Canary breeding is a fascinating hobby. Canaries are not social by nature. Males and females should be kept in separate cages. Males may fight each other and injure the females if they are kept in one cage.
As the breeding season approaches, males will begin to sing loudly and droop their wings. They will chase each other as they try to establish their own territory. Females start to make nests. Her vent becomes swollen and red.
Once you have chosen your potential pair, they should be housed next to each other in a quiet area where they will not be stressed. A useful accessory is a breeding cage. This has a division down the middle. The division is removable and can be solid or barred. The female is placed on one side and the male on the other. After a few days, the solid barrier can be removed leaving the bars in place. Once the hen is accepting food from the cock through the division, they can be let in together or you can wait until the hen begins her nest-building.
Several nests should be securely positioned in the cage. Commercial plastic or wire nests are available or you can use any suitable receptacle. The nest can be lined with soft fabric. Short pieces of wool, fabric or hair can be left on the floor of the cage so the hen can line the nest as she wants to.
Once the hen is laying, some breeders take the cock out. The hen lays once every day or two until she has about four to eight eggs. Some breeders remove the eggs until the hen has laid a clutch. Her own eggs are then returned to the nest. By doing this, all the eggs will hatch together making raising the chicks less stressful.
If the eggs are removed, they should be replaced with a dummy egg. Keep the eggs at room temperature until the hen has finished laying. Incubation will take 13 to 14 days.
Canary food offered during incubation and rearing of the chicks should be soft. A commercial preparation plus boiled eggs is a good basis. Offer plenty of greens. Cuttlefish and grit will provide extra calcium and the hen will appreciate a small piece of fruit. Remove uneaten food each day. After a month or two, you will be able to recoup some expenses of your canary breeding plan by offering a canary for sale.
As the breeding season approaches, males will begin to sing loudly and droop their wings. They will chase each other as they try to establish their own territory. Females start to make nests. Her vent becomes swollen and red.
Once you have chosen your potential pair, they should be housed next to each other in a quiet area where they will not be stressed. A useful accessory is a breeding cage. This has a division down the middle. The division is removable and can be solid or barred. The female is placed on one side and the male on the other. After a few days, the solid barrier can be removed leaving the bars in place. Once the hen is accepting food from the cock through the division, they can be let in together or you can wait until the hen begins her nest-building.
Several nests should be securely positioned in the cage. Commercial plastic or wire nests are available or you can use any suitable receptacle. The nest can be lined with soft fabric. Short pieces of wool, fabric or hair can be left on the floor of the cage so the hen can line the nest as she wants to.
Once the hen is laying, some breeders take the cock out. The hen lays once every day or two until she has about four to eight eggs. Some breeders remove the eggs until the hen has laid a clutch. Her own eggs are then returned to the nest. By doing this, all the eggs will hatch together making raising the chicks less stressful.
If the eggs are removed, they should be replaced with a dummy egg. Keep the eggs at room temperature until the hen has finished laying. Incubation will take 13 to 14 days.
Canary food offered during incubation and rearing of the chicks should be soft. A commercial preparation plus boiled eggs is a good basis. Offer plenty of greens. Cuttlefish and grit will provide extra calcium and the hen will appreciate a small piece of fruit. Remove uneaten food each day. After a month or two, you will be able to recoup some expenses of your canary breeding plan by offering a canary for sale.
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