CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 216, 12 August 1937, Page 16

CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

INSECTS IN CAGEBIRDS. (By “Unflighted.”) It is a rare occurrence for such small birds as canaries to pull their own feathers out. , What really happens is when preening the plumage during the moulting season, loose feathers are detached and are toyed or played with, thus leading many to think the feathers have been plucked and are eaten. When a bird seems to be constantly preening or attending to its plumage, instead of following the normal morning and evening brushup, then usually it is a case of insect trouble. These may be termed grey lice, a flat turtle-shaped sort of bird flea which feeds upon the tiny immature undergrowth of feathers, and which never leaves the irritated host unless compelled to do so; or the pest may be red-mite, a more solid, roundislijooking parasite (fortunately of a badger-like habit seeing that it prowls and feels only during tlie night) and feeds upon the blood of its victim. Regarding the lice, their presence can only he confirmed by manual examination of the bird, which is done by holding the bird with its back in the palm, and then quickly blowing the plumage from the centre of the body so that the bare skin is exposed, and then if they, are present (and you have a sharp pair of eyes) you will see the grey lice scampering for shelter. When found to he present the plumage should be well dusted with a good insect powder, the bird afterwards being placed in a box or. cage until the pests and powder have been shaken trom the plumage, and if this treatment is repeated in seven or eight days in case eggs may have hatched subsequent to the first treatment, then your bird will be free of the pest. SPECIAL FOODS FOR BUDGERIGARS. I am often asked the question: “Should any special food be given to budgerigars when they are feeding chicks ? To answer this inquiry in a general way, all I can say is that I do not think there is any burning need to feed very differently, if at all, during the breeding season than at any other time of the year. Always the

most important part of a budgerigar’s dietary is the staple seed fnixturo of canary seed and millet. In a number of cases when some additions to the normal menu have been described to me, I have said to myself that these “extras” have not been the cause of the successful results achieved.

But I do warn my readers against first trying one thing and then another, constantly changing the feeding system and never allowing one method to prevail for any appreciable length of time. I say, “Start the breeding season with one system of feeding and maintain it till the end.” Constant change in tlm dietary is likely to prove disorganising to the systems of the birds. .1 believe that a simple diet is, generally speaking, ample for our birds’ requirements, and that the budgerigar itself is not so fastidious about its food as is its owner. A TIP ABOUT JTESTS.

It has often been suggested that too frequent inspection of nest-boxes is dangerous, inasmuch as it may disturb the hen and cause her to neglect her duties as a mother. Prior to the first egg hatching it is not necessary to have more than an occasional peep into the box just to see that all is well. But after the chicks have hatched it is advisable to examine the nest at least once every other day, and even if inspection takes place daily I do not think any harm will be done- But to open the nest-box more than once daily is undesirable. Some enthusiastic young fanciers disturb the hens unnecessarily by looking into the boxes every time they go near them—just for the pleasure of seeing the youngsters. Examination so often as this can, indeed, cause trouble. Hens become familiar with the arrival of the owner on his daily or alter-nate-day tour of the boxes. They learn not to resent it and many of them will remain on the eggs quite placidly. A regular system of inspection of nest-boxes containing chicks is necessary for the purpose of close ringing, and also to discover if any chick has died, when, of course, it must be instantly removed.