower leg (tarsus) 

 a small quill makes a simple support. The quill is split and cut 

 down until it fits snugly around the part affected. It is then padded 

 inside with a few shreds of cotton and tied carefully in place with 

 silk thread. 



Broken wings should be allowed to heal without outside inter- 

 ference. All high perches should be removed from the cage, and 

 food and water made easily accessible. A bird with a broken wing 

 must be kept as quiet as possible in order that the fracture may heal. 



LOSS OF FEATHERS ABOUT HEAD. 



Baldness is sometimes occasioned by mites or bird lice and may be 

 treated best by removing the cause. Loss of feathers about the head, 

 however, may indicate old age or general debility. At the natural 

 time of molt the growth of feathers on the bare spots may be aided 

 by warmth and a well-regulated diet. In addition to the usual food, 

 twice a week give a little bread moistened with milk which has been 

 dusted with a mixture of two parts of sulphur to one of potassium 

 chlorate. At the same intervals rub a little carbolized petrolatum on 

 the bare places. Baldness is said to arise at times, particularly in 

 spring, through failure to provide the canary with lettuce, apple, 

 or other green food. In such cases improvement may be made by 

 supplying this need. 



