A little about why I got started with breeding canaries

[Jamm972]

When I first started about 5 years ago, I purchased a pair of canaries, 1 had a beautiful song, it was full and strong. The hen was laying to many eggs so I separated them in identical cages and gave the one that was singing their own nest. Next thing I knew they both were laying eggs. So who I thought was a He was a She with a beautiful song.
I purchased a male in hopes that I could get babies but both hens passed away, I think it was either from being egg bound or from being separated from the one they grew up with. I was left with Twopay, who I still have today. He is strong voiced and witty. When I moved to Arizona my significant other purchased 2 birds. They too passed away from unknown reasons. Then last year I purchased 2 red factors from a local breeder. They got along well in a flight cage with Twopay. But Twopay would no longer sing when with them. 3 months after that I purchased 2 more variegated red factors. Then this year around January the birds started to kiss when I researched this it was signs of them pairing up and getting ready to breed so I purchased breeder cages.
That was a mistake because I went to another breeder and bought 2 more birds a dominant white hen and a variegated. They paired up on their own. then 3 weeks ago I was at pets smart and seen another crested like Twopay and he was with a dominant white. My significant other bought the crested known as Donald Trump and I bought the dominant white, didn't want to be separated.
Well I'm glad I didn't separate them because they immediately felt at home and went to town building a fresh nest and laid eggs. they have 1 chick.

Guess my specialty will be crested Canaries.

Anyway moral of my story.... I never say a male is a male because it is singing because of my experience with my very first pair of yellow singers I owned.

[lovezebs]

Jamm972

It is true, that some females will sing, but that's not the rule normally.

In the majority of cases though, it is the males that sing, and the females chirp, so that's where the idea of sexing Canaries this way originates from .

There are breeders, who blow up their hoo-hoo, and can tell you whether they are male or female. Personally, I have never felt comfortable doing that

Good luck with the breeding.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I literally laid my face on my office desk and died laughing when I read "hoo-hoo".......omg my eyes are watering over here.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Grinning like a Cheshire Cat

[Jamm972]

lovezebs lol interesting concept. Yeah I have seen this technique done several time this past year. and I agree I don't feel comfortable doing this. I did attempt it and in the process of doing so I herd what felt like bones cracking. It scared me and I immediately put the bird back in its cage. Been afraid to do it sense. The bird is doing fine and hasn't had any issues if anybody was wondering. the crackling was just the joints doing what the do best to get out of a sticky situation when stuck in branches and stuff.

[lovezebs]

Jamm972

Yikes!
That would have cured me of any further curiosity.
I think I'll stick to the singing, for telling the genders apart

[adoumski]

lovezebs hahahahaha

I check the hoo hoos regularly to see how they are developing and if they are getting near breeding condition.

It also helps when you need to buy a certain sex, but not easy if they are under a year old.

[lovezebs]

adoumski

You 'hoo-hoo' Peeping Tom..... or Peeping Adam.....

[Animalzoo]

So what do we do to sex young canaries? Is it possible?!

[lovezebs]

Animalzoo

Usually through the young males staring to warble and attempt singing... (Unless you're a hoo-hoo expert ).

[Dave]

It is really tough to figure out the gender of young canaries! Even experienced breeders get it wrong. It helps if you know your own strain of birds well. But--there are surprises every season. Sometimes I think the birds have all seen the movie 'Victor, Victoria' and they decide to fool us.

[Jamm972]

lovezebs I so want to learn how to check their Hoo Hoo's, but am afraid of holding them and breaking their bones. I am almost certain that I have 4 out of the 5 pairs pegged for male/female. 1 pair though I think might be 2 hens or possibly 2 males even though their not fighting. They are red factors and I find this breed to be very picky and confusing. 2 of my other pairs are with crested heads. and my last pair is a dominant white with a variegated canary.
Birds in the pet store at pet smart are a little pricey. they never guarantee the sex only the health. So I catch myself constantly trying to look at their hoo hoo's to see if I can see the torpedo or the bald spot that a female shows.

my 1 female crested head that is my Shhhhh Favorite and oldest wont sing when he is around or near other canaries. I literally have to hide his view of all other canaries and he will sing. He hasn't sang to his hen yet. I really hope they will successfully pair up but so far all I seen was the female build her nest and sit in it and sleep in it. The crested male looked like it was helping with the nest but I haven't witnessed any mounting behavior nor attemps at feeding the hen. I really want offsprinig from this Crested head Canary because not only does he have a beautiful song but has a beautiful fancy look to him as well.

The canaries are left alone for most pf the day, but my mother is here visiting. Sp she sleeps at night in the room. When she wakes up she turnd on the light's and music for the burds and leaves for most of the day only coming in to get something and then leave.

I am hoping that because Its close to st patty's day that these up coming clutches will be more successful. If not then next year I may just attempt and try to do Aviary breeding and that's not much fun cause ya cant observe them when they do their thing. I would like to just use the Aviary after their clutches are done and they can use the Aviary to rest, fly free and enjoy themselves for a month or 2.
Aviaries can be scary though. I live in Arizona where the temps in the summer time can get up to 120 and in the winter time get as cold as 30. I know they can withstand both temps they just need shade and or warm places to cuddle up. Also aviary's are susceptible to bugs, disease, and predators.

[lovezebs]

Jamm972

Well good luck with the kids, and figuring out who's who.
Eventually I'm pretty sure they'll figure it out, lol.
Yes, crested Canaries are cute

[debbie276]

How to sex canaries
http://www.westernwaterslager.com/text/ ... Sexing.htm
http://www.birds2u.info/sexing_canaries.htm

There are pretty good pictures on these sites that I'm sure will be helpful.
good luck, let us know how it goes