Vii PIGEOX.s AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



CLEANING BIRDS. 



As soiuctimes a inan sells birds that liave been exposed to 

 smoke and soot, it is necessary to clean tliem, for the 

 man -who lives in the country, or in a small town, can't 

 realize how easily birds soil in a city, and is often disposed 

 to condemn the bird or the breeder without stoi:)13ing to think. 

 Sometimes, really clean birds will have nesting or feeding 

 marks, especially when well along in the breeding season. 



The only way to clean birds is to wash them. Formerly I 

 did not believe in this, but I find by sad experience that it is 

 the only thing. 



To wash birds, iirst prepare about three vessels of wateri 

 (soft if possible.) Let the first be warm, the second luke- 

 warm and the third with the chill just taken off. Into each 

 put a little blueing. Take castile soap and make a good lath- 

 er in the first vessel. Take the bird in tlie left hand and first 

 wet his wings and tail ; spread them on the table, one at a 

 time, and gently sponge outward from the body. Don't be 

 afraid of hurting the feather for it will stand plenty of scrub- 

 bing. Xow get the sponge full of good strong suds, or lath- 

 er, and rub down from the head. Rub along the back, down 

 the breast, and also wash the legs and feet. 



Get a good lather all over the bird, for a bird half washed 

 is a sight. 



Now ri.;se the sponge and put him into the next vessel ; 

 going ijuiekly over him to get all traces of soap off; and then 

 into the third, into which you can put his entire body, and 

 let him struggle and spla.'^h. Have a good coarse towel ready, 

 warm if possible, and wrap him in it (juickly, then as the 

 1(i\vel absorbs the moisture take him out and let liim flutter. 



Tlieii put in a wire cage close to a good warmth. I usually 

 take a wire mating coop, put clean saw-dust in the liottom. 



