Canaries are one of the most popular birds in Spanish homes. They have a calm character, are easy to maintain and do not require much company (although that does not mean that they should be left alone all the time). However, it is not so easy to get young of these birds. It requires advance planning, specialized food, and a bit of luck, too. If you are planning to raise canaries, only do so if you can take responsibility for all the chicks that do not find a home.
Prepare the cage for mating
Canaries will need a large cage to mate and a nest for the female to lay eggs. You can also place nesting material so that the female herself builds her nest. In addition, the cage will have to be placed in a place in the house where there is light and a cool environment.
You can find a nest at any pet specialty store. If you opt for a pre-made one, you will also need to purchase nesting material so that your birds can add it to the nest.
Keep them separate
Until your birds are going to breed it is best to keep them separate, as males tend to fight and could harm the female if she is not ready to mate. However, you can keep the cages in the same room.
You should watch the behavior of your birds and be attentive to the signals, since only then will you know that they are ready to reproduce. They normally breed in spring, when there is a suitable temperature and daylight lasts.
You will know that your male canary is ready by his intense song. It is also possible that it will dance on its perch or become territorial when other males are nearby. The female, on the other hand, could tear paper as if she were building a nest. They also wag their tails and crouch when the male is around.
Place them close, but not in the same cage
At this point, you will have to place the two cages close together to see how they react. This will get the birds used to each other and their behavior will tell you if they are ready to breed.
If the behavior of the birds is favorable, it will be time to add the nest to the female’s cage. Once the female begins adding nesting material to her nest, it is the sign that she is preparing to mate.
Gather them together if there are signs they’re ready
If the birds begin to touch their beaks through the bars it means that they are ready to reproduce. This could happen immediately or take a few days after you place them nearby, so you will need to be patient.
Once you gather the birds, you will have to watch that no fight happens. If it happens, you should separate them and observe their behavior again.
Watch your diet
Canaries that are preparing to have babies should have a very varied diet rich in seeds , soft foods and calcium. This diet will help you to produce healthy eggs and feed your chicks later. In addition, you can buy all the necessary food in a specialized pet store.
Take care of the chicks
Females can lay two to six eggs, laying one egg a day. On average, chicks take 14 days to hatch. You will need to keep the male and female chicks together until they begin to eat alone. This usually happens around three to four weeks of age.
When the chicks are well developed and eat alone, you can take them to their own cage. Also, at this point, you will also have to separate the parents.
