FINCHforum

A couple of months ago I posted how I would like to try to bring my old timbrado male out of breeding retirement for one more attempt to carry on his great singing genes. I came to the harsh realization that he's getting old and that I've given away all my other males. The house will be awfully quiet when he's gone.
Anyway, two weeks ago, I paired this eight year old male with his three year old great grand niece. They've since built a nest together and have four eggs she's been sitting tightly on for six days. I'm not home during the day to have witnessed mating, but my wife says she's seen him actively singing and displaying for her as he's done in the past. I don't believe in disturbing the eggs or candling - that's just me. Wish me luck. Bob

Best of luck, Bob. If anyone can do it, it's you!

Wow 8 years old hopefully the eggs are fertile and you get some eggs to hatch out. Best of luck.

Good luck!

Fingers crossed. Can't wait to see some little ones soon!

hope it works out for you. best of luck- tammy

Older canary cocks become less fertile with age. They can still father chicks at age 8 if kept in good condition. Probably less eggs in the clutch will be fertile, but one or two is better than none! Did you condition him with a fetility aid like breeders blend or seeds high in Vitamin E ,like hemp, that will help with the testostrogen level? I don't breed canaries but my neighbor does and I have learned a lot of her secrets. I will be applying them to my gouldian finches when they get older.
Wish you the best with a continued line of your favorite singer

That is awesum news!! Please keep us informed!

Good luck with your happy couple, and may be there be many little baby canaries to continue on his line!!!

Thanks everyone for the votes of confidence! Honestly, I don't have much hope for this being sucessful, but a slim chance I guess is better than none at all. I like to think that my birds are always in top condition, appropriate to the time of the year. Finchlyn, I did administer a breeding supplement similar to Petamine, hemp seeds every day, and an egg food made with extra vitamin E oil. It's good to know that you have heard of eight-year-olds fathering chicks. No one else here had ever heard of it. Even if I get only one chick this season, and it's a male - I'll be very happy. I guess I'll know in another week or so. Thanks again. Bob

You never know what the birds will do!!! My canary is still going, 11 and hale and hearty ! He still tries to 'bromance' the other two star finches around him at 'that time of year' so who knows? Birds don;t take notice often of our rules! LOL

Bob good luck with your male, I know the feeling when your lines become nonexistent as theres has happened to me. With the health and the extra goto juice for him he may be able to give low numbers but that still better than a kick in the bum. All the best and here's hoping that we can see a pic of a young or two.

Thanks Zebrafincher and Dan. The end of this line is my own fault however, as I gave away all of his male offspring in a momentary lapse of sanity. I guess I must have thought that this one would live "forever". Bob

As one who has a canary at 11 and who does appear to be " living forever" I know what you mean. The vets told me years ago Kevin (my canary) had an issue with fits, and needed to have treatment administered everyday via the beak, but I thought this was too stressful for him. He's survived a further 6 years, and he could drop dead at any time, but his quality of life is very good. He doesn't have fits often - very rarely actually.

Kevin came from a breeder when he was about 2 years old, and I saw his sons/daughters in the same aviary. Based on 1 generation a year, he would now have great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandsons/daughters. He's possibly even outlived some of his descendents!

Wishing you the best when the eggs hatch Bob. Can't wait to see pics of the chicks....