FEATURE


makes potential problems even worse. Youngsters are given a little longer in cages, where it is easier to keep an eye on them, before being given access to flights. Some take longer than others to reach the maturity needed for the more strenuous and demanding conditions of a flight but, in general, three or four weeks in cages is usually long enough. Although, to the casual observer, not much seems to be happening during this part of the zebra finch year, it is, in fact, a very important period. It is all about exercise, complimented by plenty of bathing. Youngsters are left to their own devices and given a chance to develop physically – without trying to get them to put on weight and without paying any attention to their show potential. Only two measures are taken in preparation for show training – Fitting show cages to the flights and fixing show cage perches to the wall of the cages. Millet sprays in the show cages encourage the youngsters to


30 BIRD SCENE


enter and the separate perches are set at the same distance apart as in a show cage. Both measures give youngsters valuable experience and build up their confidence. The time will come when stock needs to be sorted into three categories – candidates for the show team, the breeding team and those that will be discarded.


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