FINCHforum

Hi! So this year I have a new pair together. I only have one breeding season under my belt, and my old pair were the ideal parents. Well this pair started off well. They took to each other quickly, breeding within moments of meeting each other. The female has been sitting on her clutch of eggs for about a week, now. The male though, seems unsure of what to do. He feeds the female, but when she leaves the nest, the trouble starts. He goes to the nest and starts pulling out the nesting material. Her nest is about a third gone now. And this morning I found an egg on the floor of the cage. So heartbreaking! Anybody witnessed something similar? Should I remove the male? Would she be okay without him? Thanks for your help!

KavaDulce

I would remove the male (how old is he by the way?).

I would offer food and water close to your girl's nest, so that she doesn't have far to go from her eggs.

Although my boy is a very diligent father, helping to incubate and later feed his children right up to weaning, many Canary males don't really get too involved in raising the kids.

Your girl, should be able to manage on her own.

lovezebs Thank you! That encourages me. I got him when he was around 2, and I've had him a year. Not quite sure if 3 is considered old or not for breeding. I know canaries can live quite a while. He's a fantastic singer and such a cutie. Was hoping to get some babies from him, but what odd behavior! I know how much my other male helped with the chicks and continued feeding them when his female laid a second clutch. Guess I'm nervous about who will take care of these babies when she lays her second nest? Is it advisable to let the male back in with his family at some point?

KavaDulce

Hi Karla,

No second clutch until these chicks are weaned.
Mom cannot feed chicks to weaning, and sit on another clutch.

lovezebs No kidding! Well that solves it then! I was afraid she'd try plucking her babies or something and try to nest again. I know my other female didn't wait long at all. Glad to know she'll wean her first hatchlings first!

KavaDulce

Once the kids fledge, remove the nest, until they wean. That way, she'll concentrate on raising the babies, rather than worrying about starting another family.

Plus, if hubby is housed in a bachelor suite, there shouldn't be so much of an incentive to nest again right away.

KavaDulce This is a tough decision to make. This is their first clutch so the male is prolly learning and don't know better. You can remove him temporarly, but it is always good to use the male to wean the babies off the nest and to learn how to crack seeds. this also allows time for the female to rest and start to build a new nest.

The female can do all of this but you will want to take away temptation and the male out of site until all the babies have fledged and can manage on their own. when this happens you can remove the chicks and reintroduce the male and try for a 2nd clutch.

This is my first year and this information was supplied by friends, mostly from this forum Best of luck to you. Fingers crossed.

I routinely remove the male after the hen starts sitting steady because in close quarters like this even an experienced male can become a pest sometimes. My hens do a fine job caring for the babies on their own but I agree that removing the nest at fledge is important to avoid feather plucking and trying to start another round to early. In my bird room, dads get to go to an open flight, Babies (feeding independently) go to a weaner cage with nestling food and vitamin enriched seed until I'm sure they can crack seed on their own. Mom gets a fresh nest and maybe even another dad if the goal is to select certain gene traits.
The season can go on for six months for some people but two rounds is the max for me - no matter how big or small the clutch.

Paul

Remove the nest until babies are weaned! Of course! You all are geniuses, ha. Thanks to everyone for their advice. I feel more confident now. It's too bad dad won't be around to help, but I'm glad mom will be able to manage on her own. These are my two favorite birds, so I was thrilled they took to each other and was heartbroken it might not work out after all. Now I'm just crossing my fingers the eggs are fertile!

Happy breeding season everyone!

KavaDulce good luck and please keep us posted as to the outcome of the eggs