Should I take the nests out?

[ann]

I keep 2 male societies and a canary hen in one cage. There are 2 covered nest baskets in the cage, and I supply them with lots of nesting materials. They have a great time getting their nests just so, then I take out all the material and they start all over again. It keeps them busy and happy. But this morning I found a canary egg in one of the nests. Do you think I should take the nests out? I hate to take away their fun, not to mention their sleeping place, but I also don't want her laying. I didn't think she would even look twice at a covered nest.

[lovezebs]

ann

Canary girls at times see a nest and lay an egg in it, just when the urge to lay an egg comes over them, lol.

I wouldn't take away the nests, just make sure she has enough calcium in her diet.

[cindy]

the nests and all nesting material needs to be removed.... hens like Elana mentioned can stimulate hens to lay eggs even without a male... finches, canaries do not need nests to sleep in...instead try little stress perches for them to roost in

[cindy]

I use stress perches in with all species...zebras, gouldians, shaft tails, societies..... and javas. when light go down they head for their private perch!!

[Sheather]

I agree, a nest is not something a hen canary needs, because she will want to brood eggs, and I have bred them successfully in covered nests so I don't know where they impression canaries don't like them comes from. Given a choice my females always preferred something lidded for privacy, if the hole was a few inches wide and easy to enter (they won't use, say, a budge nest box.) If you can move your canary, there's no harm in keeping a nest for a male pair though.

[isobea]

ann - I'm not sure what to tell you, Ann. I have nests in my aviary at all times and the lavenders, shaft tails and my male fire finch always sleep in theirs - eggs or no eggs. Even if your female canary lays eggs, what's the harm in it? As Elana said, just give her enough calcium. And if she should sit on them for two or three weeks, so be it. It's what her instinct tells her to do this time of year. I remember people talking about their birds laying eggs in seed cups or on the floor if there was no nest available.
But that's just my opinion.
Iso

[Sojourner]

Personally I would remove the nests. Laying eggs is hard on a hen. It shortens their lives - probably not by a lot, but some. And there is the danger of egg-binding.

No offense, but I feel that letting them lay eggs when you don't want them to breed (eg you don't want babies) is something to be assiduously avoided. Especially in the case where babies aren't even possible.

I'd remove the nests. They don't need them. Every time I've put a nest in a cage, I've regretted it (both times, LOL!).

I feel its too risky and for no possible reward.

[ann]

I took the nest out, and she laid eggs in the food cup. I gave her extra calcium and vitamins and put the nest back with her eggs. She laid one more and started sitting tight.

The societies are having a ball making their nests. It keeps them so busy and happy, I just didn't want to take that away from them. The canary looks very serene and content sitting there. I'm assuming she will give it up after a few weeks.

If she starts laying after this, I will put her in another cage where there are no nests. But for now, I'm letting her follow her instincts.