It is normal for a hen to stop feeding her babies when she takes to her
second nest of eggs. The cock bird can usually be depended upon to
continue the job. However, a hen sometimes stops feeding at an earlier
time, often because of an upset condition resulting from improper
feeding--or from a fright. Such things as stale or soured soft foods,
food deficiencies, or lack of sufficient fresh green food are most often
the root of the trouble, although overfat and lazy hens sometimes seem
to find proper feeding too much trouble. Try allowing the cock to carry
on alone, giving the hen normal feeding until she resumes her duty. When
the chicks are not being fed by either bird, it is advisable to divide
the nestlings among the other nests if you have other pairs with chicks
about the same age.
Otherwise, handfeeding is imperative. Chew either Pablum or oat flakes
and when mushy, feed it to the babies from the end of a toothpick. In a
day or two the parents may resume feedings. Should they not, the chewed
food will have to be supplemented with greens, egg yolk, and after the
chicks are ten days old, a little soft cuttle bone scraped from the soft
side of the bone sprinkled over the mush. A few grains of table salt
should also be added.
If a chick is out of the nest, it is likely to be afraid and refuse to
open its beak for food. Take such a bird in your left hand, pry open the
beak with the right thumb nail and hold it open with the nails of your
left thumb and forefinger. Avoid injury either to the bird's eyes or
through too firm a hold. Keep the head elevated for easy swallowing and
feed from a toothpick. Always feed warm food. A little milk sop from
toasted whole wheat bread makes a good change. The babies usually will
begin to feed themselves a few days after leaving the nest and can then
be given moist nestling food, sprouted rape seeds, and cracked seeds
prepared from regular French's Bird Seed.
(_Continued on page 64_)
_A Canary Family_
[Illustration: 1. Mating time, canaries wooing]
[Illustration: 2. The female builds her nest]
[Illustration: 3. The eggs are laid]
[Illustration: 4. Hatching process begins]
[Illustration: 5. Mother bird feeds new-born babies]
[Illustration: 6. The babies now 8 days old]
[Illustration: 7. Fourteen days old]
[Illustration: 8. Twenty-one days old]
(_Continued from page 59_)