When to check or remove eggs

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo
Pair 1 2nd clutch total 3 eggs. she didn't lay a 4th egg today. honestly I'm not sure when she laid the 1st egg. So I am counting 14 days from yesterday. Right now she is eating some fresh greens. I haven't seen the male feed her this time around. think he is getting lazy.

Pair 2 2nd clutch laid 1st egg this morning after repositioning the cage.

Pair 3 Still nothing. hen still sits in the nest like she wants to lay, male is still singing franticly, and the male was also feeding the hen. Not sure why she isn't starting her 1st clutch.

Pair 4 Still nothing. Hen sits on nest as if she wants to lay eggs but male still not showing interest nor serenading her. Going to give them 1 more week. if nothing happens then I am thinking about swapping out the males and females. Starting them from scratch and hope that works.

Have your or anybody else ever herd of a male not singing to the hen and still mating? Funny thing is I don't think my Crested male canary is even conditioning himself for mating. Could this be because he was never paired up as long as I have owned him.

I just realized. if Donald trump and Ms Whitey are successful, the eggs will start to hatch on Easter Sunday. How beautiful will that be. Fingers are staying crossed.

Animalzoo actually it be approximately 5 weeks for only approximately 10 eggs for 2 clutches. Either way I will let the hen rest after these clutches for at least 3 weeks.(unless they are a successful clutch then I will void any other attempts) If she is still in condition then I will pair up again. I am hoping to find 2 more hens though that are of age and ready to condition, but my breeder is out of town until the end of the month.

How are your other clutches doing you never did say if they started hatching or what your game plan is.

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo
Here are some pics of my pairs.

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo Here are the confused ones pics. It might be just the owner lol ......

Now you have seen pics of the whole Canary bird family. I also have 2 fish tanks, 4 beta bowls, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. Yes I live in a Zoo but their family and love them all.

[Animalzoo]

Jamm972

Oh wow, where do I start! They're beautiful

Stud is so pretty and what a name, thats brillint hehe

Pair 1 - fingers crossed!
Pair 2 - fingers crossed, they're happy with the new position then
Pair 3 & 4 - frustrating.

So yes, after another week swap pairs 3 and 4 around.

Similar to what you have, I have a couple sitting on 5 eggs where the eggs I candled are not fertile. The male never sings. When the other boys start all 3 get going at the same time, they set each other off but this male doesn't do sing. He feeds the hen and she's obviously encouraged by him but nothing fertile. Eggs were due Sunday/Monday so I'm sitting tight before taking them out.

My update is...

Pair 1 - 1 10 day old baby doing well.
Pair 2 - 5 unfertilised eggs (with the male who doesn't sing)
Pair 3 - 5 eggs, 4 fertile due end of this week
Pair 4 - 4 eggs (yet to candle) due at the weekend

Hens sitting tight and being good, males singing away (apart from that one boy) and feeding the hen.

For now, no more other news.
I wonder if anyone else has any canaries breeding or is it just us lol

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo Keeping fingers crossed for yours too Its exciting to compare knowledge and experiences together.
Got home from work and Donald and whitey are still sitting on 3 eggs. on the first clutch the eggs started disappearing 1 by 1. So I am hoping Whitey is smart and knows they are fertile.
Blanca is sitting on 2 eggs now. Funny thing is they are turning dark blue... the last ones were lighter in color and had spots. this is the darkest I have ever seen canary eggs. Best way to describe it is they look like robin eggs.
Still nothing in pair 3 and 4 Tails and brownie are back to feeding each other again, or atleast it looks like they are. they are really confusing me.

So when I re-pair 3 and 4 I'm going to take advantage and clean and disinfect the cages. I will break down their made nest and have them start from scratch again. This will give me a hint when they are ready for the divider to be taken out.

I'm feeding them all fresh romaine lettuce and fresh water every day. Their seed I cut down to every 3 to 4 days. before that I was over feeding them and wasting a lot of seed.

[Animalzoo]

Jamm972

I don't know what a dark blue eggs mean but I have read the last egg can be a darker shade. Could they be getting darker because they are fertile and the embryo is growing? Maybe Blanca will lay a few more yet in her new position.

Its good news though for Donald and Whitey. Maybe they'll get to 4 or 5 eggs, or do you think she's stopped laying now?

Yes, agreed to swap around your pairs 3 and 4 and take advantage to give the cages a deep clean. Getting them to meet each other and start all over again will get them in shape so I'd just crack on with that straight away. Sooner the better!

Update on my lot...

Sonny and Cher (pair 1) still have their active little 1 baby. 11-12 days old now and lovely feathers coming through. Mums not sitting on the chick anymore and I've seen her squabble with her mate so today I added a new nest on the opposite side of the cage for her to start building for her next clutch. Dad is feeding the chick now.

Mulder and Scully (pair 2) had 5 eggs, non fertile so today I removed them from the nest. I candled them again to make sure and all are see through. Hopefully they'll just start over and the male will do his duty better next time.

Jack and Jill (Pair 3) have 5 eggs. Last time I candled 4 are fertile so I'm expecting 4 chicks hatching any time now.

Romeo and Juliet (pair 4) have 4 eggs that I managed to candle today. All fertile! yay. Due in about 5 days.

The problem with Mulder and Scully is that Mulder never sings. I think he's shy and perhaps would sing on his own. But he's not successfully mated with Scully so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for next time.

Food wise I do the same as you seed wise. I change it out after about 5 days. They also have a permanent supply of an egg food mixture with canary seeds in it. I have mixed up a dry food combo made of a tropical / veg / egg food supplement. You can buy them separately so I mix them together to go into one bowl. I give them grit.
Then daily they either have hard boiled eggs, mashed or a salad veg mashup (brocolli/carrots/romain). If I'm low on time I'll just pop in a romain lettuce leaf. Sometimes I give them slice of apple. I add a vitamin to their water about once a week otherwise its fresh water ever day or two. I provide a bath every couple of days for the day too. Lucky little birdies hehe.

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo fingers crossed for your other clutches.
No new updates for me as of yet. Blanca wont get off the nest for me to see how many eggs were there. Last I checked there was 2. I have been monitoring the bottom of her cage because the 1st clutch she threw a few out of the nest.

Ms Whitey is doing the same as before with her eggs. She laid only 3 eggs, this time she hasn't thrown any out of the nest like the 1st time. She only kept the fertile one. Still no luck with the other 2 pairs. Going to give them 1 more day. I just don't understand why Orangie and his Hen aren't producing eggs. he is doing everything he is suppose to be doing feeding and stuff. So only time will tell. I'm going to do the deep cleaning and Switch This Saturday afternoon if they don't lay any eggs.
I am a little concerned with Ms Whiteys eggs. they are lighter in color than the first clutch. I hope this don't mean there not fertile. I'm not going to candle them until the day after easter. that's why the 3rd and last egg was laid and is due to hatch.
The other eggs still blue as ever. has me curious, ive only seen robin eggs that color.

That's my update so far.

Hope all is well with you and your babies

[Animalzoo]

Jamm972 Thats sounding much better for Blanca and Whitey. If they're sitting tight and not throwing any eggs out then you have to assume all is well. Don't be put off that Whitey's eggs are very blue or light in colour. Maybe it was something to do with her diet or just her genetics which have created a slightly different colour egg when she laid them.

I think you'll be spot on changing the other pairs around tomorrow and doing a good clean in the meantime. You watch though, they go and lay an egg by the time you come to swap them

I've not had any eggs hatch yet. Was day 14 today for the first egg of Jack and Jills so maybe tomorrow or Sunday something will happen.

Look at this wonderful pic of my lone little chick from Sonny and Cher. The little sweetie.



I added the 2nd nest to Sonny and Cher's cage but so far Cher has completed ignored it. I saw her sit on the chick once yesterday but not today but I have witnessed both the parents feed him.

No eggs yet with Mulder and Scully. Sometimes Scully sits in the nest but most of the time the 2 of them are just bobbing around the cage. I think this is just a waiting game for her to make the eggs.

Romeo and Juliet's eggs not due yet. Few more days to go.

Hopefully I'll be reporting in next that I have new chicks wit Jack and Jill !!!

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo got to have patients. Don't swet it that the egg hasn't hatched yet. Sometimes the Hen don't start incubating the eggs until she has laid the last of them so they hatch all the same time. or at least close to it.
I checked for eggs today. However work just got crazy. Some one was fired today so now I'm in mandatory over time so will have less time to attend to the birds until they hire someone new.
So far so good with the 2 clutches currently being sat on. Blanca still wont budge off the eggs but she was like that with the first clutch and none were fertile. Ms Whitey seems to be doing better with this clutch. Still a wile to wait though before hatching.
Tomorrow when I get off work I'm going to change water fresh food and disinfect the 2 unsuccessful pairs and swap the males and provide the hens with a fresh clean nest and nesting material. After day 3 of the new pairing I'm going to use romaine lettace to intice the female to want to beg for food from the male. With all this over time I'm going to get I can start to buy supplies to build my aviary.

Your hand holding the baby chick. nice. is it true if you handle them more as they grow they are less afraid and you can train them to not be afraid of your hands and even to fly up to it and sit on finger.

time for lights out for the babies and for me long day tomorrow.

Stay in touch and will keep you updated with the changes. Also note to self. I am going to log each pairing and how many clutches they did whether successful/parital successful, or even if duds. this is to know what pairings are strong together and which ones not to retry at a later time.

I received a pointer today on facebook. I was told that iof you have a strong breeder male you can pair it with a less helpful female in hopes the male will teach the male. This also is sapose to work in the reverse. A well trained and good breeding hen can teach the male.

have a good night look forward to hearing from you soon

[Animalzoo]

Jamm972

Hope you got on well today. I'm looking forward to hearing about the change around....

Good news today, I have the 1st hatchling from Jack and Jill! Roll on tomorrow as I'm expecting a new baby daily now for a few days.




I haven't been handling the other canary baby until I took it out to take the photo. I breed various bird types and in particular I have bred budgies. It goes without saying that handling the young birds frequently after about 2 weeks in the nest makes them tame to human hands. Last year I made sure I held each budgie baby every day for some time each. The results have been brilliant and I kept one as my pet in the house. He flies to me and is so used to me.

The canaries I bought from the breeder seem so relaxed in comparison to untamed birds. I can almost pluck them from the perch when I need to handle them. I wasn't sure if that was in the nature of the bird type or down to the breeder's handling. Either way, your remark made me think. No matter what happens, handling any bird from young in the nest is healthy for its well being so they know a human hand means food, health or even sanctuary. From now on I'm going to make sure all my babies are handled for this reason. Getting them out of their poop stained nests is a little grotty but heyho. Needs must.

Here's little chuck in his nest

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo I think we need to start a new topic. Were on a totally different subject now.
Here is my update. Donald Trump and Ms Whitey are still caring for all 3 eggs. I am expecting them to hatch by Easter weekend, so only 7 more days to go.

Blanca and Zorro kicked an egg out of the next today. it was all yellow. I assume they knew it wasn't fertile. Blanca however still wont budge from the nest to let me see how many eggs are still their.

I swapped out both males and cleaned the cages 1 by 1. I think both hens are mad at me for removing their already made nests.

I think Orangie went into a molting phase he wont sing. I haven't hurd him sing in a few days. but I put him with a new hen with the divider in. Orangie is with .......I guess I will call her Yellow. So umm 7 days from today I will remove the divider, unless I see a full nests and feeding through the bars then I will remove the divider sooner.

So want to hear something funny. Stud might be a Fox .......My eye site must not be to good because I could of swore I seen something sticking out. When he was separated and alone he also wouldn't sing. Here is the kicker.....Stud was attempting to build a nest. He or possibly she was putting cotton and burlap into the water dish. From what I understand this is signs that they are wanting to or attempting to build a nest. I removed the solid divider and left the bar divider up still to observe him with the other 2 canaries who I believe to be both males as well. Lets see what will happen. if he/she will build and fix the next.

Work has been crazy so I haven't been able to really sit and watch them to see of any other peculiar behavior.
Its now after St. Patty's day and every says this is when you put your pairs together to let them start their clutches.

I have a question. Toopay and his new hen.....Should I feed the hen the romaine lettuce to entice Toopay to sing and court the hen, or should I feed Toopay to entice the hen to build a nest and beg for food?

Sigh....wish I didn't have to work so many hours this coming weeks.

I do know the 2 hens I re-paired up are ready for the season. So if need be I can put them with one of the other males.

I am still afraid to candle the eggs, in my mind I feel if I touch them then the hen will lose interest and not want to take care of them.

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo So uhh, its only been like 2 hours sense I re paired the canaries. Toopay is hopping around the nest flapping his wings with the new hen in the other partition. I sure hope this is a good sign..... What I really want him to do is sing and try and court her. he has such a beautiful song.
The female is doing an awful lot of chirping too. So I'm sure she is noticing him.

[Animalzoo]

Jamm972

Nah I think the post is still relevant. We're still discussing eggs in nests and if they're fertile and if we should touch/candle/remove them

Re. Toopay, you've thrown me now. You have him divided opposite a hen right? But why is he hopping and flapping around the nest, isn't there a nest with the hen?

In my opinion when the birds are divided you still feed both of them the same food, eggs/veggies/vitamin supplements/seed etc as they both need to be in the best condition and ingest the most nutrients for their hormones to get into shape. I believe the male will feed the female as part of courtship, not to provide sustenance. Some finches sing and dance to court the hen but canaries prove themselves to the hen by bringing her food. She takes this that he knows where food is and can be relied upon when she is nest bound to bring food when there are chicks.

I separated mine until I saw feeding between the dividers but the hen had her nest and nesting material if she fancied getting on with it. some did start to build, others didn't. They got there in the end though.

It's annoying about Blanca and Zorro. I'm torn between birds 'sensing' an egg is not fertile or the unhatched chick has a problem and them just being clumsy and kicking an egg/chick our by accident. Canary nests have deep wells in them so an accident is unlikely. I read about the chicks being tossed after being ringed as the mum sees the leg band as a foreign object so tosses it out, chick included. Thats what happened to my little one the other day remember. I panicked! I thought OMG!! She'd abandoning the chick. She threw it out twice. Horrible it was to find at the bottom resting on the metal cold bars but she sat back on the dear little fella and look at him now, growing feathers and looking great. As for Blanca kicking out eggs I'm not convinced its because its not fertile. Scully sat patiently on her 5 unfertile eggs for the 2 weeks and no sign she was going to throw any out. Even Jill has 1 unfertile one in her clutch of 5 and didn't throw it out. I understand if its been like 4 weeks or something and nothing has happened but not a few days. maybe Blanca doesn't understand what the eggs are, maybe she thinks they're rubbish and part of her house cleaning is to throw them out. I have an idea.........if, IF she ruins this entire clutch. Wait for her to lay again, then remove and replace each egg as it comes with the fake dummy eggs. That way if she throws them no damage has come. When she's sitting tight and not throwing anymore out replace the dummy egg with her original real eggs at once and start the 14 day countdown from then. The eggs will develop and hatch on the same day.....try that! On my next round of eggs I'm going to try this so the babies all have a fair and equal chance to grow and get fed.

And Stud is (possible) female! Hahaha, you are having some fun aren't you

Don't worry about touching the eggs to candle. Just be patient and wait for the hen to hop off. She'll get straight back on and carry on, trust me.

Jack and Jill had their one hatch yesterday (did you see that pic I managed to get, so sweet!) but haven't had any more hatch this morning, perhaps the infertile egg was laid second. They normally hatch daily so perhaps tomorrow. This is another reason why you can swap out the eggs for dummies, when they hatch it's all at once. No waiting!

Sorry, I've waffled this afternoon. I just got thinking about Blanca and got a little annoyed when you said she threw out an egg. I thought you had cracked it and she was going to settle on them. Grrrrrr, so it got me thinking hahaha, let me know what you think.

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo yes the nest is with the hen that's what I mean. Toopay is hopping around his side of the cage.
I was told by another breeder they only throw out the eggs if they are lacking in nutrients and have a need for the protein and egg so they eat the egg. Also blanca is done laying its been well over 8 days sense I first seen her lay the first 1. Blanca is being more protective and wont budge off the nest then Ms Whitey.
I do have fake eggs I purchased on ebay I was going to do this but was scolded by a few breeders saying this is only practiced by breeders who were out to make a profit rather than do it as a hobby. that is not the case. I wanted to give them all a fair chance as well. but they said they will all survive if the parents are good and conditioned.
I just candled all the eggs. I believe Ms whitey has 3 fertile eggs. I seen blood veins in the eggs.
However Blanca's egg is completely see through. I believe this is because they are still to young..... If a hen lays eggs does this mean she is in season and ready for conditioning? Due to unfertile eggs I think the male is not doing his job.
If I give blanca 1 more go at it I think I may put her in with Donald Trump.
Update on the re-pairs....
Pair 3 Toopay and Hen ehh not so good. I think the hen is mad at me for breaking her and orangie up. Toopay has been patiently waiting close to the divider for the hen to show interest. So far she hasn't.But all the nesting material is all over the bottom of the cage as apposed to where I had it safe so she wouldn't poop all over it.

Pair 4 Orangie and Yellow They are a work in progress. Orangie is still looking for the other hen he was paired with. But he is now standing at the bars and Yellow is also standing at the bars where the divider is. I think they are going to accept each other within a few more days. Yellow is begging Orangie to feed her he hasn't yet but I think he will soon.
Not sure what to do with the other 3 canaries. 2 are sapose to be old enough and conditioning them selfs. I am thinking of taking them out of the breeding cages and putting them in their own individual cages and see if any of them start to sing. The thing is some canaries will only sing when no other canaries are in sight or hurd. Unless your teasing the male with a female then he wil sing in hopes to be pared up with her.

That's my update for now. 6 days in counting and all 3 eggs or atleast 1 should be hatching. But I counted 14 days from the last known egg being hatched.

Poor Blanca is going to be so mad at me. I will candle the egg next Saturday to see if its still unfertile. if so I will remove the male and her egg. and let her rest for about a week or 2. Should I also remove the nest?

Animalzoo are you using artificial sun light or natural? After this season is done I am building an aviary that has a florescent light big enough to put above the aviary to assimilate sun light it will be on a timer. but I will only be doing this after they molt. However Donald trump and Ms Whitey if they are successful and all 3 eggs hatch I may try for a 3rd clutch only because they started way to early and I think 1st clutch was just a practice run. I just fear of her getting egg bound. but if her diet and nutrition is good
OMG OMG OMG OMG.....I was typing up that last paragraph and guess what..Toopay started singing to court his Hen. Yeah I'm hoping the hen will accept him. Keep your fingers crossed.

[Jamm972]

So here is an Egg question, I have a pair who has successfully attepted 2 clutches. 1st clutch was a dud 1 chick made it but did not make it past the first night and passed away. The Hen(Ms Whitey) took about a week rest and started her 2nd clutch. All 3 eggs are fertile and are due within the next 6 days.
My question is to anybody who is reading this. Because Ms Whiteys first clutch wasn't good, and she took a rest, and had a 2nd clutch and if successful wont be laying eggs until the chicks are atleast 14 days old. Is it safe to attempt a 3rd clutch if her nutrition and diet supports her needs or will she get egg bound. I think the first clutch may or was just a trial run for the pairs first time. I don't want them over doing it but want them to have a fair share of this season. I also understand that of I did do a 3rd clutch that I will need to allow them to go into a molting and rest for a few months.

Any opinions or in put?