This issue's tip comes from Nina Fournier, who writes;

When the time comes that you want to know just which of your canaries are actually singing, and how strongly, I have found several excellent tools to help.

One is a set of opera glasses and the other is a recording of some music which a wide range of sounds. Play this as loudly as you can. As the music stimulates the birds to sing, I am seated in my chair with my opera glasses in hand. I can watch from a distance without intimidating the birds.

I look for the challenging motions of the male as he tries to convince all hens within earshot that he will be a great choice for fathering strong chicks, and I watch the actions of the females in response.

In particular, I look at the throat of the male as he sings. There is no doubting the gender of this bird when you watch the intensity of song produced from his vocal chords. Thanks to this ritual, I have never had a bird returned to me because it was not a singer. It is one of the greatest of my life's pleasures to witness this annual ritual of courtship and song.

(editor's note - I have owned and bred a number of canary hens whose throat moves exactly like a male's when singing, so this sign is not necessarily a reliable indicator of gender. It does, though, always indicate a good singer, whatever the actual gender of the bird!)

"My Canary seems to be getting fat. Or she is puffing up. But she is really active? What's wrong? I've check her rear and it seems okay. It doesn't seems that she's sick at all?"

My answer;

"Hello! If she's puffed up she's getting cold; if she's getting cold there is a problem somewhere, and you need to find out what it is. Perhaps she is in a constant draft, or perhaps she is ill. Perhaps she is losing weight due to an overly rich diet, or illness. Some canary illnesses can cause the bird to slowly stave while appearing to be eating constantly. (this is usually called 'going light')

"Even though she is active, you should see an experienced avian (bird) vet, and have her checked out - she could be running a fever, for example, that can lead to behaviour like you describe. Birds try very hard to hide any signs of illness when they know you are watching, so it is also possible that she is only 'acting' as active as possible whenever she sees you looking in her direction."

"Good luck, eh? Hope this helps!"

Well, I guess that's it for this time - hope you all have a safe and happy time over the next couple of weeks! The next issue is due out March 18 - until then, may you and your birds enjoy all the best of everything!

Robirda
March 4, 2001

Welcome to the Companion Birds ezine

For bird people who care.

Hello! Welcome to the fourteenth issue of Flock Talk - I hope you like what you see! If you have comments, criticisms, or stories to share, please send them to Robirda

This is a well made bird-site, which you will find very easy to navigate. The main page begins by informing you what it is about - specifically, Irene Pepperberg's research into communication, through pursuing studies with three Congo African Greys. The oldest of these birds is world-renowned for the intelligence behind his actions and responses - people everywhere know him as 'Alex'.

The page goes on to list links to the publications and articles detailing Irene's research. These writings, taken from various sources, make it clear that everybody from the press to nobility has been charmed by this little grey bird - as I am quite sure you will be too! Even if you never plan on keeping a parrot of any kind, you will want to read these articles and stories - they might help you understand just that little bit better, how your own bird thinks, and why!

Feature Article

There was so many responses to my article in Issue 10 about whether or not we have the right to keep pet birds, that it was difficult to keep up with them all! Many wonderful and heartwarming stories of pets and their loving relationships with their people were sent, and it was a rather severe test of my editing abilities to try to summarize such a widely varied and thoughtful series of responses into the limited number of words allowable in a Flock Talk article. Necessarily, a lot had to be left out, but rest assured, all your comments were taken into consideration - thanks very much for sending them in!

So, without further ado, I would like to present to you, a summarization of Flock Talk's

by R C 'Robirda' McDonald
and the readers of Flock Talk

In general, all of the responses received were from those who are of the opinion that it is not wrong to keep pets. Most included the qualification that it is the owner's responsibility to see that all of that pet's needs are fully met. Most were also of the opinion that it is rarely if ever all that difficult to do so, if you are willing to persist in the attempt, and allow your pet's responses to help guide you.

One writer summed up the general attitude behind many responses when she wrote; "My birds have given me endless entertainment, enjoyment, and companionship for over eight years now. They provide me with a source for 'passion' and keep life very interesting."

A lot of people mentioned that "It has been found that keeping pets tends to lower blood pressure, lessen stress and lengthen lives for their owners.

One continued "Most pets have been bred as a companion to humans and feel comfortable in that role. I hear comments all of the time from pet owners that they will not confine their pets because they were meant to run free. Yet many of these creatures could not survive on their own in today's world, and most are willing to accept humans as a part of their social order, although not always as the head of the pack."

Many people mentioned that "Domestication changes animals, which is why 'freed' pets have a tendency to die. If you take proper care of a pet and provide it with adequate socialization, there is no reason not to keep it. Some animals in the wild actually like people better than their own kind."

One subscriber wrote in "All my life we have had all kinds of animal additions to our family. Our cat would follow my father to the bus stop, and would go meet him on his return. No one ever forced the cat to do this. She just loved Dad so much that she wanted to be in his company.

"Our pet 'wild' rabbit (Sam), found in the middle of a road during a thunderstorm, would play with our dog and the cat. He was never forced to do this, but rather chose to. He would jump up on any one of our laps for titbits, and could have left at any time as we had no fence around our home. Sam stayed with us til the day he died.

"We had six hens and a black and white rooster (Dickie). Dickie's favourite place to roost was on Mum's shoulder. I believe he thought he was a parrot. He would come when called so perhaps he was part dog too. Dickie would often raid Pinkie cat's meal dish, chasing Pinkie off. Our cat would have torn into any stray animal trying to take its food but with family members it was okay, she shared.

"Shane the dog would never permit a stranger into our home, unless invited. You see my Mum was blind and with Dad at work and us kids at school Shane took over protecting Mum, our home and all the animal residents. He was the big man around the place until us kids or Dad got home.

"That was a long time back and I have kids and grand kids now. I also have pets - I would never be without pets in our home. During the past year I had three canaries 'escape' from my outdoor flight - but I got seven back! One was gone for around two hours, the others were gone all day. When at dusk I went to close up there they were, inside the birdroom trying to get back into the flight.

"While they were out on walkabout they must have spread the word about 'their place' and invited these other canaries to come visit because over the next few months I found another four stray canaries in my birdroom!

"I believe folk who do not want others to keep pets are less human than the rest of us. They do not understand the bonds of love and trust that are built between a human and the animals they keep nor do they have the time and patience it takes to build this bond.

"I would suggest that they get an animal type friend, learn to look after and care for him or her, then just perhaps, they will understand the bonds I and others like me have with the animal members of our family."

Another subscriber wrote "I am proud to admit that I have always chosen to share my life with pets. I honestly believe 'pet' is synonymous with 'companion'. Companionship is a mutual relationship in which all parties involved receive as much as they give.

"When I look at a properly caged bird, I don't see an imprisoned creature. The bars are nothing more than a humane and practical way to ensure the bird's safety and sense of security.

"In the wild, birds are ever alert, on guard for many types of predators, from above, below and all around. A good cage design alleviates such stress. It also allows us to easily observe and interact with them.

"My birds miss nothing by being caged. They are happy, and frequently tell the world so with their actions. Their songs are declarations that this place of refuge and safety is all their own, and nobody else's.

"I would have to assume that if a caged bird was missing its freedom to join the wildlings, that it would show in its countenance. There is no lethargy, no languishing, nor sulking evident with my contented caged birds.

"If my feathered companions so resented their cages and looked upon them as prisons, I doubt that they would so voluntarily retreat back to its comforts at the end of the free flight time I allow them. When they are done exercising they hop back through the cage door without hesitation.

"My birds have the best environment that any winged creature could have - including the wild birds who are so 'free'. My caged companions don't have to forage, nor compete for sustenance. They don't have to battle the elements. They will be healed of all viruses and vermin which befall them with competent avian veterinary care. They will never succumb to the feral cat, the hunting hawk, traffic, pesticides, pollution, or any other of the various life-threatening scenarios the 'free'wild birds face in their so-short lives.

"My birds do not look upon me as their 'captor', far from it. How do I know this? Well, they tell me. When I enter the room they call out to me. When I draw near to their cage, they serenade me. While they have the option to retreat to a distance, they choose not to. When I lean my face near, there is no retreat, no distancing, but rather, each steps as close as he can and listens attentively. When I reach my hand within the cage, there is no fear, no fleeing, but rather a gentle trusting that I can see and feel. That is real, as he steps onto my hand and rubs his cheek upon my fingers."

Others also wrote in about pets, especially birds, who had been lost due to errors of one kind or another, who yet managed to find their way back to their home, some as much as months later. More than a few brought other creatures home with them, wildlings as well as abandoned or abused pets. In so many ways, these creatures who have allowed us to share their lives with them show us their love. Who are we, to deny them the right to their own opinion?

by R C 'Robirda' McDonald
and the readers of Flock Talk
Copyright © March 4, 2001
www.robirda.com

ISSN #1492-8132
Issue Number 14
Copyright © 2001
all rights reserved
no reprints without permission

The egg contains all the essential nutrients required to support life. These nutrients must be incorporated in the yolk and albumen (egg white) before it is laid. A fertile egg must contain the proper percentages of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fats and water. A deficiency of any will reduce the viability of the embryo and will reduce hatchability.

The female gamete, the ovum, is the largest, single cell known. The male cell (gamete), the spermatozoon, is by comparison microscopic. The nucleus of the ovum is a white speck smaller than a pin head located on top of the yolk and is where the male gamete 'drills' into the ovum and combines its DNA with that of the female gamete to form the embryo.

The egg is assembled in a very precise order. First the yolk and ovum are produced in the ovary, a grape-like cluster of ovules (miniature yolks). The yolk with its blastoderm, (the ovum), remains in the ovaries until it is mature. It is then released and drops into the the upper funnel of the oviduct.

Here the ovum is fertilized by the male spermatozoon. As the egg passes on to the upper middle section of the oviduct (the magnum), a thin layer of albumen envelops it in the form of a thin sack. At either end of the yolk, thin strands of albumen are twisted to form the 'chalaza'. These two cords hold the yolk in position as it travels the length of the oviduct, and prevents it from bruising itself on the shell membranes. Before the yolk leaves the magnum the rest of the albumen is wrapped around the yolk.

The developing egg then enters the lower mid-section of the oviduct (the isthmus), where two loose fitting shell membranes encapsulate the yolk. The egg then travels on to the uterus, where the final formation occurs.

Approximately eighty percent of the egg's travel time is spent in the uterus. Here the inner shell membranes tighten around the yolk and albumen and, the outer, harder shell is secreted around the inner egg. Once the outer shell is produced, the now whole egg moves on to the cloaca and is finally expelled. This process takes approximately 24 hours.

Once the hen has produced her clutch of normally 3 to 6 eggs, depending on the canary variety, after 13 days of incubation, our 'small treasures' hatch into the next generation of show winners!