Cage & Aviary Birds

Cage & Aviary Birds is written by bird experts for bird fanciers and is packed with club, show and bird related news, advice, birds for sale and comment. Established in 1902, Cage & Aviary Birds provides a wealth of practical advice and tips from the top names in the bird world, plus opinion, controversy, species and hobbyist profiles and nostalgia.

Avian Draw 2023: winners announced

Also in the news…

Lucky escape for abandoned birds

QUOTE of the WEEK

Study reveals the adverse effects of cat predation

Layout of urban green spaces attracts different bird species

Bird world mourns Bernard

PARROTS & PEOPLE

A tribute to the late Bernard Howlett

THREE EXAMPLES OF PROGRESSIVE GREYING • Captions by Hein van Grouw. For the full story, see Hein's articles last week and on page 10 of this week's issue

Editor's Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

Pairing principles • It's when we compromise on the basic rules of breeding that we get stuck on the quality ladder, says DAVE BROWN. Get the shape right first and you shouldn't go far wrong

Lessons learned, ready to go • January already! The first of the month saw Andy's feeding regime alter to begin the gradual journey toward breeding condition. Here he summarises some of the other changes he's made, based on last year's experience

Allowing for alterations • To complete his short series about breeding challenges that he has met in previous years, ALAN MARCHANT stresses the importance of giving hens time to get used to big changes you've made in the breeding shed. Previous articles: December 20/27 and January 3

No need to wait for spring

Progressive greying: beyond the London fancy • Last week, HEIN VAN GROUW explained exactly how the London fancy canary progresses from an all-dark first plumage to assume its classic pattern via successive moults. Here, he shows that the mutation concerned, which causes ‘progressive greying’, is already well understood and occurs in nature

The CFW: squaring the circle • Here's an extremely popular zebbie mutation whose unique selling point is the impossible demands it makes on the breeder. DAVE BROWN ought to know – he's one of those breeders!

A trick that we're still missing • In the November 22 and 29 issues, Alan Marchant described how and why he used his best cock birds across multiple hens. Here FRED WRIGHT also recommends this tactic as one that canary breeders have long used to advantage

Canaries Month by Month: • With action still to enjoy on the show circuit, Brian Keenan was glad there were no dramas in his birdroom at the start of the year. More of the same would go down well as he makes a time- and money-saving change to his feeding régime

The miraculous mechanism • Although fanciers are mainly concerned with the outside of a bird, the interior is fascinating – and a working knowledge of the avian digestive system is useful. PAUL DONOVAN obliges

Club News • Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that's all about you

Lowish entry… but high spirits

Ipswich BS hosts the 2023 LEA specialist & rare show

Club roundup

What's on

BS trainee judge of year welcomed to Leeds

Yorkie's top spot

Aubrey's stud competes for best title