canary hen pulling out her own feathers

[tinysparrow]

i am very new to canaries, so i would appreciate some help and advice i bought a canary pair that brother and sister, never intending to have them breed... just to live in a "platonic" relationship in my biggest community cage. they are about 6 months old now. just recently, i noticed that the male was trying to court the female and also mating with her often, so i separated them. the male i put into a bachelor cage with other males, and the female stayed in the large community cage.

what i have been noticing since i did that is the female trying desperately to build a nest in the large community cage. this isn't so bad, but she is pulling out her own feathers and attempting to build nests all over the place.... on the seed hopper, on the floor, on the perches.

has anyone ever seen a canary hen pull out her own feathers before? she is twisting her head around and trying to pull her back and chest feathers out sometimes she succeeds, and if she doesn't she pulls her feathers forward with her beak and tries to make them flat on the perch or the seed hopper to try to make a nest with her feathers. she then lays down in the area. what can i do for her? should i move her? leave her? try to pair her up with a different male that i have to see if this will sort of help her with her drive to make a nest? i really don't know what to do for her

[Zebrafincher]

I had a canary hen (who unfortunately died of eggbinding). She used to drive me crazy with nest building - in seed containers, on the floor. When I gave her a fake nest with dummy eggs she wouldn't get off it and continued to lay eggs on top of it. SOme bird will pull out their own feathers to provide nesting material. I give my current
batchelor group (3 finches and 1 canary) feathers and fake nests to play with - which they love!

[L in Ontario]

I had a canary hen (who unfortunately died of eggbinding). She used to drive me crazy with nest building - in seed containers, on the floor. When I gave her a fake nest with dummy eggs she wouldn't get off it and continued to lay eggs on top of it. SOme bird will pull out their own feathers to provide nesting material. I give my current
batchelor group (3 finches and 1 canary) feathers and fake nests to play with - which they love!

What a great idea - fake feathers (from a pillow perhaps) and a nest! I think it's worth a shot, Amy.

[Zebrafincher]

You can usually buy sterilised feathers and nesting material from good pet stores. I tend to use these, and they are usually from larger bird ie ducks or geese and are very soft.

Good luck. Very good idea to remove her from her brother. You don't want inbreeding in your birds.

[tinysparrow]

I had a canary hen (who unfortunately died of eggbinding). She used to drive me crazy with nest building - in seed containers, on the floor. When I gave her a fake nest with dummy eggs she wouldn't get off it and continued to lay eggs on top of it. SOme bird will pull out their own feathers to provide nesting material. I give my current
batchelor group (3 finches and 1 canary) feathers and fake nests to play with - which they love!

What a great idea - fake feathers (from a pillow perhaps) and a nest! I think it's worth a shot, Amy.

thanks for the ideas! i will give her some feathers to play with tomorrow

[30 Seconds to Bob]

Yes, when canary hens are in breeding mode, they will pull out their own feathers for nesting material if nothing else is available. They will also shred newapaper (if they can get at it) use spray millet twigs, tear apart sisal toys and even use lettuce leaves when desperate. If your canary hen is showing that much urge to build a nest this time of year, she is probably getting too much light or too rich a diet. She should be done with her moult and in her winter resting phase by now. Bob

[Mexicancanary]

She is definitely trying to build a nest with her own feathers. My canary hen who is a proven mother, also likes to "gather" little bits of material or pieces of whatever. I never see her when she is not busy collecting for a nest. My girl likes cotton and finely torn up scott towels (no coloring). I bought the nesting material once but never again as it gets caught on the baby's feet and toes.

She is a great mother and yours will probably be also. I would suggest you buy another male (not related) to her and she can then have some babies. Her brother will have to always stay in another cage but you can enjoy his singing.

Good Luck

[tinysparrow]

thanks for the help and suggestions everyone! she is doing better today... a lot more calm