The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-08-26
THE CROW AS A PET BIRD.
1T GAN BE TAUGHT TO TALK BET.
TER THAN THE PARROT.


The Way TO Train Them While They
are YOung-Amusing Creatures
as They Get Older and Wiser.
Crows make very amusing pets for any
one who can put up with their innate
spirit Of devilry, and besides that they
can be taught to talk moro distinctly
than most parrots, says Natures Realm.
1t Is common idea among the country
/ people that they will not talk unless
their tongues are cut at a certain tender
age. Be that as it may, / have heard
crows talk excellently that never had
their tongues cut, and some whose
tongues are cut never will talk at all. /
always take my chances without cutting,
and out of nearly dozen that have
owned only two proved void of bump
of language.
To be sure of having a good, affec-
tionate crow, take him from the nest as
soon after Matching as you can find him.
If he is the first of the brood Matched, all
the better, How are you to tell that2
Why, If you find one baby crow
and four eggs in the nest, does
not that settle the question beyond
dispute2 Name him as soon as you get
home. 1t is good plan to have family
consultation on the subject, for re-
christening is fatal to the proper educa-
ton of your callow charge. Always call
him by name when you feed him. He
will learn his name before he knows
what feathers are, and respond to it
whenever he hears it uttered.
Feed until half aedged on meal and
water-regular "chicken dough"-and
If any "chicken sickness" comes on con-
suit the "chicken doctor" In other
words, the young crow must be raised
on about the same diet as young chick
On. Feed plenty and feed often. A
crows nest is the best thing to keep him
in during his infantile days. If you
haven't one make a substitute. As he
grows in strength and is able to travel
about little he needs more variety in
his food, but be careful he does not
swallow anything that is very salt.
Dump handful of gravel down his
mouth occasionally and give him min
nows and frogs once in while. Swal-
lowing his first live frog seems to give
young crow a most agreeable new sensa-
ton. Do not be in u hurry about max
ing him bathe.
He will wash himself whenever it is
necessary, and if taken and plunged into
cold water while the pinfeathers are full
of blood it may cause him to literally
"catch his death o. cold" AS soon as
he is well on the wing his language les
sons should begin. Shut him up in
darkened room when we'll fed, and begin
by whispering the word or phrase you
wish him to learn. If he seems to listen,
repeat it little louder, and continue
until he either grows restless or goes to
sleep. 1t will be but few minutes.
Repeat the same lesson and nothing
else every time you visit him or pass with
in hearing for a week or ten days, and if
your crow doesn't talk in that time he
probably never will.
Generally they will begin to practice
10 themselves the first or second day of
heir Imprisonment, but once word or
phrase is learned others will quickly fol-
ow. If really talented you can make
your crow appear to answer any ques-
ion. For instance, call his name
gently and add "What" in a loud,
,mphatc tone. Soon, when his name is
,alled, he will respond "What" with
ust the same emphasis and infection
hat he has heard you give. Then,
gain, if you say, "It's dinner-time"
whenever you feed him, some day he will :
walk into the house hungry and gravely |
''It's dinner.time."
As he grows in years and knowledge
our crow will develop a variety of thev-
'h and amusing tricks too numerous to
MENTION. He will cultivate the most
riendly acquaintance with some people
nd show an unaccountable animosity
0ward Others. He will attend you part
ray whenever you leave home, and if
our hours of return are regular, will
robably meet you at the same spot and
'elcome you exuberantly. Every time
g fails to do so look for him at once;
Q will either be in some utterly entranc-
e bit of mischief or else dead.