The Washington herald., 1911-05-01
PROPER CARE OF
YOUNG PARROTS
orrectDietary-Ailmentsto
Which They Are Subject.
Getting Used to Water.
By EDWARD 9. sCHMID.

During June, July. August. and Sep
tember. young parrots come, and are
often sold directly from vessels or ped
died out by sailors or men pretending to
be sailors. The buyer generally pays a
a regular dealer. and all he gets Is a
young parrot and no advice as to how to
raise him.
Young parrots cannot eat hard seed or
yellow corn. The best way is to find out
what they are most apt to eat, and feed
them on such food.
1 will mention such morsels as are apt
to be relished. and also wholesome for
the parrot. Rice prepared in the follow
ing manner: Put the rice in boiling water,
leave It over the fire for about ten min
utes. then put 1t In a colander and after
the boiling water has all passed through,
pour cold water over 1t. This is done
to wash OF the starchy matter from the
surface Of the rice to prevent it from
sticking or adhering to the birds beak.
Also rice pudding baked very dry. boiled
green corn on the ear. hard-boiled egg
chopped fine, stale bread soaked in water,
bananas, mealy apples, &c. Care must
be taken that no food is left in the
cage to sour. The best and safest way
is to clean the cage thoroughly every
night before retiring. as the parrot is
an early riser; they eat the food left
overnight and suffer in consequence, re-
sulting often in serious sickness. Young
parrots should be kept out Of the way
Of draft, and allowed to stand in the
sun while, morning or noon. Sprink-
ling them gently with a small sprinkling
can. or better. one Of rubber, previous
to putting them in the sun, will greatly
improve their plumage: Young parrots
should have but little water
If they incline to diarrhea, give them
no water to drink. As all the food young
parrots get contains moisture. water may
sometimes be dispensed with. As the
birds grow older, get them gradually used
to the regular food as directed above.
When old parrots get sick and refuse
to eat corn, stale bread. &C., feed them
on dainty morsels, as advised for young
parrots. and keep them warm This care
will usually bring them around.
Your own judgment must be your
guide when the birds have dfarrhea. or
are inclined to costiveness. supplying or
leaving of drinking water as the case
may demand. Plenty Of apples will re-
lieve costiveness. while hard-boiled eggs,
boiled rice. rice pudding. and roasted pea
nuts will check the reverse condition
Parrots Sickness.
Parrots. when taken care of the first
year. SO as to get thoroughly acclimated.
seldom get sick, and when they do it
is generally due to a cold or diarrhea.
II the latter, would advise feeding as
described in the general rules for dietary,
and giving. each morning. about six
drops of cod liver oil and about one
teaspoonful of paragoric in the drinking
water
For colds. give a little rum punch,
made with rock candy. strong and sweet,
keep the bird warm. and in giving
changes in food get him to eat something
nourishing. A little cayenne pepper in
the food will go far way to restoring
a lost appetite.
Getting Used to Water.
All gray parrots may be given water
to drink and dry food to eat: all green
parrots must very gradually get accus-
toned 20 drinking water. None of the
green parrots-which are all from the
tropics Of the American continent-get
water to drink when brought to the
States, and would. II water were put
in their cage all day, drink themselves
to death.
Feed them for while. as directed in
general rule with stale bread soaked
in water and well squeezed out again.
Every morning. say one hour after you
feed your parrot, hand him water-in
winter about milk warn-in a cup. and
let him sip from it while you hold the
cup. Do not let him drink too much.
and watch his bowels. II they are loose
give no water for few days.
This letting the parrot drink from the
cup while you hold 1t serves two pur-
poses. First, It will prevent the bird
from drinking too much; second. II will
help in tanning the bird. which Is the
first step in getting the parrots to talk.
After you have practiced giving tho
parrot water once day for while.
commence to give II twice-morning and
afternoon. In this way you will grad
ually get him used to drinking water,
and then you can let him have water
always, and consider your bird thor
oughly acclimated.
TO BE CONTINUED.)