When Can Canaries Breed Again?

Canaries are bright yellow songbirds; they are often a favorite choice for pets. Some owners breed their canaries either for pleasure or to make a profit. Whether hobby or profession, its important for an owner to understand when canaries can be bred. A good diet, high in fruits and vegetables, is also extremely important to the health of the canaries when breeding.

  1. Natural Conditions

    • Using strictly natural conditions, canaries can be bred once a year. Generally starting in April female canaries will start begging the male canary for food, and the male will begin trying to feed her. Nesting materials should be provided during this time, such as plastic nesting materials and cotton for lining. When the female is ready, she will allow the male to mate with her.

    Artificial Conditions

    • To encourage canaries to breed more than once a year, daylight hours and temperature need to be modified. The artificial light in the room the canaries are kept must be gradually increased to provide 14 "daylight" hours. Any more than 14, however, and the canaries will begin to molt instead of breed. The temperature around their cage also needs to be kept at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Canaries should not be bred again until after their first brood are fledged and independent.

    Egg Fertility

    • Egg infertility is common in young canaries. The likelihood of infertile eggs also increases as the birds age. Infertile eggs can be discarded when discovered since they will not hatch. Fertile eggs should incubate about 14 days before hatching.

      Candling is one method to check for egg fertility. Using a high intensity light, the egg is held up so the silhouette of the embryo can be seen. If the egg is infertile, there will be no silhouette. Candling should be done between day five and eight of the incubation period and should only be done once, since the light can damage the embryo.

    Young

    • The young are completely dependent on their parents for the first two weeks of life. Between 15 and 17 days after hatching they should begin to fledge, but are still dependent on their parents. After a month, the fledglings should be completely independent and can be separated from their parents. They should not remain with their parents any longer than six months.

    Cautions and Concerns

    • Ultimately, it is the female's decision when she will bred. If a male is introduced to her cage whom she does not wish to bred with, the birds may fight. The male should be removed immediately if this happens. Also, breeding canaries tend to live shorter lives than their non-breeding counterparts. The more they are bred, the more stress is put on their bodies, and the shorter their lifespans are likely to be.