The morning call., 1893-01-01
: CAGE BIRDS.
How to Care for Canaries and Other
SOngSterS.

TOW 10 care for CanarleS and Other
Songsters.
+ New York Independent.
You have never kept birds? You then
have one experience worth living for. But
few people keep cage birds profitably, and
have but a faint understanding of their
habits, and what is essential to successful
management True it is that many care
not for the profits derived from their pets,
yet we have failed to see pleasure alone
u keeping them without at least profit
sufficient TO pay expenses OF raising them.
As there is quite demand for good song
birds, canary breeding is profitable; often
as high as $40 and Sl5 is paid for single
male bird.
Some raise canaries In cages of various
sizes, and often do so more from the lack of
room properly provided for aviary pur-
poses than any other reason. When possible
we consider the attic room. wel-lighted, a
southern exposure, away from noise, the
best place to have for successful breeding
The room should be free from drafts and ar
ranged so as to make the appearance of out
of-door life. as near as 1t is possible to pro-
vide. Small evergreen trees. planted in
boxes OF suitable size. should be placed
about the room, with dead tree of any
kind for them to fly upon when needing
their flight; the corner of the room Is q OF
tho place to put tree or box. for some.
times IN just Snch places there is refuge for
frightened canary. and once In concealed
spot they very often die, not knowing how
to go about IL to free themselves. 1t takes
great many birds to fill small room, and
place may appear tenantless while a score
or two of birds are scattered out on perches
somewhere out of sight. :,
Canaries are shy when strangers appear
In their aviary. but soon learn TO know
those who constantly attend to them, and
become very tame. Never scare them by
sudden movements within their midst, but
quiet, unassuming way of going among
them is the best. Sharp, clean sand scat
tered over the floor is the best material we
know OF; they enjoy picking out the small
white pebbles, and the exercise is beneficial.
A piece OF green sod put In once week is
Just what they enjoy to pull at You will
gradually learn what they like best and
also what is needful. Do not permit draft.
nor during damp weather be without some
artificial heat, for dampness or sudden
chilliness will kill many birds. A small
gas or oil stove, protected from their inter-
ference, is convenient, and suited to create
a moderate amount Of heat on such occa-
sons.
Having suggested few ideas regarding
the room for your birds. let US now consider
the manner of handling breeders. The nests
and places best suited for them are points
that need not be long considered. Some
times the hanging of cages with nest, box
or basket within them about the room is as
good plan as any; then again nests fast
ened under the most secluded boughs or
branches Of an.. evergreen is an inviting
place to coax them. Nests are usually lined
With camePs hair, sometimes hair from a.
mattress. cotton and even very SOFT fine
dry grass. The minated canaries should be
paired up to mates; this can be accomplished
by placing them in a cage with every COM
fort provided for Matching purposes. Once
they are mated they can be liberated after
being together week. it will take them
another week to prepare for laying their.
eggs and from the time they commence sit
ting until the morning of the thirteenth
day. which time 1t takes to hatch, you must
See TO their wants very watchfully.