Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-07
rs OF CANARY CULTURE IN A WASHINGTON ATTIC

seed around with you and feed them a few
grains every time they are handed.
From February to July canaries may be
bred. For myself. l prefer March ana
April Under no circumstances do ! con-
tinue beyond July. Birds are oftentimes
as fastidious as people, and you may not
be permitted to pick husband or wife
for your birds. My plan is to place the
male bird in the cage first and permit him
to get used to 1t for three or four days
Then introduce him to his wife or wives. he
is usually gallant, and extends a welcome
to his mate and shows her about his home.
Provide a wire nest and place about the
cage, preferably in a particular spot, sup
ply of nesting material. buy mine from
the dealers; It's much more satisfactory.
Use good quality OF clean sand for the
floor of the cage. with a little plaster The
females require this. Experience has dem
onstrated that summer rape Is the best
seed for canar,es, although l alternate with
little hemp now and then, with maybe
a morsel of fig or dates to tempt the appe-
tite.
Having stocked your cage with all the
requirements, you will become the interest
ed spectator Of the housekeeping methods
Of the birds. They share the burden of
lining the nest and this house building usu-
ally requires a week. Then the little lady
sleeps a night two in the new home,
and usually by the third or fourth day
there Is tiny green egg, and you wonder
how anything alive can come from that.
Unlike any other of its kind, the canary
starts the process of incubation with the
first egg and in two weeks the first bird
is Matched. Then each day another bird
is Matched until all are brought forth. The
average number of eggs laid Is six al
though 1 have one bird which laid nine.
"In discussing the breeding Of birds with
a bird dealer from Germany last year l
learned a good deal. One thing he taught
me was to remove the eggs as fast as they
were laid. using a nest egg to fool the par
ent bird, and then have them all set at
the same time. This insures better re-
suits for If the birds are permitted to
hatch, day by day, those which hatch
earlier become stronger, and make it diff
cult for the late arrivals to get all that
Is coming to them in the food line. l have
made 1t rule to examine all my birds Just
before shutdown, and those which had not
been sufficiently fed 1 assist. That suggests
the food the baby birds should have. In
nature the mother disgorges food in semi
digested state. But the process in cage life
Is impracticable. My method Is to pound
some dry toast with soaked rape seed
and add little hard boiled egg and water
to make 1t the consistency OF thick cream.
This / usually feed the parent birds, and
when find the youngsters are not getting
all they require I take a medicine dropper
and carefully fill each little crop before they
60 to sleep.
"As with everything else, strict cleanli-
ness SlOulQ Dc HldiutdiHco, dHu q iAleic III
sect powder busted into the nest every
now and then keeps down vermin. usu-
ally permit my birds to find and build their
own nests, as you see they have done.
Those who have no fy-way or spare room
where the birds may exercise should see
to it that they are liberated at least once
day. It strengthens them, exercises
their little bodies and promotes the gem
eral health. Really, there il SO much to
talk about in this business that fear 1t
tires you. But experience after all Is the
best teacher. and have outlined enough
sure of one thing. They will find the busi-
ness pleasant and profitable. and there will
always be q market for their birdB.''