FINCHforum

I Bought these 2 canaries last week but i'm unsure as to what colour/type they are, after googling they could be mosaic agates, silver satinettes or ?
Also the're supposed to be a pair but i havn't heard either singing ( i've another 2 cocks canaries of different colour/type singing against each other in same room so there's no reason for them not singing ) , are these dimorphic i.e. does the one with the more colour on face have to be a cock ?

Hen ?


Cock ?


Regards

Padraic

such a cutie

I don't know the canary color types, but they look like pied canaries. I don't know how they sex canaries. Hopefully, someone here will chime in soon. Congrats! They're beautiful!

I'm not familiar with sexual dimorphism in canaries, and I've only heard it mentioned one other time. Not an expert on color or genetics, either - sorry. I do know a bit on breeding them and keeping them healthy. Very nice looking birds. Bob

They definitely are yellow mosaics the one with the larger mask should be male. I think they are yellow satinette mosaics. Very pretty!

Hello Ireland. Wow, your new birds are lovely. I have never seen the like. As for sexing, I wish I had Frank my canary mans' know how. He picks up his canaries and cradles them in the palm of his hand, then goes pooofff up their under carriage, takes a look down there and tells you boys or girls. And you know what? He's right every time. Now, I'm not sure what one sees when one blows up a canary's bum, but there you have it. LoL. My way, would be to put the two in seperate cages and see if one will begin singing. Then you will know. Goodluck, they are beautiful.

I'm not sure what one sees when one blows up a canary's bum, but there you have it.

I once found a better site with many more pictures that explained and showed it better but can't find it now. This should give you an idea of whta they are looking at though:
http://www.westernwaterslager.com/text/ ... Sexing.htm

Now, I'm not sure what one sees when one blows up a canary's bum, but there you have it.

This only works with mature adults in breeding condition. Bob

These are either yellow satinette mosaics or possibly yellow opal mosaics? Very nice pair!
The male has the fully colored face while the female shows a hint of color at the eyebrow.

You should join this site:
http://colourcanary.forumotion.net/
Geoff Walker is a member and he knows colorbred canaires very well.

Thank you for all your comments, consensus seems to be yellow satinette mosaics. I just wanted to try something different to the red faced parrot finches which havn't successfully reared any chicks yet ( i'm still trying and paired up 2 pairs last week after a few months rest with nest boxes inside cages facing door as opposed to on outside of cages ). I loved the colour of these canaries on seeing them which triggered an impulse buy without knowing much about them

As an experiment today i introduced a cock Irish fancy to them for a few minutes and the suspected satinette cock reacted immediately by singing for first time so i'm now happy i have a pair.

I tried the blowing on vent before but couldn't sex them that way, it probably requires years of experience and for the birds to be in breeding condition as mentioned by others.


Padraic

Well, at least now you know. Is your new boy a good singer then?

lovezebs wrote: Well, at least now you know. Is your new boy a good singer then?

He hasn't sang since i removed the other cock bird, i just hope he wasn't trying to impress him.


Padraic

Some male canaries will not sing where they are housed with a female.
Some female canaries will attack a singing male in the same cage.
Most canary breeders separate the pairs this time of year anyway.
I think it's best to keep the pairs in divided cages or separate cages side by side until they are both ready to go to nest. The male will be in full song which along with conditioning diet and lenght of day helps to bring the hen into breeding condition and the hen will construct a nest in preperation for breeding.

Jonvill, that could explain why the cock is so quiet when with hen, she is 'practicing' sitting in nest pan and he could be just keeping a low profile until she's ready. It's also probably a bit early for them to breed here even with the extra lighting and heat so i'll just wait and see. Most important thing was making sure they were a pair.

I'm a complete beginner with canaries having only got them in last 2 weeks. If they start getting aggressive towards each other i'll put the divider in cage or move him but would rather give them full access to the double cage as each side is only 16" which i'd consider too small for any bird.


Padraic