Too early for Canaries

[Redwing]

One of my canary females has started carrying around bits of grass and looking for a nest. Do I give her one or make her wait until it starts to warm up a bit?

[jusdeb]

Myself I would be afraid of egg binding but that's just me . I have birds fledging here , its madness in this weather but they are surviving . Just my opinion but I say let her go and give her a nest .
Maybe adjust the diet as well , some high oil seeds perhaps , extra greens etc .

Good luck whichever way you go .

[djb78]

The choice would he up to you, definitely be adding cod liver oil to the seed and any signs of egg binding would put her in a small cage with heat.

[Redwing]

Coldest day for 6 years today I think they said so might get her to wait for a bit.

[BENSONSAN]

Sorry don't wanna hijack post but I've got a pair of yorkshires. Will they build a free standing cup nest in brush? Never had canaries until now. Man been getting to many birds lately.

[nswchainsaw]

Yorkies are very bad fedders nealy all breeders use fedders like , Glosters , Fifes or Lizzard canarys.
Garry

[finchbreeder]

The theory is that canarys like cup shaped nest, so for years I provided them with just that. Then I started keeping them with the finches instead of on their own. And given the choice I find they much prefer something like the standard budgie nest box. Go figure? Prossibly because the chicks are more secure and warmer? Redwind have PMed you. The most important thing in breeding canarys is oil seed as a few have already mentioned. And watch for any sign of eggbinding. All this rain in the west after so many years of drought has many birds in full breeding mode. And though it is cold, cold is relative. 7.30AM today 15.5 inside 12 outside.
LML

[BENSONSAN]

I've got brush a boxes do I need anything else?

[finchbreeder]

I breed Glosters. And mostly just treat them like finches.Accept they like the oil seeds and egg and biscuit mix, and need them to breed at their best..
LML

[djb78]

When I breed canaries in my aviery they tend to lean to building nest in wicker nest baskets as do my siskins but I've had hens build in Bush to, they seem to like thick forked branches about halfway up the wall, the nest cups I put about 1.5m off the floor, never had success with nest boxes but have seen them nest in finch boxes without a lid. Mine have also decided on rare occasions to build a nest in the corner on the ledge. I would suggest to start off with the Bush and cup nests as these are the basic nesting sites for canaries and don't try to keep more than two pair per flight one pair is better and definitely no more than one pair per breeding cabinet.