Canaries Nesting ! Please Help Me Care For Them Properly !!

[Feathery Mom]

My canaries are nesting, and all seems great. The eggs were laid Feb.12, Feb.14th and Feb.16th. The mom is on the eggs all the time, and the dad brings her food - and they are calm and almost confident about the whole situation.

My question is about "egg food" - what am I supposed to feed the parents when the babies hatch. Some books tell me bread with milk, some say boiled chicken eggs mashed up...

My canaries currently get a variety of seeds, egg biscuits from the store, and fresh veggies twice a day. And sometimes a small dot of yougurt. But do I need to add something else BEFORE the babies hatch to get the parents used to it... (I am afraid to change anything in their diet just encase it distrubed their bellies !) - What about hand-feeding baby bird formula - would they like to bring a bit of that to their chicks ?

My canaries are on a vitamin supplement reccommed by our vet, and they seem to be very healthy and content about being future parents.

With the incubation being around 13 days, I have until the end of February to learn how I can help them best. Please give me advice !!!!

[Joel]

Hey F-Mom (Welcome).........Where might you be located?..... I suggest the boiled 10 minutes eggs or well done scrambled eggs (I prefer the latter myself). Commercial egg food is good to have on hand also if ya just don't feel like cooking them on any given day.....Skip the milk-bread IMO.......Continue with leafy well washed & crisp/fresh greens like Romaine Lettuce and also feed some broccoli & do get some Kaytee Handfeeding formula for baby birds - to have on hand, especially in case you need to handfeed, otherwise not necessary to even use that. I wouldn't unnecessarily mess with the nest or babies while they are being raised by the parents IME.....I assume your birds are indoors & if so I strongly suggest you purchase proper Full Spectrum Lighting (linear fluorescent - preferably not screw in types) for them and the babies.....Let me know if I can help ya with more info. on that....Also get yourself a good book or two now on breeding & raising canaries. If ya want a suggestion or title, let me know. You could probably order on-line from www.avianpublications.com or similar....Good luck.....

[Feathery Mom]

I was hoping someone could please tell me more about humidity and eggs !

I read somewhere that indoor nesting birds like 70 to 75 percent.

I have concerns because I am in Canada where it is -17 degrees C. (or below 0 degrees F) and I gave my canaries a humidifier because although their room is about 22 C (or 72 F), but it is "dry" because of the heater (which is located on the opposite side of the room)

My vet said 60 to 65 percent humidity was fine, but one day mine dropped to 50. I am so scared for eggs ! But the mommy canary looks serious and focused on her brooding, so I hope that means everything is going okay ! Her mate is feeding her, and I am hoping they will have good luck.

I have a lot of experience with hand-feeding baby lovebirds and budgies, and also a couple of baby zebras over the years. But I am hoping the chicks, if they hatch, will be able to stay with their parents.

[Monica]

50% humidity should be fine though a bit more wouldn't hurt either...