Is it starvation while incubating?

[Animalzoo]

Can a female canary starve herself to death while incubating eggs if her mate fails to feed her?

I've just lost my female (the day her eggs starts to hatch of all things as well). The male is fine.

Symptoms were head bowed down and complete lethargy. She ate some food from my hand, I made eggs which she loves and she ate plus she drank. But it was too little too late. I thought considering this was not a hand tame bird, for her to consider eating like this maybe it was desperation? It was her 2nd clutch immediately after rearing 4 babies before. She had laid 5 eggs and had sat well for the 14 days. Why now, why on hatching day.

Can they starve themselves?

[lovezebs]

Animalzoo

Sorry about your girl.
I've never heard of a bird starving herself while incubating. A lot of male Canaries, are placed with a different hen once the first hen has laid her eggs. A female, will come off the eggs to feed herself and bathe and go back to the nest without any harm to the eggs.

I would be leaning more in the direction of possible egg binding.

I hope your male will step up and feed his kids.

Keep us updated.

[Zebra]

Perhaps there is some red mites in the nest sucking her blood.

[Animalzoo]

After she passed I inspected her body. Her vent area was not swelled so there was no egg trapped inside her. I couldn't see any sign of mites. The male is fine. It's very peculiar so may have to put it down to a mysterious illness. I forgot males can be separated from the hens so yes of course the hens come off to feed. I dunno. Weird one that.

[slwatson]

Animalzoo

Sorry for your loss

[Babs _Owner]

Animalzoo

Im soo sorry about your loss of your hen.

[Animalzoo]

Thank you guys.

[Jamm972]

Animalzoo really miss her. Why does the circle of life have to be so hard on us and mysterious.