Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-12
CARE OF CANARY BIRDS.
MARION sEABRooK.

In order to secure health ana ccas-
fort to your birds, their cages mus. be
kept scrupulously clean. Brass cages
are best, and can be kept bright by
Washing with cold water once week,
wiping dry, wire by wire, with linen
,loih. Never put hot water on the
cage. Painted cages are bad for birds.
as the paint is sure to be picked of and
will slowly poison the bird. Sand is
better than paper for cages. Use clean
river sand and pu- it half an inch thick
on the tray. They require the sand to
facilitate digestion. Sea sand must
never be used.
Water for bathing should be regu-
Iarly supplied every morning. at as
nearly the same hour as possible. Allow
the bath tub to rnmain only long
enough for the binds to wash very
soon They will learn to use it imme-
d:ately, and thereby save much trou.
BILE. Never leave the bathin dish In
the cage, for the birds drink from it
and soon become sick. Ii you have a
large cage, you will have less music, for
the canary will be taken up with the
amusement Of hopping about and for
get his song. Canaries come from a
warm climate and the cage should be
kept in a warm place. A temperature
of some sixty degrees Is about right.
They should have fresh air, but "A
draft is fatal to voice and health
Most bird ailments originate in a cold.
Birds need good air as much as good
food, aud often suffer exceedingly for
want of it, especially in tine cold sea-
son when they are kept shut up in a
close, unventilated room. They are
usually hung too near the top OF the
room fer comfort. The beat and bad
air rise and cause them much suffer
ing. Probably more birds suffer and
die from want of fresh, pure air than
from any other cause. The cage should
hang where the sun can lie IN it part
of the day, but a bird should never be
exposed to the direct rays of the sun
with no chance of shelter. The cage
should he suspended by a spriag, as it
lessons the shock as they jump from
perch to perch. A tree twig bends
with the bird.
Food for cInaries should consist of
plenty of seed at all times, and atten.
lion must be paid to this, because, from
the construction of some cages IT would
not be possible for the bird to EN- ty
the seed cup. and it might starve, with
70 d in sight. but ont of reach. Canary
seed should be given constantly. and
occasionally a mixture of rape, millet
and very sparingly) hemp. A hard
boiled egg and also a mixture of the
boiled egg ana grated cracker, bit OF
apple or baked potato may be given
without injury. The green food given
must be of the most delicate nature, the
tender inside leaves of celery, cabbage,
or lettuce. Sugar, sweets or cake
should not be given TO birds. If it does
no greater harm it causes a disrelish
for their natural food. Anything sticky
or pasty they cannot digest. Cutie
bone should be kept IN the cage at all
times. red pepper hung in the cage
is not only strengthening, but i'm
proves the color of the feathers. The
seed of the common plantain is a
pleasant addition to the ordinary diet,
and it is a good plan to save a quantity
to mix with the other seed for wint r
use.
When TIE bird is mouIting, keep a
rusty nail III .he drinking water. The
iro1 is reeded to supply the loss OF
vitality occasioned by moulting, and
may be used at other times with advan-
tage, if the birds are not as vigorous
and active as usual 1t is well to keeI
bag of sulphur banging in the cage.
1t is b-st above the swing where the
birds Jar it and SO get some PARTICLES
circulating through the cage. Lice
seldom make their appearance where
the birds are kept in clearly condI-
ton. If your pets are well and free
from disease, it is comparatively easy
matter to keep them so. Make your.
self acquai ted with their wants and
needs, and then supply them in as
natural a manner as possible.-Er.