The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-29
Killing Birds with Kindness.

what ails my biTd-it won't sing ?''
No, my friend and if you keep on
with the same bill of fare, it never will.
Do you know there is such a thing as
killing birds with kindness 4 pastor
called on me sometime ago and asked
me what he could do for his wife's can
airy. 1T is all puifed up, and sits
about the cage and won't sing" /
inquired about the diet. Then he be-
gan telling me of sugar. crackers,
greens and host of other delicacies.
That was enough. The wife was kill
ing the bird by kindnes.
have been in the business for years,
and have studied aud experimental in
various ways to ascertain what diet IS
best suited to canaries, and my last ex-
pertinent has settled the matter TO my
mind, beyond dOubs.
About three years ago I started a
German bird on diet of plain canary
seed, with a little rape and miIlet added.
l allowed no hemp. \ euttleish was
placed between the wires, bird gravel
strewn upon :he floor, fresh water CIV
en- daily, bath every other day in sum-
mer, and occasionally ION very mild
days. in winter. l allowed no green's
whatever to be given 10 it, exec pting
once in n while q bit OF sweet apple.
That bird has not missed a day without
having pourd forth the sweetest melody,
andhas not had an hour Of sickness dur
ring all this time.
This treatment, hold, is the only
safe one, and if closely followed must
give satisfaction. 1t has ever been a
mystery TO me why hemp seed has ever
been introduced into canary food. II
is the most dangerous article that could
be used.
And why shall we continue the use of
green's when an occasional bit OF sweet
apple answers this purpose {?
Poor bjrd-I must be Kind TO it.
Then continue yoIr idea of kindness,
and ultimately bury the bird, Do you
exemplify an act of kindness when you
have caused that pet of yours to crouch
in a corner suffering from over-feediug?
Can you feel that you have been kind
when by your lavishing you have stop
ped the happiness of poor little dick ?''
y bird can hardly be happy and sit
about and NOPE. The kindsst act is to
give it only that which will prompt "a
healthy body.
Our bird always sang beautiful be-
fore" said a dOwn-cast mistress to me
one day-and / looked in the seed bin
and found it full OF hemp.
~ have used every power to restore
its song.,' and l beheld large piece of
bird mama" between the wires.
Away with trash. Prevent sickness
prevent loss Of song. \ plain and pro-
per diet will do it.
I stopped the hemp seed, the grtea |
food, and threw away the bird man, |
ma, of bird placed in my charge, and |
which had not sung for year, and in |
two weeks il began To warble, ana now
sings as we'll as ever.
If bird begins to nope, and seems
unwell, l place rusty nail in its drink |
ing water. The rust from the nail af |
fords gentle tonic in nine cases out |
of ten, all the bird needed was a little
braciDg up. During moulting season l
do this, whether the bird seems 1ndis- |
posed or not.
Bathing in winter is very delicate |
step to take. Let it be on a very mild |
day, and have good temperature ia the |
room. Make the water luke warm. and |
as soon as i. has finished, place the cage |
near the stove. Do not let The bird be
cOms chilled.
A-o.her precaution-and which the
bird Wi.l.ccept as q great act ofkindnessi is
to place shall, or even newspapers
around the cage, TO kesp out the cold
during the winter nights when The fire
is low, and the temperature of the
room has fallen below 20 degrees.
Prevents colds in every way possible.
These few hirts. and the aforesaid 1
diet, will be the best acts of kindness
that you can show these delightful liz.
tie songslers, and that the birds will
appreciate your services. can easily be
proven by sweet songs and perfect
health.