Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-11-06
CANARY BIRDS.
HINTS FOR THE CARE OF THE
FEATHERED SINGERS.

Cleanliness and Healthy Food and
Proper Housing Make Well and
Happy Canaries.
There is probably more utter rubbish
printed IN book form as to the proper
and correct method of successfully breed
ing and raising canary birds than about
any other household pets.
No two works can be found that agree.
Each writer has his or her peculiar theory
to advance. One strongly advocates a
liberal supply of water in vessel large
enough to admit of the birds bathing
regularly. Another theorist condemns and
advises that water be given sparingly, and
for drinking purposes only. The advice
of large and practical breeder is to
supply water literally, so that the bird
can bathe if it cares to, and this it will
do every morning with great satisfaction.
A good plan for intending canary.
keepers is to purchase few young birds.
1t does not matter whether the birds are
required for breeding purposes or simply
for household pets, it is better to buy
young birds. 1t is interesting to watch
the development of the youngsters, and
far more satisfactory than buying old
birds, that may have contracted some
allment that only the eye of an expe-
rienced bird fancier could detect. Be-
sides, they become much tanner if taken
when very young.
Another feature connected with the
buying of young birds is that they are
considerably cheaper than matured birds,
and then again some of them may turn
out to be birds of great value. In pur-
chasing it is best aud cheapest in the end
to go to some respectable dealer and tell
him exactly what is wanted.
One should examine q bird carefully
before purchasing. A healthy bird will
always appear compact and slender. Its
feathers should lie close and neat, not
ragged and fluffy like feecy wool. The
wings should be close to the side and
not allowed to droop. All mopish- look
ing birds, or birds that pant or wheeze,
show signs of discharge from the nos
trils, or sit still and low down on their
perches, may be safely passed by as
worthless. The buyer can readily dis
tinguish an old bird by its rough, scaly
white legs and long, pointed claws. Not
a few dealers will try to convince an in
experienced buyer that the pale plumage
ola young bird will deepen in color with
age. 1t is almost needless to say that
each successive moulting leaves the bird
a shade paler in color.
The male usually has a prettier shape
than the female. The head of the cock
bird is larger, and he has the distin-
gushing feature Of ring of bright
feathers around his eyes. 1t is a good
plan, if possible, to hear the bird sing
before concluding the purchase.
The chief article of diet, as. matter of
course, is the seed of the grass phalaris
canariensis, well known as canary seed.
This should be bought only from reliable
dealers to insure its being perfectly
sound and of the best quality. If strong
healthy birds are desired, and it is taken
for granted that such is the wish of
all owners of canaries, great care
should be taken in the selection of food.
1t is altogether worth while to remove
every particle of dust from the seed by
placing it In fine sieve and shaking it
well before giving it to the bird. Another
matter of the utmost importance in con-
nection with the seed is to keep it out of
the reach of mice. 1t not infrequently
occurs that birds are poisoned with seed
that will have spoiled by their contact.
A little hemp and rape seed is also relished
by canarics. A green, fresh lettuce
leaf may be given occasionally and, for
a great delicacy, a lump of sugar. The
canary is fond of sugar, and pecks at it
with evident relish.
A little judgment should be used in
the selection of cage. Painted bars, or
paint in any place where the bird can
get hold of it, should be avoided. The
canary would be almost sure to get some
of the paint off at some time or other,
and the effects would be very injurious.
Canaries are contentcd in almost any,
sized cage, but, of course, the larger
the prison is the better it would be for
the captive.
The large breeders in Germany and the:
Tyrol use large cages and put several
pairs of birds in the same compartment.
A small tree OF branch is put in the cage
in February or when the breeding season
and if little moss, wool,
hay and other soft material is strewn on
the floor the birds will build a very neat
and pretty nest.
They usually lay from four to six eggs.
It takes about fourteen days for incuba-
ton. The parent birds take great care
of the young, and the rearing is accom-
plished without any trouble to the owner.
The first brood are scarcely able to take
care of themselves before the parents
have hatched out another. The canary
usually brings from three to four brooda
of young birds into existence every year,
even in captivity. New York Sun.