DottyDoo 500 Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 right my canary chicks are due either today or tomorrow,never bred any birds barring pigeons before i have just been out for a walk with the dogs an met a guy i have spoke to before in the past, an he told me i shouldnt start to give eggfood for 3 days after the chicks have hatched an green food a week after they have hatched??? i was under the impression to just leave them with egg food an green food as well as normal seed an sprouted seed for the whole time they had chicks i know for 1st 24 hours they live off the yolk in the egg, but what do yous feed them on 1st few days thanks Dotty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,934 Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I give all my birds as much access to as much different food stuffs as i can inclueding egg food and i've had no problems with any of my chicks,i mix sunflower hearts and conditioning seed in with my egg food as well as a pinch of dandilion seed and it all gets eaten at about the same rate(well the sunflower hearts do go first).As for the green food it ain't called CHICKweed for nothing mate and just tonight i was hand feeding one of my canaries with it and she was then hopping straight to her chicks and feeding them with it and same goes with brocoli,they can't ever seem to get enough of it and without sounding rude,ignore that man you met Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DottyDoo 500 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I give all my birds as much access to as much different food stuffs as i can inclueding egg food and i've had no problems with any of my chicks,i mix sunflower hearts and conditioning seed in with my egg food as well as a pinch of dandilion seed and it all gets eaten at about the same rate(well the sunflower hearts do go first).As for the green food it ain't called CHICKweed for nothing mate and just tonight i was hand feeding one of my canaries with it and she was then hopping straight to her chicks and feeding them with it and same goes with brocoli,they can't ever seem to get enough of it and without sounding rude,ignore that man you met cheers mate, ye have just put my mind at rest Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 If you follow Fireman's advice you will not go wrong, best of luck with your breeding season. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,934 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Nice one Meroman,it's good to hear your doing it right from those that know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
para1 11 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Nice one Meroman,it's good to hear your doing it right from those that know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 I give all my birds as much access to as much different food stuffs as i can inclueding egg food and i've had no problems with any of my chicks,i mix sunflower hearts and conditioning seed in with my egg food as well as a pinch of dandilion seed and it all gets eaten at about the same rate(well the sunflower hearts do go first).As for the green food it ain't called CHICKweed for nothing mate and just tonight i was hand feeding one of my canaries with it and she was then hopping straight to her chicks and feeding them with it and same goes with brocoli,they can't ever seem to get enough of it and without sounding rude,ignore that man you met I agree with your view on chickweed it is the best rearing food you can give to your birds and love your sentiment regarding it in your post. As a rearing food I give my birds a mix of eggfood,grated broccoli,grated carrot sprouted seed with a spoonful of honey and a dash of powder multi vits. Chickweed,groundsel,Sheppard's purse,plantain,sow thistle and knot grass are all coming into season now and are a great rearing food as well... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DottyDoo 500 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 cheers guys i have been geeing them most of the above since i started conditioning them to come into breeding, an they have done exactly what they were ment to do, when they were ment to do it, ole guy just threw me a bit an to be fair it sounded plausible, he said a diet too rich for first few days will make the parents have difficulty removing the waste from nest......... tho by his own admissions he hadnt bred a bird in 25 years, once again cheers guys, put my mind at rest Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 For the first day or two the parents eat the excrement sac as its high in nutrients then they deposit it away from the nest until the chicks can excrete over the side of the nest pan which is usually after 7 or 8 days. With natives/British which are usually rung after 5/6 days the hen can sometimes get confused and see the ring as a foreign object in the nest and throw the chick out of the nest but this generally never occurs with canaries. With no disrespect to that man, he is talking nonsense... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DottyDoo 500 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 For the first day or two the parents eat the excrement sac as its high in nutrients then they deposit it away from the nest until the chicks can excrete over the side of the nest pan which is usually after 7 or 8 days. With natives/British which are usually rung after 5/6 days the hen can sometimes get confused and see the ring as a foreign object in the nest and throw the chick out of the nest but this generally never occurs with canaries. With no disrespect to that man, he is talking nonsense... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 How are they doing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DottyDoo 500 Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 my cock canary kept throwing them out of the nest pan for some reason i lifted them an heated them back up a couple a times, but they all died... i have been told that as soon as she is near done sitting on the next round iv to separate him on the ther side of the wire slide, i just hope things go better this time around Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,173 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I was also told by a very experienced bird man not to give them egg food for the first week: just soft sprouted seeds. Only ever lost two chicks very early on during the ten years I had canaries. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 my cock canary kept throwing them out of the nest pan for some reason i lifted them an heated them back up a couple a times, but they all died... i have been told that as soon as she is near done sitting on the next round iv to separate him on the ther side of the wire slide, i just hope things go better this time around The cock was driving the hen to nest again, he is obviously in top breeding condition. After she finishes laying on the next round remove him but leave him in view of her, she will be well capable of rearing the chicks by herself.When they jump the nest you can put him back in for the third round. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DottyDoo 500 Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 my cock canary kept throwing them out of the nest pan for some reason i lifted them an heated them back up a couple a times, but they all died... i have been told that as soon as she is near done sitting on the next round iv to separate him on the ther side of the wire slide, i just hope things go better this time around The cock was driving the hen to nest again, he is obviously in top breeding condition. After she finishes laying on the next round remove him but leave him in view of her, she will be well capable of rearing the chicks by herself.When they jump the nest you can put him back in for the third round. the cock certainly is singing for all he is worth, thanks again your information is much appreciated Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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