I have a 3 year old female Red Factor Canary. I was told she was a male. So, when the first egg appeared, I was shocked. She laid more and more. Finally, out of concern that she would kill herself laying, I bought a white American Singer male to breed her to, on advice that if the eggs were fertile, she’d raise them and stop mass producing eggs. Well, the birds bonded great- although she is dominant. They sang to each other, built a nest, and had a clutch. But when the eggs hatched, she wouldn’t stop brooding! He kept coming to the nest as if he wanted to feed either her or the babies, but she drove him off! She never fed the chicks. The babies died in the nest. This has happened 3x. My bird store guy says I can foster the eggs under another female living in a separate cage. She will raise another hen’s chicks by herself, and he says it won’t hurt the foster mom. Any luck trying this? I love both parents and will not give them up- but I hate dead baby birds! Please HELP!!!
(ran out of room to post) My canaries live in a 4′ tall 4′ wide 2′ deep flight cage. They are fed premium food, fresh greens, calcium, and vitamin supplements every day. If you’ve seen my posts then you know I dote on my pets. The bird store guy (35 years experience) says this problem usually only happens in new mother canaries. Well, mine hasn’t given herself the chance to be a mom because she’s so obsessed with brooding that she won’t get off when the eggs start squirming! Another question: someone else told me that Zebra Finches have such a strong instinct that they will raise my babies- has anyone heard of this? I am willing to do whatever I have to OTHER than replace my hen canary. Any and all serious advice is appreciated….
Posted in Bird Feeding
Tagged american singer, anybody, babies, baby birds, bird store, Canary, chicks, clutch, concern, dead baby, egg, eggs, experience, Factor, foster mom, male, nest, parents, Red, red factor, year
