Dr. M. Amsler—Labour Saving in the Aviary



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food and waterpans about the aviary if a new bird is expected. In

less than no time he will learn to copy the other birds, after which

the above precaution is not necessary.


Doves are perhaps the stupidest of birds in finding their way

about a new aviary. Why is it that these otherwise charming and

easy birds are such fools ?


I refer particularly to their habit of suddenly becoming scared

and dashing about the aviary as if one were chasing them.


The ordinary seed hopper which one can buy is quite a good affair,

but not totally devoid of risk, for the lower end of the “ shoot ” through

which the seed slides down is liable to become blocked with dust and

husks, and although a casual glance at the glass front indicates that

there is plenty of seed for the birds, a closer inspection shows that

the poor things are pecking away and getting nothing.


In these days when the whole world, including our Government,

is advocating physical jerks and deep breathing, we aviculturists

can at least hold up our heads and say that we as a class draw deep

breaths at least a hundred times a day—and many of us do it in the

open before breakfast. How much breath we do waste in blowing

away husks, much of which could be saved by a little common sense.


If there is any wind at all, all that one need do is to pour the seed

from its containers into a box held 2 or 3 feet lower. This not

only gets rid of husks but also blows away the dust which, of

course, usually accumulates in the pan when it is merely shaken and

blown.


I have lately made a little gadget which still requires perfecting—

but which even now is most useful.


It consists of two little boxes about the size of cigar boxes—which

are superimposed with a space of some 3 inches between the upper

and the lower. The bottom of the upper box is made of large mesh

perforated zinc, which will allow a hemp seed to pass through easily

—the lower box has a bottom of fine wire gauze which will not even

allow the passage of Indian millet. When seed is poured into the

upper storey it all runs through with the exception of seed which has

been fouled and any odd bits of rubbish which birds often carry into

their seed pans—a shake or two and all the dust escapes through the



