Meet Walter!

[MiaCarter]

Sheather - Ah, so they are a bit like finch-sized fruity pebbles!

I'm sorry to hear about that aggressive encounter. Good thing you spotted it and intervened. Poor little Kari.
I bet it's because Walter is now in mating mode and that triggers territorial and just plain nasty behaviors sometimes. And male canaries can be shockingly nasty. Sweet, rotund little singers one moment and a devil with feathers the next!
Plus, I bet Kari and Walter don't know each other well, so that just compounds the matter, I think.

I think you made a good decision to put them together in the cage for now. They'll probably be hanging out there 95+% of the time anyways, so better to just cage them up so there's no interference or aggression issues. That's what I usually do for my guys. Anyone with eggs or babies doesn't usually participate in free fly. That eliminates aggression issues. It also prevents other birds from coming in and interfering with a nesting couple and causing trouble like that.

[Sheather]

MiaCarter

I sadly spoke way too soon. I went out for a while and returned to see Steve a frantic mess in the cage, her nest in shambles, and Walter in all-out attack mode. This made no sense to me as all day the two had been sweet a sugar with one another. I pulled terrified little Steve and freed her in the bird room again, Walter is going to have to remain on his own, it seems, as he's unpredictably aggressive. I really don't understand canary behavior. I certainly don't understand them enough to be breeding them yet, I don't think. Steve won't have any nests to lay in now, if she does lay I will toss the eggs. We'll see what happens in the spring when I've gotten to know these birds better, and when it's the right time for canary mating, not in the middle of winter.

Most unusually, Kari began distressed flock calling as soon as Steve was no longer around. On her return, she stopped, and the two are hanging near one another. I find this most odd as for all I can tell in the sixth months these two have lived in the same space they've been indifferent at best...

[MiaCarter]

Sheather -- Well that's just plain strange.

My guess would be that Walter doesn't know the others well enough yet.
So his aggression is getting triggered when one of them makes him feel uncomfortable. They're prone to aggression when they're in mating mode.

I'd just give them some time. I'd let them interact, but only when supervised.

Isn't that funny about Kari and Steve! It's funny how they surprise you sometimes, when you didn't realize two animals ever really cared for each other.
I saw something similar the other day when two of the dogs got snippity over a toy -- the jack russell Fiona and my old pug, Piggy. A third dog, a chihuahua Kiley came running over and went between them, defending the pug and taking on the jack russell Fiona! It was odd, as Kiley and Piggy never, ever pal around, but she definitely wasn't going to let Fiona mess with him!
I jumped in to break it up and Kiley sat with Piggy for the rest of the afternoon, making snarly faces at Fiona whenever she walked past. So odd.

It's situations like that that make think they have bonds and interactions that we just don't notice as humans. Or maybe they're like humans in that they don't realize their affinity for another until they're no longer around or threatened.
Maybe it will give Kari and Steve a chance to bond!

[Zebrafincher]

Hi MiaCarter,

Canaries can be pretty darn aggressive. My male canary, Kevin, is 13, and he still attacks my other two finches during Spring! I keep him away from my finches Merl and Beaky during this time (it's funny because Beaky my Zebra finch and he are best buds at other times). All birds get attached to eachother. I used to have another male canary, Ringo, and whenever I took one to the vet, they would call for eachother until they were back again. I'm not surprised your two females are attached to eachother, even if they seem indifferent the majority of the time. Good luck with your flock.

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
*Kevin aka “The Old Man” – very cranky canary – 13 years old and rules the Roost!
*Beaky aka “Beaky Beak” the Zebrafinch – 1 year old – and a real, real cutie!!!
*Merlin aka “Merl” the Starfinch – 3 ½ years old – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”

[lovezebs]

Sheather

Hey Dylan

Canary males can be aggressive, that's why it makes me chuckle, when someone gets two males and is raving about how wonderfully they are getting along. The next thing you hear, is 'yikes, what to do, they are fighting!'
Unless one has a really big Aviary, it is usually not a good idea,
especialky during breeding time.

Regarding Walter and Stevie. My guess would be, that he said: Co'mon Sweet cheeks, lets get to It, and she said: but Honey we just met... I'm thinking, he didn't want to take no for an answer, the beast. Poor little Stevie...

Give them time. A breeding cage with a divider is a good idea with Canaries just getting aquainted.

~Elana~

[Atbird]

What kind of cage do you have? I find the long double breeder is best for canaries. My father uses those and has less problems. I use a taller, "cockatiel " sized cage and I find my pair fights and I separate them. They'll get along fine outside the cage, but when I close the cage, they fight. It ends up that my female raises the young by herself (with my help).

By the way, it only takes one time for the female to get a full clutch of fertile eggs. My one female had only one visit with the male and she had five fertile eggs.

[Sheather]

Well, today everyone is at peace again, the two 'female' canaries flitting about in a strangely peaceable way, and Walter serenading from his bedroom abode. I'll start letting him out once he's familiar with the cage he'll still have to go in to sleep. Bird drama...

[lovezebs]

Sheather
Hi Dylan.

I'd offer Stevie a nest (she might need it) and Karie and her can take care if the baby business. As for our man Walter, I would let him enjoy some quiet time in solitary. If you let him out and he is in aggressive mode, you might run into trouble. If Stevie is ready to lay eggs, he might interfere with the whole process.

Just my two cents worth

~Elana~

[Sheather]

Oh no, Walter is not in the bird room. He's in the bedroom.

[lovezebs]

Sheather
He could probably be in the bird room, but not foot loose and fancy free. I mean in his cage .

~Elana~

[Sheather]

Yes, but I don't want to keep him locked up, so he'll be in the bedroom for now, where various other 'problem' birds have stayed in the past.

[lovezebs]

Sheather
Oh okay. So he gets free flight in your bedroom. Got you. Lets hope he mellows down a bit.

~Elana~

[MiaCarter]

Well that's good news that they're having a good day.
I'd just keep them supervised and take it slowly.

Canaries can be shockingly aggressive, but he's shown that he can peacefully co-exist with Steve, so it's just a matter of him learning how to achieve that peace on a continual basis. I'm sure he'll be just fine.