FINCHforum

I didn't want to hijack Malti's thread on breeding so will start another.

Recently acquired canary pairs are settling in nicely.
Then~ I saw a beautiful blue egg in the food dish of my American Singer pair. It was broken, and soon disappeared [presumed eaten].
So, I put a nest in and she would sit in it for long stretches of time. On the 3rd day later there is another egg but this time its in the nest.
This one is not blue but is off white colored and has small flecks of what looks like blood on it.
Her appearance and behavior look perfectly normal to me. She's eating well and getting seed, fresh green veg., egg food, occasional slice of orange and crushed eggshells.

I've read that this is an atypical season for breeding but it obviously happens.
-Any significance to the different color of the 2nd eggshell?
-Meaning of the flecks of blood? I'm guessing she had trouble passing it.
-He has pretty much stopped singing. Is this something that happens when in a breeding mood?

paul-inAZ

Canary eggs, can come in various shades of blue, whitish blue, etc.
Traditionally, it is said that the last egg in a clutch is the darkest blue. The reddish brown speckle that your seeing, is probably not blood, just the colouring.

Google Canary eggs images, and you will see the variations of Canary egg colours.

Keep up a good seed diet, hard boiled eggs, vegetables and fruits, cuttle bone, crushed egg shells. I would also offer a bath everyday, to keep moisture on and around the eggs.

Then wait patiently, and before you know it, you will have...

Thanks Elana.

All looks well. She spends most of her time on the nest. I saw her off the nest this AM and there is now a second egg. This one is a pale blue with rusty spots on it.
Somehow I have expected all the eggs to be the same color. Reason for this color variation??

She has done some housekeeping. The nest is an open plastic type with a heavy felt pad in it. She has now torn off and added chunks of a kleenex tissue I put into the cage.

I have still not heard the male sing since this began.

After all the grasskeets and various finches, canaries are a new chapter to me.
Fun.

paul-inAZ

Hi Paul.
Why some eggs come out a different colour, l have no idea.
Could be diet, genetics, different mutations.

Regarding your male not singing.
Some mals will not sing, if they are in the same flight as a female. Males sing to attract females, if he already has his girl, he might figure that there is no reason to sing (I would not seperate them at this stage though, as they need to raise their family together).

Another reason for a male to stop singing, is if he's going into his molt (which is not a good time, if they are raising a family).

My male does not sing when the female is on the nest. Singing helps put the female in breeding mode, if she is already on the nest, he no longer needs to sing.

Hey Paul, appreciate not hijacking my thread colours do vary and most canaries do go silent when there is a nest - probably the hen tell him to shut up

good luck