Questions Canary Breeders May Ask
Canary breeders often have numerous questions before they start the breeding process. If you are a veteran of this job then you may already know the answers. However, if you are new to this, you are probably going to want to know the answers to a few frequently asked questions. This article is going to help settle any conflicts that you may be having. So, sit back and relax as you learn about canary breeding.
Canary breeders are going to find that there may be a different outcome each time they go through the process. They may have success once and then very little success the next few times. Once you have accepted both of these outcomes as a possibility you will be ready to begin. The first thing that you are going to want to know is when the breeding season starts. This is a pretty common question. You are going to know that it is the breeding season once you are finding sunlight for approximately 14 hours a day and the temperature is above 70 degrees. This is most likely going to start in April.
Canary breeders are going to become very in tune to their birds. They are going to be able to recognize the signs that their canaries show to signal that the breeding cycle is starting. The birds are going to become restless. You may find that the male birds are going to sing a lot and the hens are going to begin sitting in their food dishes. Another sign that the birds are going to be ready to breed is that the male will begin to feed the hen. You will also notice that they are trying to find a nesting place as well.
Canaries can fight with each other from time to time. In order to avoid this from happening, you will not want to put the male and female birds into the cage together until you notice that the hen is starting to make her nest. This is a sign that she is ready to breed. If she has reached this point she is most likely not going to fight with the male.
You are going to want to provide your canaries with proper nesting materials. Canary breeders can give the birds a plastic nest that can be used time and time again. You are also going to want to give the bird some type of cotton material that will help them stay soft. You do not want to give the birds anything that is really thin because it may get wrapped around their toe or their legs. If you do not notice this and it causes circulation problems your bird could be injured. You want to avoid this at all costs. Spend time researching what some of the best possible beddings are to ensure that your bird is comfortable and safe.
Canary breeders will often conduct a test called candling in order to find out if the eggs are fertile once they have been laid. You are going to use a very strong light to look at the egg. This should only be done once because the light is so strong it can harm the embryo within the egg. You will want to check them between days five and eight. If the egg is not fertile, it is going to look clear. You will be able to see through it. If the egg is good and fertile you are going to be able to see veins throughout the egg. This is a good sign that the breeding was a success. If you are not going to use candling, you may notice that the eggs are turning colors after the eighth day. If the egg is not fertile it is going to be a pale red color. However, if it is shiny and a purplish brown color, you know it is good.
Related Resources: