New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-04-19
How TO Raise CanarIes.

In breeding, many persons place two hens to
one male should not, myself, but this is a mere
lnatter OF oplmon prefer a breeding cage about
three feet long, having a sliding wired partition
let IN from the back by groove at top and bot
tom, occupying one-third OF the care to be re.
served for young birds soon as they can fly bnt
before they can feed themselves. The framework
OF thls partition to be wood about an inch deep at
top, ana an nch-and-a-haf at bottom in the cen
ter OF the bottom part Of this partition pans are let
ID, one on each side, into which egg paste is put
SO that Whea the parents take from one pan the
VlctualS to feed them, the young ones soon learn
% 1eed themselves from the other 1t is likewise
useful to prevent the young birds from disturbing
the men when she makes her nest sits before they
can iced themselves, and is much better than
placing them in a small cage attached to the front
or slQe some persons attempt to describe the
sex but can only recommend the longest and
boidest bird for the male. In spring and summer
the vent will distinguish them; the breast bone is
81 long st in the male.
In the first place, should choose female that
is older than the male, as it often happens that
more males than females are then produced. The
age OF bird Is known by the length and strength
of its claws, and the scales on the legs. Birds
which are paired for the first time should be put
into small cage for q week, to become accus
toned to each other If two females are to be
pared with one male (Which am not partial toy
| they should previously have been kept together
| The breeding cage have above named, should
| have two partitions-one of wood, with sliding
door to be used for this purpose. When the first
IleH mas hlu, Lllt SliulnI QOOr Is drawn back, and
the male Is admitted to the second and when both
have laid the sliding door may be left open allow.
ing the male to have access to both females as
they Will not then interfere with each other This
! door should be shut when either of the hens hatch
| leaving the first to feed her own young: this is
the safest plan. But where birds are bred in cages
| | prefer one female to a male, as he feeds the
female whilst sitting, and lghtens her in rear
| ing their offspring,
Breeding cages should not be hung on wainscot,
ng where the sla1nming of door is likely to shake
the cage as this is sometimes the of the eggs
| being added. When birds are good breeders it is
| best to leave them entirely to themselves The
nests purchased at bird fancerS' shops are fancy
good enough TO answer the purpose: but should
these not be obtained, use fine moss, cowhair and
delicate hay, with a set Of net work around it.
which fasten on side of the front of the cage
inside: these materials the birds will take as they
fancy, sometimes making the nests at once at 9TH
ers streWlng at the bottom of the cage and wasting
them, and requiring second or even third supply.
II you think lit to remove the eggs as soon as laid
| lay them in box filled with dry sand taking ali
away till the last is laid, placing ivory one in
the nest when the first is taken. The period of in.
cubatlon IS thirteen days. 1t is often on or near
the rest where the pairing takes place. the female
| attracting the male by continuous piping note,
| repeated more quickly the nearer she is to LAYING
| About week elapses between the first pairing and
laying the first egg usually each day afterwards an
egg Is laid, the number varying from two to six
the pairing often continuing during the first week
of incubation.
About three nests during the season may be OBJ
tanned where the birds match moderately early
II any doubt exits as to the eggs being unimpreg
nated hold them between the fingers in the sun
shine, in bright light; the good ones will appear
filled with veins. while the bad will appear clear
or added. The eggs should be held lightly by the
ends, between the thumb and tOreiinger as they
are easily broken. This examination should be
made when incubation has been going on five or
six days. For few days before the young are
hatch2d it is advisable to give the birds paste in
the pan consisting of one-fourth hard, boiled yolk
OF egg, boiled crumb of roll or bread and boiled
rape seed, well mixed. The male often takes the
Chief part in rearing the young, he feeding them
and allowing the female to recover from the eX-
haustion of incubation. Until the twelfth day the
young remain comparatively naked, requiring to be
covered by the female, after which time theV soon
leave the nest, and, by the time they are month
store cage.
Many persons recommend young birds to be re-
moved from their parents as soon they begin to
feed themselves from fifteen to twenty days old, if
they wish to teach them any particular kind of
song; but ] am convinced that they may be left
until they are a month old without bad effect as |
have seen both nesting lnnets, mules, and cana
ries left with their parents until that time and
have perfectly learned their tutors note, if after
that time taken quite out of the hearing of any
canary, | have known birds which have learned
the song of the robin, and likewise the woodlark,
and not having call of their own. have been kept
with their parents for month. To teach young
bird to learn any strange song, particularly to
pipe, he should be placed in a small wire cage,
WHICH suoulu De udrheucu ny degrees, and Kept |
out of the hearing of any bird 4 short air, or
musical piece, should be whisted to him. or played
on flute or organ, five or six times day, espe-
clally in the mornings and evenings, and in five or
six months he will repeat it perfectly, or not at ALL
Some canaries, from having little exercise, and |
not enjoying pure air, are subject to the following
diseases:
|. Rupture, which causes inflammation of the in.
testlnes. The body is blown up, transparent lean
and full of red veins the intestnes appear to have
fallen to the lower part of the body, which seems
black This is often produced from giving the bird |
improper food. A spare diet, with alum or salt in |
the water, is recommended; prefer adding flaw
to its seed and stick lquorice in the water; also
oat meal and milk boiled, If worked strew pow
dered chalk with the gravel But, do what you
will, it is seldom cured.
2. Yellow gall on the head and eyos-a little saf.
from in the water, crushed hemp-sccd and nav
seed occasionally in the pan plenty of gravel
also grounded chick-weed and water cress, useful.
3. Some females, whilst hatChing have the sweat
ing sickness, which may be known by the lower
part OF the body being quite wet. For this disease
some persons recommend washing the bird with
salt and water, and afterwards with sprng-water
to be repeated twice day, and dried in the sun.
prefer giving it nonrshng food, particularly green
meat and not keeping it in quite warm tenn
perature.
A. Loss of voice. Sometimes arising from cold
a little mawsecd, fax, and crushed hcmp-seed, and
lquorce in the water. Plenty of gravel.
S. Overgrown beaks or claws required to be
pared with sharp scissors. The red vein seen both
in the beaR and claws when held against the light
show how far they may be cut. Before pairing
birds, their claws should be examined, to prevent
their catching them in the nest
CAPT. JONES HUNG.-In the Mobile Evening News
we find the following statement, which is confirmed
by other papers: