Canary Story

[Diane]

I know its a finch site but Im not sure if I have a problem or not with my canary hen. She laid 6 eggs at the beginning of July, dutifully sat on them but none fertile. I took the eggs away. Just the other day I noticed that instead of flying away from me along with the other birds she was just hopping from branch to branch or running along the floor. She was very easy to catch. Eating and drinking fine. She has access to grit, millet sprays, greens and canary mix.
I dont feed the red colouring to the canaries. ( 1 male yellow, 1 slightly orange hen, 1 very red not too sure)
Could there be something wrong or have I just got a lazy canary?

[Fischer]

It's possible she's egg bound Diane, she may have started to try and lay again, check around her vent and just above and see if it feels a bit swollen. My silly canaries started to lay about the same time this year too

[gomer]

she sounds like she is not well to me too.

[Diane]

checked her and nothing seems swollen. Guess Ill have to see what happens 2morrow

[GregH]

It's probably too late there now to be of use but if it is egg binding it's essential that she is placed in a hospital cage with a heat source. Starting to lay in July is early but not overly so but it will guarantee cold nights which can bring on egg binding. Her clutch seems size would indicate that she has finished laying but her oviduct may still be in spasm so give here the heat treatment and foster the eggs if you can.

[Diane]

She has been inside with heat since I first posted. She seems quite happy, feeding well. Cant tell if she still wont fly as cage not big enough.

[finchbreeder]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things Diane.
Bit early to have had a nest full of eggs, but who can say with birds.
My canary cock has been whistling madly for a month now, but the hen is just starting to look at nesting sites.
Hope I can get 6 eggs (though I want mine all fertile)
LML

[Diane]

Guess she just wants to watch Foxtel!

[Diane]

I have put the canary back in the main flight. She has spent this week in the house in the hospital cage looking and acting very normal, right down to feathers and poop! She flew from my hand to the other end of the flight on release so I will watch her today and see what happens

[GregH]

Just another thought about the oviduct being in spasm. Since she is housed inside and it was only July when she produced a clutch she may have not been receiving enough UV light to synthesize adequate vitamin D. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium and laying that clutch may have depleted her calcium levels enough to induce muscle spasm in the oviduct even after her clutch was laid. You should get full spectrum lighting in your room or ude Vitamin D suppliments and perhaps not let the cock bird with her until August.