What is wrong with my canary?

[tnhhair]

I bought Patches from a local breeder and I know he was around other canaries. I have had him for about 4 weeks and he sang and chirped and hopped around his cage for the first two weeks. Now he no longer sings and spends most of the day laying in his food dish. He comes out a few times and acts fine but just comes out for water, preening, tail bobbing and a few laps around the cage. I don't know what is wrong with him. I've played canary songs and chirps and put a mirror up to see if he was lonely. Any advice?

[Sheather]

It sounds like he is a singing female, which is not unusual, and wants to nest.

[mohum]

Perhaps it is just that there is no one to sing to. Maybe get a 2nd bird? My kakariki used to sing but then decided to learn our language so he had someone to talk to. He never sang again after starting to talk which was sad.

[adoumski]

tnhhair are you seeing any feathers in his cage? Because if he is molting, he will stop singing.

Being lethargic is also sign of sickness, You should check his droppings if they are normal and his stomach (if it looks good and even in colour with a fat layer, then its a good sign)

[tnhhair]

tnhhair are you seeing any feathers in his cage? Because if he is molting, he will stop singing.

Being lethargic is also sign of sickness, You should check his droppings if they are normal and his stomach (if it looks good and even in colour with a fat layer, then its a good sign)

No feathers, and droppings are fine, eats good. Thanks

[tnhhair]

It sounds like he is a singing female, which is not unusual, and wants to nest.

I think you may be right. Will she sing again after nesting? She/he is about 9 months to a year old. No eggs yet and it's been about 12 days acting like this.

[slwatson]

tnhhair

I'm with Dylan...are you sure it's not a female?

[Barbara]

I am not experienced at all with birds but my canary was sold to me as a male but think it is a female.was not doing good in quartine at all,but now that she is with my societies,she followed them to all the feeders and bath water and I know they sing when there by themselves but maybe if the females like to be around other birds,since I added a pair of bleu's my canary snuggles with them on the perch all the time

[BigBear0007]

Check the vent snd blow on the feathers, look at the belly and vent. If it's swollen, it's a hen and needs a male.
I had one that sang almost as good as her brother, until she laid an egg. It happens quite often especially if she hears her father and other males sing. It also means if she is her her sons will be great singers!

Jerry

[Jamm972]

tnhhair have you tried adding a nest and some nesting material to see if he/she will build a nest in it?

[tnhhair]

tnhhair have you tried adding a nest and some nesting material to see if he/she will build a nest in it?

I did add a nest and material but she/he prefers the food dish. LOL

[Jamm972]

tnhhair Well once a female canary makes up her mind there is no changing it. You can try a few things from here on out. First would be put her in a new cage with a different set up and a clean nest and nesting material. 2. allow her to keep the nest in the food dish and give her food in something else. until she is done wanting to nest. 3. put up multiple nests. Take out the current food dish she prefers leave it out but put food in a bowl for the time being until she is willing to nest in a regular nest.

Hope this helps. Chances are she is thinking she will be on her own and raise the chicks on her own and that's why she is choosing the food dish so she can eat wile she nests. This usually occus with new inexperienced canaries.

[slwatson]

BigBear0007

Does this look like a swollen vent? My canary, who at the moment is name Glenn, sings, but three days ago I saw what looked like a broken egg on the bottom on the cage, and the vent was wet. I'm thinking about doing genetic testing just to make sure.

[tnhhair]

tnhhair Well once a female canary makes up her mind there is no changing it. You can try a few things from here on out. First would be put her in a new cage with a different set up and a clean nest and nesting material. 2. allow her to keep the nest in the food dish and give her food in something else. until she is done wanting to nest. 3. put up multiple nests. Take out the current food dish she prefers leave it out but put food in a bowl for the time being until she is willing to nest in a regular nest.

Hope this helps. Chances are she is thinking she will be on her own and raise the chicks on her own and that's why she is choosing the food dish so she can eat wile she nests. This usually occus with new inexperienced canaries.

Thank you soooo much. It just happens that I am getting a new cage in a couple days (bigger) so the timing of your advice is perfect!

[Jamm972]

slwatson that looks definitely like a female to me. A male will have more of a torpedo shape in that location :0) Id put my money on it that He is a She from the pic you provided.