Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-03-29
2y1uulha' Column.
CANARY HOUSEKEEPING

But after all, it is all in the bak-
ing" as ladies so often say when
telling one another how to make
some delicate dish, so now success
in pet-bird housekeeping depends
entirely upon the power of their mis-
tress to let them alone. She can
sit quietly in the room and watch
them without harming or disturbing
them, but she must not handle the
cage, or move it in the least, or climb
up to peep in the nest. Once day
she must give them fresh food and
water and green's; then let them
alone, until the little birds are feath-
cred, when she can begin to handle
them, and teach them to know and
love her-an ample reward for her
forbearance. Unless she is willing
to deny herself the pleasure of peep
ing into the nest and letting her
friends do the same, it is almost
useless, even with the tamest birds,
to attempt raising young ones.
Taking this self denial as foun-
dation for success, next notice the
color and disposition of your bird ;
if he is gay and merry, get him
quiet female if he is inclined to be
shy and retiring, buy him wife as
confding and merry as you can find
and be sure you choose for yourself,
without much regard to the dealers
advice, unless he is a man you are
in the habit of dealing with, and you
know you can trust him.
Having bought your female, the
next step is to look after their food,
as at mating time birds require rich
living. Give them plenty of seed
mixed with hemp and millet, as mil
let is excellent for the voice, and
prepare an especial repast for them
each day of rolled milk crackers
thoroughly mixed with hard boiled
eggs, using both the yolk and white;
this food must be given from the
time of mating until the young birds
are fedged and can crack seed for
themselves, as it is the food upon
which the parent bird will feed her
young. Be sure it is fresh every
day. One egg should last three
days; simply cut off a piece, and
put the rest in the ice-box or some
other cool place for future use.
Give them lettuce, apple, the
white tops of celery, or cress every
day. Lettuce is preferable to all
other green's for birds. Above all
remember to put bit of dry mortar
or lime in the cage or room for the
female to eat, so that her egg shell
may be hard this is absolutely
necessary. A red-pepper pod hung
where they can get it is also good
for them, and for a tidbit a bit of
sponge cake soaked in sherry or port
wine is thoroughly enjoyed, and
helps to keep the females strength ur
while building and sitting an excel,
lent thing to do, as she can then at
tend to her baby birds better, and i:
not likely to eat her eggs-a trick
ill-fed birds are apt to indulge in.
As soon as your birds have become
acquainted, put them together. A
first for day or so they may fight
for birds have real quarrels, and dc
not disdain to resort to sharp taps
with their bills, but this will not las
long.
If you have an empty room O
garnet that is light, and that you arr
sure is free from rats or mice, turn
your birds loose in it, simply mailing
the nest to the wall, with the mate
rial for building loosely tackled in
bunch Just above it, within cas-,
reach of the mother bird, as sh
likes to sit on her nest that is to b
and pull her materials down to he
as she needs them. Hang her owl
and her mates cage beside the mes
as they will 60 to bed in them ever.
night until she begins to set, whel
her mate will sleep in one neares
her, or on a perch beside her, if on
is provided for him but it must b
put up before they begin to build
He is very jealous of her now, an
his tender devotion to her is beauti
full to watch. Sprinkle plenty c
gravel on the floor beneath the nest
put the seed in one dish and the pre-
pared food in another, and use tn
cage cup for water. Do not pu
the nest too near the top of tn
room.
If you have not an empty room
spare, then buy a large commo
cage with wooden back, scald
it all over with strong soda-water t
keep the lice away, rinsing it wit
hot soda water also. Then secure
at a good height from the floor, bV
not so high that you will shake
when you renew the supply of foe
or water. Cover the floor thick
with gravel, for the cage must nj
be cleaned again until the your
birds have left the nest; then pla'
the food in a dish small enough
prevent all risk of shaking the cas-
in taking it in and out to repleniS
it. The water should be so arran:
ed that the birds cannot wet ther
selves by trying to battle in it, as
drop of water will destroy the eggs
The men in bird stores tell us til