or Blue-headed Parrot Finches



301



captivity in the past ? ” and I look through my books and back numbers

of the Avicultukal Magazine in the hope of getting this information.

I have found that people who write books and articles very often seem

to forget that really what one wants to know most, and certainly first,

is what they have found the best way of feeding the particular bird.

I, therefore, not wishing to make this mistake, will tell you—not

necessarily the best way to feed the Parrot Finches—but the way I

have found best up to the present. I should say, before I start, I am

still trying new ideas in feeding and that now and again something

is altered, but that which follows is as far as I have reached. All the

remarks I shall make in this article apply equally to either species

unless otherwise stated.


Assuming that we have just received some newly imported specimens

and that they are somewhat frail, and though healthy enough are—as

is usual—very thin. At this time it will be found best to cage each

one in a cage to itself in a warm room. It is important that the room

should be of course at as even a temperature as possible, say about

60° F. It will probably be found that they will refuse to eat white

millet. This used to worry me a good bit at first, as it cut down the

variety of the menu one could offer. However, if they don’t eat it,

always remember that it has not a very high feeding value—at least,

so I understand from a book of tables which I possess. They will,

however, eat plenty of canary seed and this should always be before

them unmixed with any other seeds. In another pot give canary seed

to which has been added one teaspoonful to the pint of cod-liver oil.

They will usually eat this without any trouble ; if they do not, the

ordinary canary seed may be removed every fourth or fifth day and

it will not be long before they learn that it is not so bad after all and

will eat it with or without oil equally well.


Mealworms are greatly appreciated. I have often seen in print

that one must be careful with these insects. We are told that they are

fattening and that, useful as they are, must not be supplied to provide

a stimulating food. Well, that is probably correct, but the point as

I see it is this—the birds like them better than anything you can give

them and for that reason alone I think they must be beneficial, even

if you have to counteract their fattening effect.



