Brian's Yorkshire Canary Page
Articles - Breeding & Management - common sense approach
| COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO THE BREEDING SEASON Article published March 1998
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The canary breeding season is almost upon us, and fanciers will have high hopes of achieving their ambitions during the coming season. Breeding canaries successfully depends on many different factors,and while there is no guaranteed recipe for success, there are a number of common sense steps which will help improve the odds.
Experienced fanciersWhen I began keeping birds I was lucky enough to meet several experienced breeders, both in the Yorkshire Canary fancy, and in other sections of the hobby. The advice I was given holds just as true today as it did when I was nine years old. The difference is that now I am beginning to understand that advice!Bruce Pollitt, a veteran Norwich canary breeder, told me never to pair until the buds are onthe hawthorn. It was good advice, and taking account of seasonal weather conditions the saying"more haste, less speed" is certainly true when it comes to canary breeding. Unless you are on hand to assist nature you shouild stick to time-homoured pairing times, watching the activities of wild birds to let you know when to begin your own breeding operations. Another fancier, Gerry Corrigan, always impressed on me to feed my stockbwell during the winter months. "Now's the time to prepare your breeding hens", was the advice he gave me at the end ofeach year's breeding season. Certainly hens thathave a poor or slow moult or are not fully fit during the winter, are not best prepared for the rigours of the brteeding season. Only breed from healthy stock. Cut your losses and concentrate only onthose birds that are fully fit,as they are the ones that will not let you down.
I have attended many CBS meetings where the speakers have advised the audience to check their birdroom equipment before the breeding season and this is good advice. Finding you do not have sufficient egg drawers, extra perching, water drinkers and nest pans when you intend to pair up is far too late. Take a stock check before the breeding season begins, then pay a visit to your local stockist before pairing up. Making running repairs to buildings, painting cages and so on, is best achieved during the Christmas holiday. However, there is still time to freshen up the paintwork, or at least thoroughly scrub out the cages and disinfect before the coming season. When the breeding season gets underway, the opportunity will be lost until after the moult. Do it now, because when the show season starts there will be little time for such chores. Clinical hygiene is not necessary, but a good standard of cleanliness throughout the year is essential.There are several excellent products for improving hygiene, while there is always good old-fashioned soap and water for those who scorn progress. Keep your birds clean by cleaning cages, floor and work surfaces regularly. Provide fresh seed and water and wash waterpots on a daily basis. Also, provide baths regularly. I use a water purifier as well as mite preparation, and I regularly disinfect my birdroom equipment including feeding utensils and perching. It pays dividends.
Seek out adviceIf things do not go according to plan, seek out local experienced fanciers for advice. They will most likely be able to point out the cause of the problem, and offer advice on how to overcome the difficulties you are experiencing. The solution will not be rocket science, that's for sure! As everyone had to learn the hard way, they will bec pleased to help you to ythe best of their abilities.Be realistic about your expectations. If you have limited time or accommodation, aim to breed only enough birds that you can adequately accommodate. Keeping too many birds is a recipe for disaster, given the extra work that will be required befroe the moult has finished. Most experienced fanciers pair up their birds with a specific purpose in mind, while others may retain birds until the following season if suitable partners cannot immediately be found. Learning that trick in the early days will help you to plan your way forward in the hobby.
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