All About Your Canary

by George Jackson French

CATS

The cat is a natural enemy of small birds. If a cat is kept in the home, be sure to hang the cage where the cat cannot reach it or knock it down by leaping on it.

MICE

Mice are especially fond of bird seed. At night they sometimes enter the room where the bird is kept and eat the seeds which have fallen on the floor. They will often reach the cage by climbing up a curtain or drape. A bird is thus frightened and disturbed at a time when it should be asleep, and as a result it will be drowsy in the daytime, lose its gay spirits, and fail to sing. See that the cage is not hung in a place where mice can reach it.

TAMING A CANARY

A canary is easily tamed. Take a tiny pinch of French’s Song Food and moisten it in your lips. Raise your hand slowly and spread the moistened food on the cage bars near an upper perch. Out of curiosity, the canary will hop over to see what you have placed on the bar, pick at it, and enjoy eating it. Do this once or twice a day, and in a short time you will find he is accustomed to your presence and will pick the food from your fingers. Birds like to feed from the lips. After a bird has taken a treat from your finger, place a bit between your lips. If he takes it from you, you can rest assured that you have his confidence and probably will always have it.

HOW TO SHIP A CANARY

A cardboard carton approximately 8″ × 8″ × 12″ is suitable for shipping one or two canaries. Cover all joints inside the bottom of box with gummed tape to prevent loss of feed supply by sifting. Cut a row of six small holes near the top for ventilation. Next cut an opening on one side for a window. The window need not be more than 3″ square. In cool weather cover this opening with reinforced, transparent plastic window material, usually available at hardware stores or poultry supply dealers. In warm weather, use a small square of regular wire screen, secured in place with heavy package wrapping tape. Cut an opening on the opposite side for a door approximately 3″ square, leaving one of the four sides uncut to act as a hinge. Use a clean evaporated milk can for a water cup. Cut an opening about one inch square in the top of the can near the edge. Place the can on the floor of the box against the two sides forming a corner near the window. The opening in the top of the can should be toward the center of the box. Secure the can in position with a piece of wire. Loop the wire around the can and run the ends through the two sides of the box forming the corner. The ends of the wire should then be folded flat and held in place with tape. Filling the container half full of clean imitation sponge will help to prevent the water in the can from spilling.

Using small tacks, nail a perch across the narrow width of the box at the window end 1½″ from the floor and close enough to the water container so that the canary can reach it from the perch. The perch must not be closer than four inches from the end of the box to prevent injury to the bird’s tail feathers.

To provide additional moisture, wire a half an orange to the corner of the box nearest the other end of the perch. The orange should be placed so the bird can reach it easily from the perch. The sliced side of the orange should face into the box, and the wires should be taped on the outside. Scatter several tablespoons of seed and a few teaspoons of gravel on the floor. Seal the box at the top with gummed tape. Label top of carton in bold black letters “LIVE BIRD”—“THIS SIDE UP.” Print addresses “TO” and “FROM” plainly. Admit canary and seal door with gummed tape. Tie carton securely with heavy wrapping cord.