The Fascinating Business of Canary Breeding
Canary breeding is a specialized business but very rewarding. Canaries are solitary by nature and the sexes should be kept apart. This will prevent males from fighting. Females may be injured by the males if they are not ready to breed.
When the cock birds are ready to mate they will sing loudly and joyously with drooped wings. They may become more territorial and chase other males around the cage. The female may make signs that she is trying to prepare a nest. The vent becomes red and swollen.
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.
Canaries build a cup-shaped nest and several suitable shapes should be securely fastened in the cage. A commercial wire or plastic nest can be used or some other suitable container. This is lined with soft material. The hen should be provided with a variety of soft fabric, hair, and strands of wool or material so she can prepare the nest to her liking. Nesting material should be short so that she cannot get tangled in it.
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.
Replace the real eggs with imitation eggs. Store the eggs in a safe place at room temperature and return them when the hen has finished laying. She will then incubate the eggs for 13 to 14 days.
The hen will need soft canary food while she is incubating the eggs and raising the chicks. Boiled eggs and commercial preparations are suitable. Feed her plenty of greens and a small piece of fruit each day. Cuttlefish and grit are necessary too and will help provide additional calcium. Uneaten food should be removed. With careful handling of your canary breeding project, you will soon have a canary for sale.
When the cock birds are ready to mate they will sing loudly and joyously with drooped wings. They may become more territorial and chase other males around the cage. The female may make signs that she is trying to prepare a nest. The vent becomes red and swollen.
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.
Canaries build a cup-shaped nest and several suitable shapes should be securely fastened in the cage. A commercial wire or plastic nest can be used or some other suitable container. This is lined with soft material. The hen should be provided with a variety of soft fabric, hair, and strands of wool or material so she can prepare the nest to her liking. Nesting material should be short so that she cannot get tangled in it.
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.
Replace the real eggs with imitation eggs. Store the eggs in a safe place at room temperature and return them when the hen has finished laying. She will then incubate the eggs for 13 to 14 days.
The hen will need soft canary food while she is incubating the eggs and raising the chicks. Boiled eggs and commercial preparations are suitable. Feed her plenty of greens and a small piece of fruit each day. Cuttlefish and grit are necessary too and will help provide additional calcium. Uneaten food should be removed. With careful handling of your canary breeding project, you will soon have a canary for sale.
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