200



Mrs. K. Drake—Lives of Some Aviary-bred Birds



Date of Birth .

June, 1931.


July, 1931.


May, 1932.


June, 1932.


June, 1933.

June, 1934.

June, 1933.


July, 1934.


July, 1934.


June, 1934.



4 Hybrid Nutmeg X Bengalee ; still alive.


4, second nest ; sold.


15 Gouldians ; 3 died at moult ; 1 escaped, and 11

sold at 6 to 10 months old.


2 Hybrid Pectorals ; 1 died January, 1933,1 February,


1934.


3 Pekin Robins ; 2 died at moult ; one sold at


5 months—lovely bird and songster.


Shamas ; none alive after 2J months.


Shamas ; none alive after 1 month.


4 Common African Firefinches ; 1 died early ; 1 alive


to-day ; and 2 sold.


4 Common African Firefinches ; 2 died at moult ;

2 sold but, I heard, died.


4 Cordon Bleus ; 3 sold at 6 months ; 1 alive and

nesting.


Y.W. Sugar-bird ; 1 died at 2 months ; 1 alive to-day.



Young of Zebras, Bengalese, and Diamond Doves, Goldbreasts,

and Avadavats usually lived 4 to 6 years. I still have an aviary of

“ old birds ”.


With imported birds my luck is not by any means good, except

as far as Weavers and Whydahs are concerned. Here are a few I will

mention :—


Zebra Finches, breeding birds, die often after two years.


Cordon Bleus, hens, breeding birds, die often after two years. Cocks

live longer.


Bengalese hens, breeding birds, die after about two years. Cocks live on.

Nutmeg Finch, cock, I have had 8J years and still going strong. Hen

died after two years.


As for Firefinches (common African), cocks after two years, and

hens, if alive when they arrive at the station, generally die at the second

year’s breeding ; but two out of three are generally dead before I fetch

them from the station !


Enough of the small birds—now for better luck ! Giant Whydah,

7J years, a fine bird ; Ultramarine Finch, 11J years, going strong ;



