how can I stop my canaries from having a second clutch

[adoumski]

Hi all
So my 5 canary babies are now 2 weeks old, They are doing good and seem very healthy. I'm very happy with them and will try to keep all of them ( I'm not a breeder ).
Today I caught the parents going at it again 3 times (they where not sharing the same cage as the hen wouldn't allow him to feed the babies until yesterday).
What should I do if I don't want more chicks or is it too late now. I also noticed the male keeps tearing news papers.
I really don't have space to keep more birds especially if they have 5 more.

[bugaboo5]

Hello and Happy New Year! Congratulations on your five canary babies -- how exciting!

Canaries will usually have 2-3 clutches. The parents should continually feed the first clutch of babies while incubating the second clutch. If you want to prevent a second clutch, you can simply remove the nest.

The parents should be perfectly healthy to raise another clutch. If space is a issue, have you thought about trading and/or selling any future babies? Some pet stores will allow trades of birds for store credit -- this can be used to purchase food or supplies for your birds. Additionally, I believe many people of the Middle East enjoy the beautiful songs of canaries (and other song birds), so perhaps there might even be a demand for the birds on a local level? Either way, the decision is yours. You have the option of removing the nest completely, or replacing the eggs as they are laid with dummy eggs (fake plastic eggs). Bonne chance.

[adoumski]

Hi bugaboo happy new year and Merry Christmas (I forgot today was new years eve).
I will try removing the nest as soon as the babies fledge.
However, if they do start another nest soon I will probably end up going to a pet shop to see if they will have them.
Merci beaucoup

[30 Seconds to Bob]

If it were me, I would let them have the second clutch. I never had any trouble finding homes for baby canaries - especially if you involve a pet shop. Bob

[adoumski]

Hey guys,

they had a second clutch, 5 eggs. i didn't know canaries breed easily when i got them, i went from having 2 canaries to (cross fingers) 12 in 2 month. i should open a canary only pet shop

[Zebrafincher]

Hi Adoumski,

Being fertile is not necessarily the trait that people associate with canaries, but I can tell you , I have an old fellow, Kevin, who is 12, and he STILL goes through the mating rituals every spring (he tries it on with his mirror ball or my other finches, who are NOT very enthusiastic about his ardor).

Good luck with both clutches.

Cheers


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy, cranky canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 9 months old – a real, real cutie!!!
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”