Canary breeding is a fascinating hobby. Canaries are not social by nature. Males and females should be kept in separate cages. Males may fight each other and injure the females if they are kept in one cage.
When the cock birds are ready to mate they will sing loudly and joyously with drooped wings. They may become more territorial and chase other males around the cage. The female may make signs that she is trying to prepare a nest. The vent becomes red and swollen.
Before being placed together, the hen and cock should be housed in neighboring cages. A breeding cage is useful at this stage. It has two sections with a choice of a removable solid or barred division between the sections. A solid division is left in place until the birds are accustomed to each other. This is then removed and the bars left in place. Hopefully the male will feed the female as part of his courtship ritual. Some breeders remove the partition at this point; others wait until the female builds her nest.
The hen should be provided with several cup-shaped nests to choose from. Make sure they are securely fastened to the cage. You can purchase a commercial nest or find a suitable receptacle. Line it with soft material and provide additional fabric, wool or hair so she can add to the lining. Ensure short pieces are offered so she will not get tangled in them.
Some breeders remove the cock bird once the hen begins to lay. She will lay an egg every one or two days, usually early in the morning, until she has four to eight eggs. If each egg is removed on the day it is laid, they can be replaced in the nest when the hen has finished laying. If this is done, the eggs will all hatch at once making it easier for the hen to rear them.
Imitation eggs should be put in the nest in place of the real eggs. Keep the eggs at room temperature. Once the hen begins incubation, the eggs should hatch in 13 to 14 days.
Canary food offered during incubation and rearing of the chicks should be soft. A commercial preparation plus boiled eggs is a good basis. Offer plenty of greens. Cuttlefish and grit will provide extra calcium and the hen will appreciate a small piece of fruit. Remove uneaten food each day. After a month or two, you will be able to recoup some expenses of your canary breeding plan by offering a canary for sale.
When the cock birds are ready to mate they will sing loudly and joyously with drooped wings. They may become more territorial and chase other males around the cage. The female may make signs that she is trying to prepare a nest. The vent becomes red and swollen.
Before being placed together, the hen and cock should be housed in neighboring cages. A breeding cage is useful at this stage. It has two sections with a choice of a removable solid or barred division between the sections. A solid division is left in place until the birds are accustomed to each other. This is then removed and the bars left in place. Hopefully the male will feed the female as part of his courtship ritual. Some breeders remove the partition at this point; others wait until the female builds her nest.
The hen should be provided with several cup-shaped nests to choose from. Make sure they are securely fastened to the cage. You can purchase a commercial nest or find a suitable receptacle. Line it with soft material and provide additional fabric, wool or hair so she can add to the lining. Ensure short pieces are offered so she will not get tangled in them.
Some breeders remove the cock bird once the hen begins to lay. She will lay an egg every one or two days, usually early in the morning, until she has four to eight eggs. If each egg is removed on the day it is laid, they can be replaced in the nest when the hen has finished laying. If this is done, the eggs will all hatch at once making it easier for the hen to rear them.
Imitation eggs should be put in the nest in place of the real eggs. Keep the eggs at room temperature. Once the hen begins incubation, the eggs should hatch in 13 to 14 days.
Canary food offered during incubation and rearing of the chicks should be soft. A commercial preparation plus boiled eggs is a good basis. Offer plenty of greens. Cuttlefish and grit will provide extra calcium and the hen will appreciate a small piece of fruit. Remove uneaten food each day. After a month or two, you will be able to recoup some expenses of your canary breeding plan by offering a canary for sale.
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