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.

£1 billion biosecurity centre planned for Weybridge site

Life-saving surgery for an injured swan

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Garden birds exposed to harmful pet pesticides, study finds

COLOUR BUDGERIGARS

Restoring the red-browed Amazon • Research, protection, reintroduction and education are required for this parrot species to thrive. DAVID WAUGH reports

RSPB advice on garden feeding

Editor’s Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

Gouldian glory amid the gloom • In C&AB January 28, DONALD SKINNER-REID outlined his rediscovery of the Gouldian finch. Now he tells us how the journey unfolded during the dark, wet Scottish winter of 2025/6

Remember: shows drive quality • Sales events have become far more popular in recent years, with many local ones to add to the big commercial jamborees. Fine, says DAVE BROWN — but let’s bear in mind that it’s the club/show scene that means there are good-quality birds to be sold in the first place

My flexible top-up rule • In this and any other year, Andy aims to keep hand-rearing and top-up feeding off his list of commitments – unless there’s a special case. Here he explains what that might be

Coping with the aggression factor • Like many softbill breeders in this and other seasons, GARY BRALSFORD has experienced abrupt changes of behaviour in pairs which meant he’s had to split them up without delay. Luckily, there are also plenty of doting couples around who are doing it right

Just enough and not too much • You can spend a fortune on dietary supplements and your stock may not benefit so you’d notice. Or you can spend nothing on them, with even worse results. Your approach should be tailored to your birds’ genuine needs and steer between the extremes. ROB INNES explains how the top fanciers do it

Calcium: a life-saving mineral • Every birdkeeper must understand the fundamental importance of calcium in their birds’ diet. ROSEMARY LOW explains how to make up the shortfall via supplements and natural sources

Q&A: PARROTS

The rise of the pick-me-up • When did fanciers begin to use dietary additives, wondered ROB INNES? A trawl of the Cage Birds archive showed that the inter-War years were when the crucial advance occurred

Photo focus: Japan’s chats • Two springs ago, editor ROB INNES and CHRIS JONES visited Japan and made a special effort to find some of that country’s gorgeous small softbills. Here’s a taster, with photos by Chris and comments from Rob. In a future issue we’ll feature more of Japan’s birds that are likely to interest aviculturists

The key to your strategic pairings • Want long-term development in your stud? You need to understand how feather type works in pairings, says DAVE BROWN – and then you’ll need to tell your buffs from your yellows

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

May auction a success since society reformed

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

CAPTION THIS…

What’s on

Grey and skyblue for the win