Canary babies

[MLaRue]

Here they are













Beautiful babies just like Mom and Dad

[lovemyfinch]

What delicate looking little things

[L in Ontario]

Wow they look full grown already! Amazing and beautiful. I'm glad you posted them.

How many babies did they have in the first clutch? How old are the parents?

What do you feed them and when? Like I heard that eggfood is not to be given while they are sitting on eggs - right?

[MLaRue]

I am feeding them eggfood since they are still feeding their babies. The pair is around a year old - give or take.

The first clutch was 4 eggs and 2 babies - I didn't think to pull the eggs until she had already started sitting on them.

They also have the Orlux Gold Patee in their cage since they eat that eggfood by noon and I don't get home until six most of the time. I also give greens - they are excellent eaters! Babies are huge!

[L in Ontario]

Your parents are about the same age as mine - very cool! Do keep us updated on the big babies and the new eggies!

[6finchfriends]

Beautiful and way cute with their whispy 'hair' sticking through their feathers Thanks for sharing the bounty via photos! It's great to read some success stories!

[G8love4finches]

The "fuzziness" is too cute!....What a surprise, they fledge with fuzz!!...Congrats!

[ac12]

Why do you not feed the canaries egg while they are sitting on eggs?

I did a Google search but could not find any info.
Most sites that I found did not mention anything, only one said to not feed when sitting but gave no reason.

[6finchfriends]

I was wondering the same thing. Why do you stop feeding egg?

[Robin.V]

Congrats on the chicks, they look great

There are a couple of reasons why eggfood is removed while the hen is incubating the eggs. While sitting, the hen is very inactive and eating eggfood during this time while cause some weight gain which is undesirable while breeding. Another reason is the high protein level of the eggfood. This can slightly increase the hens body temperature and can lead to unsuccesfull incubation as the eggs may be kept at too high a temperature. The other side effect of the high protein is that it keeps the hen in a state of high condition which will make her slighly hyper causing her to spend too much time off the eggs. It can also make the bird want to breed again, which can lead to the eggs being abandoned.

We start giving eggfood again the day before the chicks are due to hatch.

[L in Ontario]

Thanks Robin - that's very informative and more than I had seen. I also read the other end of the spectrum where eggfood every day while incubating will cause the hen's body to have a lower temperature and thereby not incubating properly and the eggs won't develop at all.

That's what I presumed happened to my Gloster's clutches as I gave them as much eggfood as they could eat every day - they LOVED it; along with apples, cucumbers and romaine lettuce. But none of their eggs developed.

Then again - some sites say Canaries should get a high protein diet everyday of the year. How is anyone to know what is right and what the Canaries diet REALLY should be?

Sorry Candace for taking time away from your gorgeous babies there! How many eggs have your canaries laid now for their second clutch? I just bought 6 fake canary eggs last night for when my canaries start on their second round.

[lou]

In total agreement with Robin, I don't give anything while she's sitting on eggs.
The day before they are to hatch, I put a bath pan for her, that same day I'll give
egg food., couple of days later I'll give them finely chopped red cabbage and carrots
and give fruit as the young get older.
Liz, my experience was allway's trial and error, and by me asking questions from the
breeders from which I purchased my birds from, then came internet.
Good luck on breeding season guys
Lou

[L in Ontario]

Such a wealth of knowledge - thanks Lou! Always nice to have confirmation... and tips are always appreciated!

But I get confused - when the hen lays the second clutch of eggs - do I stop giving her eggfood If I stop giving her eggfood - what will the father feed the baby?

[lou]

Ahhhh good question, I just reduce the amount of egg food and feed the green food,
by this time depending on the condition of the hen, the young should be ready to be
separated. That's what I do
Lou

[6finchfriends]

Almost every species of bird is different! It's all so interesting learning so much about so many finches! Are Canaries the only birds you should not feed eggfood to while nesting? Your Babies are real beauties!