Saturday, April 30, 2016

Remember Me? Hand Feeding Weaning Age Chicks

When my mother introduced me to canaries, she would have me hand feed one. I always like to stuff them and failed to notice it was a different chick each time!  So off and on I top off a few usually around banding age unless their is trouble and continue until they start to refuse and hide.



When I got close to this cage, feeding another cage, this weaning age chick started crying, FEED ME! Very unusual to beg at this stage, so I offered it food. The second chick initially wanted no part of it.


But then the next day it started crying ME TOO!

The disadvantage of hand feeding at weaning age is that it prolongs the time several weeks till they wean. Only chicks that were fed before the fear refusal stage will open wide. To transition to self feeding you will need to teach them to nibble.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Great Expectations - Irish Fancy



This Irish Fancy is just weaning and already has the eye and pose and potential to make a good show bird!!

No Empty Nest For This German Roller Chick - Taking Advantage of Options

Normally, chicks are anxious to leave the nest and start eating on their own on the floor.

But the large German Roller chick on the left, who was raised by his mother in the same cage, took advantage of his options and when he left the nest it was for the other hens nest! He adopted these step siblings and now his mother and adopted mother are feeding all four chicks! What a Big Baby!! No empty nest for him!

Friday, April 22, 2016

Earth Day Great Escape - Irish Fancy


This weaning Irish Fancy loves my long tresses Phrag!! Thankfully his escape was too short for him to nibble!

I am on Facebook now!

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Anticipation Of Miracle Births - Artificial Insemination



Several months ago I posted a blog about a favorite Border Male who was accidentally trapped in the bottom wire cage grates. I nearly cried as I had plans to breed him to several hens come breeding season. But look at his left foot, permanently damaged even though his wing seemed to recover pretty well. He will never be able to mate a hen again!!!

 
What a perfect use for Artificial Insemination! 


This hen surprised me and built a nest and laid an egg the next day. Usually I would toss the egg and not bother to put a male with her as pairing so late is normally a waste of time as all you will likely get is infertile eggs unless she lays five or six eggs. Having already messed it up, I decided to try artificial insemination with my handicapped male.

I was doubtful I should even try this as after she is laying is a very late start. Fertility is best five days before the first egg in the clutch is laid. With those thoughts that I should just give this round up,  I implanted her only twice, once the day she laid the first infertile egg and the next day,  each time around 8 am in the morning.

Today, exactly one week later and all three of the eggs laid after Artificial Insemination are Fertile!!!! So I can hardly wait for chicks! Of Course, I have heard Don't Count Your Chicks Before They Hatch!


 Also waiting for this long tresses Phrag to bloom in the aviary too! It has four stacks with buds!

A Big Thank You to Andrea Cabibi for bringing Artificial Insemination to Canary and Finch Breeders all over the World!

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Removing hair wrapped around toes

A couple of days ago, one of my favorite Border hens pulled the gray felt nest pad out of her nest and shredded it to the point that she had her feet all bound with fibers that were cutting into her feet and threatening the circulation. If these are not removed, she could lose a toe or two or even a foot!

In the past I have used sewing needles to work between the fiber and flesh but this can easily cause damage and bleeding.

What a great discovery I made when I tried using dental picks with soft plastic to get under the fiber without causing bleeding. After removing all fibers, I dip the feet in iodine.






The soft plastic pick is a must for your aviary first aid kit. I got these at Walgreen.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Upgraded Deluxe Nest Pad

Lovely crocheted nest pads fit snug to clay or plastic nests. Hens accept it and build their nest on top of the pad. The pad fits tight, no more pulling out the pad.



Each pad has an open area that allows easy fitting to plastic nests with wire or plastic hanging mechanism or clay pots with no attached hanger.

These fantastic nest pad were purchased from David and Edith Benites at davidssingingcanaries.com