Northumbrian Notes
I SPLIT my pairs up early because we had a week’s break booked in Norfolk from July 5. So, although there were two pairs still finishing off the rearing of well-feathered-up youngsters, that was the end of breeding (for my Norwich, at least) this year. To try to prevent tail-pulling of the youngsters before they were weaned, I supplied nesting material to these two hens, but I had no intention of setting any eggs laid. As it happens, three clutches of eggs ended up not set, to accommodate the early break.
Otherwise, the older youngsters were separated off into three age groups, all of the other hens were placed in a flight cage, and the cocks were separated. This made it more straightforward for Kevin to look after the birds while I was away. Meanwhile, all of the feeder canaries, plus the siskins and redpolls, were placed in a flight and the cinnamon song thrush cock moved into a
