Odd time to have a Canary nest

[Dave]

Sometimes our birds help us to be humble.

I think I know the Canary life cycle pretty well. But this week a hen built a nest and laid three eggs.

She lives in a large walk-in aviary in an unheated building. It is cold there now, frequently about 32° F (0° C) in the morning. The light is less than 10.5 hours per day. She really has no business nesting now.

This hen was the last one to lay an egg last spring, waiting until early May. She was therefore the last hen to hatch out chicks, too, about July 1.

I'd forgotten this nest site was in the aviary, it is in a dark corner. Some of my cup nests are the bottom part of a 2 liter soda bottle, stapled to a piece of wood that I hang. Even so, I've never had a hen lay eggs at this time of year.

I don't expect they will hatch, as males are not supposed to be fertile this time of year--we'll see.

[lovezebs]

Dave

She might just surprise you Dave.
Wouldn't be cool, baby Canaries for Christmas