Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-11-11
TRICK FOR PET BIRDS.
TEACHING THE CANARY, GOLD
FINCH AND SISKIN.
They Will Learn to Draw Up Water When
They Are Thirsty-A Very Taking
PerfOrmance-HOwt to Ar
range the Cage.


readers that have pet bird they
would like TO teach some pretty tricks
but do not know how to go to work
TO do it. An easy trick to teach
canary, goldfinch or siskin is to make
them draw up bucket of water when
they wish to drink.
1t is II very taking performance.
and when bird is once taught to do
1t nicely he is always sure OF an in
terested audience when he is about to
take "a drink
Any cage with wooden frame can
easily be made over for the purpose.
Construct bay window out of a few
strips of wood and pieces OF wire and
iasten it on one end of the cage
first removing the wires from that
end of the cage so that bay window
and cage will be all in one room so
to speak. Cut II half inch round hole
or larger, in the bottom of the lay
window and fix a small perch in froat
of it rs shown. A wooden bucket
should be used. II can easily be made
by taking % piece OF hard wood and
boring hole into the end about half
down thin so as to form wooden
thimble. Ordinary metal thin bles
can be used but unless they are of
silver or gold the metal corrodes in
the water and makes it unhealthy for
the bird to drink. Wood is best and
is easily formed. For bale TO the
bucket use a piece of silver wire.
procurable at any iewelry store.
For a permanent chain one OF the
Same material is not very expensive
and can be found in styles inc and
light enough for the purpose at a very
! small cost Irvine can be used in its
easily tangled up in it as it slides
back after he has drank.
! Now hang small cup directly I'M
derneath the hole in the bay window
as shown. by couple OF small. brass
chains. or strings and the arrange.
ment is complete.
The bird TO be trained should be
put into the cage and allowed to be-
come thoroughly accustomed to it be-
fore his education is attempted. Place
a drinking cup in the bay window so
he will become accustomed TO going
there for drink. After he seems
at home in his new quarters hang the
| cup underneath the bay window. but
up so near it that the bird can reach
down and through the hole and drink
In day or two lower it little and
place the bucket in the we'll with just
enough string attached to it to allow
it to fall into the water and I'LL
The bird. il he has ordinary intel
ligence will soon see what it is for
and will use il. although his first at
tempts will be failures. and he will
doubtless have to work hard for a
watched. and if he makes too bad
work OF it he should be taken out and
another bird tried Some birds can
never be taught anything.
But if the little fellow seems to
comprehend matters and the major
ity WILL lower the bucket a little
from time to time. as his education
progresses until he is obliged to
draw it up nearly foot
1t is best to have the hole in the
bay window a little larger than the
| puOhCb siuu oiOu put WiTo dCTOSS III
SO the latter cannot come up through.
1t will probably be found that the
, BIRD will gradually become thor
ough trick bird and will be playing
all sorts OF tricks. such as pulling the
bucket up in such way as TO make
it stick at the top and thus keep a
supply of water on hand. 1t is as
! tonishing what intelligence the little
I fellows will show in working the af-
fair
, The writer had siskin once that
would look down carefully through
the hole and see il the bucket was
caught half way down rs it sometimes
would be- before he drew it up II SC
, he would proceed to shake the chain
with his bill until the bucket dropped
a into the water and was filled. Their
up it would come with surprising rap
= idity.
, The bird accomplishes the feat by
Z pulling up II length OF the chain with
his bill and then holding it with hi.
, foot Then he takes another hold with
! his bill and so on until the buckle
reaches him. This he holds by his foo
until his thirst is appeased and as h,
n jumps off down goes the bucket int,
: the we'll.
. The goldfinch and siskin are NOR,
. easily taught and seem TO do the tricl
little better than the canary.