SIENA, HAS AN..... ASSISTANT?

[lovezebs]

Hello Fellow Canary Enthusiasts...

Something I haven't see or heared of before
Luciano's #1 Bride, Siena, decided to build her nest, in one of those grapevine balls. From the start, one of my littke Yellow headed Star girls, has been lending her a hand with the construction. Since Siena, laid her egg, the little Star hen has been helping her sit on the eggs. The take turns sitting on the eggs, and quite often sit together.

I have never heared of something like this, other than with Societies or Zebras. Has anybody else ever come across a similar incident?

Now, I didn't go rummaging in the nest, to see if there are Star eggs, but I know there are Canary eggs. So what gives???

~Elana~

[Atbird]

It's interesting how the canary is tolerating the Stars help

[lovezebs]

Atbird

Surprises me too, but they seem to have reached some sort of an agreement, that works for both of them. I can't figure it out either...

~Elana~

[Mexicancanary]

Elana, I find your situation with Siena and the star quite interesting. I have tried at different times in the past several years to use one canary male with 2 different canary hens in the same "large" cage but never with success. Although the male is more than willing... , the hens always end up fighting so I separate them and nix the idea. Your two have definitely reached some sort of meeting of the minds...kudos to you!

I would be interested to know after they hatch if "both hens" take care of the babies or if there is a problem.

Linda

[lovezebs]

Mexicancanary

Hi Linda.
My big question, is not so much the two female Canaries, both in their own nests, sitting on eggs, at opposite ends of a flight. It's the little Yellow Head Star hen, who is helping one of my Canary hens incubate the Canary eggs.

That's the thing, that I find beyond interesting. I've seen this behavior in Society Finches, but not in other species.

As to the two Canary hens, they have words once in a while, but not what I would call fighting. Each is busy with her own eggs and nest, and Luciano, visits both (occasionally still claiming his marital rights ) and sings happily.

At this point, not sure what will or won't hatch, but time will tell.

~Elana~

[Colt]

How very strange...

I think Jen had a male pair of Stars foster some waxbill babies? I could be wrong about that. But it was of their own accord. They just took over a nest.

[lovezebs]

Colt

I think I remember that, but can't remember how it turned out.
The wierd thing is, that they are often in there together, and also take turnes on the eggs. (? )

~Elana~

[Jen]

Hey there Colt and lovezebs

Just catching up to this thread. I have two male Stars that I purchased a few months back. As soon as I put them in my outdoor aviary they started building a nest to sleep in. When Lady Blue tossed one of her gould babies I put it in the Stars nest and they took it in and fed it from day one!!! Incredible, if you ask me! Lady Blue's tossling is a male that has been singing and starting to get his adult colors. I named him "Blue" as he looks just like his mom! But the hero in this story are my Star boys. They have since built another nest after Blue fledged and I cleaned out the original nest. The oddest thing to see was when Blue would beg after he fledged and the Stars would feed and cater to him! Who would have thought??? An odd sight to see!!!

[lovezebs]

Jen

Hi Jenny.
Now I remember!
I wonder if Stars, are an option then for fosters, if there are no other options.
As to my Canary and Star girls..... we shall see. I'm really curious to see, if the little Star will help feed the Canary infants if and when they hatch.

~Elana~

[Jen]

After what I've seen of my Stars I would not hesitate to use them as fosters. As of tonight, they are in a new nest where they sleep at night??!!!?! After Blue fledged they stayed outside the nest but now that he is independent, they have built a new nest in a fresh bamboo nest I put in the aviary. I see them peeking out at night when I go in and turn the light out....so cute....I know for sure that if I had eggs or even a tossling I needed to foster, they would be the ones!

[KarenB]

I want stars now

[Sam007]

Very interesting!

[MiaCarter]

Aw, this is a lovely story!

Seems like they're friends, doesn't it?!

I wonder if the fact that she's a yellow-faced star has any bearing on the situation. A yellow-faced star has the same colors as a canary -- the yellow/orangey mask, of course, plus a greenish-yellowish-brownish coloring on the body. So I wonder if Siena views the Star as a fellow canary?

Still doesn't explain the situation, though, as canaries generally don't act like society finches!

I'd say they're just two girlfriends who've decided to have babies together!
Are they a bonded couple, do you think?
Perhaps they just used Luciano as their donor?

I'll be curious to see if they continue together once the babies are born. I imagine it probably will!