Can I legally accept wild-caught birds?

I am in a position to take up birdkeeping once again, since last doing so during the 1970s-1980s when I had both British and foreign birds.

Mentioning this to a friend, who happens to be a gamekeeper, he said that I could have as many hooded crows and jays that I wanted for free, as he would be happy to get these pests off his estate. Also, he said I could have some moorhens and coots. There are too many around his duck flight ponds eating the grain, which he puts out to entice wild duck into shooting range.

He explained that he uses only legal Government approved Larsen live catch-traps to catch crows, etc, and humanely kills them. However, if I wanted a few of these birds he would give me some, rather than kill them.

If I accepted my gamekeeper friend's offer, and have some legally wild-caught and unringed jays and moorhens, what would my position be if the RSCPA, RSPB and Scottish SPCA visited me? Would I be guilty of an offence? Would I need written paperwork from the gamekeeper saying that he had given me the birds free of financial charge?

Second, the gamekeeper's wife has a cat that occasionally catches the odd unwary wild bird. Some of these injured birds were nursed back to health by the gamekeeper, but they would be unable to survive in the wild if released. He had a pair of "repaired" blackbirds, which reared three youngsters of their own. These unringed youngsters were released into the wild around his house. Was it lawful to keep the injured blackbirds, even though they could not fl y properly and fend for themselves in the wild? Could my gamekeeper friend have legally kept the three young blackbirds after they were aviary bred?

Can I exhibit my Irish canaries without rings?

I have a few Irish fancy canaries, which are not closed-ringed, and I would like to put into an open show. My question is, if the show is not patronised by the Irish club, can the birds be put in to the show without rings, and which class? Also I'd like to know more on show cage plans, classes and requirements. As a newcomer to the hobby, this seems to be something of a closed-book.
R.L., Worcester.

Brian Keenan, current president of the Yorkshire Canary Club, replies: Different canary varieties require closed rings in order to compete in the unflighted classes. That said, the birds can often be exhibited in the any-age classes, if they do not possess closed rings. This is a local matter for the show-promoting society, together with any specialist societies providing patronage for the show. I suggest you contact the show secretary of the show you wish to participate in, and ask his advice.

Regarding show cage plans, these are readily available through the specialist societies that promote the individual canary breeds. Again, it is simply a matter of contacting the club concerned. Contact details of various leading canary clubs can be found at: www.thecanarycouncil.co.uk

How much Carolphyll Red should I offer?

Could anybody tell me the correct dilution of Carophyll Red for my goldfinch mule, please?
R.M.R., via Facebook.

Bernard Howlett, eminent breeder of British birds, replies: The dilution of Carophyll Red to water is outlined in the literature that accompanies the product.

Each breeder has his/her preferred recipe. Those with a large stud will use a mustard spoon as a measure, pouring its contents into a half pint mug. This is then filled with boiled water and left overnight. The volume is then transferred to a larger vessel (one holding two or so pints), this then is topped up with cold water ready for use and repeated until the required colour had been achieved at the end of the moult. Others use cold water only.

Only having one small bird to colour you would need substantially less, perhaps just a pinch of colour food to a small amount of water would suffice, at any one a time. I do not advocate preparing more than can be used in a few days. The mixture can be kept in a fridge, but must not become stale.

What's the best way to store my millet?

I keep millet as a treat and as an enticement to get my birds back in the cage. I bought several sprays of millet and kept them in a plastic container. There seemed to be small black bits falling out of the spray as I was taking it out of the box. They look like tiny insects, what could this be, and should I throw the rest of the millet away? What's the best way to keep millet spray fresh and free from bugs?
K.S., Leighton Buzzard.

Dave Herring, former Budgerigar Society president, replies: It would certainly be better if we knew what these "mites" were – if mites they be. There is, of course, a danger if they are likely to be parasites that feed on the birds, which are always to be avoided.

It is very unlikely that they would have rendered the millet sprays themselves unpalatable, or in any way harmful if ingested. I have not experienced this problem with my budgerigars – however, if I did, I think that I would be inclined to scald the sprays immediately before I offer them to my birds.

As plastic containers can provide an ideal environment for mites, etc – which may be carried in with the sprays, even as eggs – I think the best plan is to find an alternative storage facility for your millet sprays.