Most breeders and
dealers have specially designed carrying cases in which buyers can ‘take away’
their purchases. Such containers are suitable for train journeys of up to four
hours. For longer trips, a special travel cage of the type used for show
specimens will be required. However there will usually be a breeder well within
the easy take-home range of any would-be pet owner.
It is important that a
pet bird, or indeed any type of pet, should not be an impulse purchase, but
that a cage, a suitable supply of food, sand, grit and any other necessities
are ready and waiting to receive the new arrival. Travel cages, even the
elaborate types used to convey show champions are not suitable as temporary
bird homes for more than a day. As well as having supplies on hand, it is
advisable to have given some thought to the routine of feeding and cleaning.
The bird who is fed at the same hour each day will quickly become reliable
‘alarm’ clock for his master, making it quite clear that ‘dinner time’ has come
around by lively movement and continuous squeaking. Regular routines for
cleaning as well as feeding all help in taming process and make the chores of
bird keeping easier for the owner.
Where only small
quantities of seed are needed the manufacturer’s packet is a handy dust proof container. If loose seed mixes are used they should be kept in a sealed glass
jar, or a plastic container of the type sold as flour bins, to ensure that the
contents are not an attraction to mice. Where the bird seed is stored on the
same shelf as the family’s food stuff it should be clearly labeled. Otherwise
it is easy for a busy cook to confuse canary mix with caraway seed or other
spices!
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