16 farmers' bulletin 770. 



postpones incubation and development in those first laid and makes 

 the time of hatching more even. The normal period of incubation 

 is 14 days. 



Egg binding sometimes causes trouble and may be dealt with by 

 holding the female with the vent over the steam of hot water. A 

 good method is to fill a narrow-necked jar or bottle with hot water 

 {ind cover the mouth of the receptacle with cheese cloth; the female 

 is then held carefully for a minute or two in the rising steam. 

 Often the egg will drop at once and be caught in the cheese cloth, 

 or it may be deposited in the normal manner after the bird is 

 returned to the cage. 



The male canary is ordinarily a model husband and parent, giving 

 no trouble, but if he should annoy the female during incubation or 

 attempt to injure the young he should be removed at once. It is 

 the natural instinct of an incubating bird to conceal itself as much 

 as possible, and though canaries are tame, this tendency should be 

 recognized and respected. This does not mean that they are to be 

 neglected. Each breeding cage should be equipped with a sand tray 

 which should be cleaned at least every other day. In no other way 

 can it be hoped to rear numbers of birds successfully. Except for 

 this necessary care and the giving of food, water, and bathing 

 facilities, the birds should be bothered as little as possible. 



The young birds leave the nest when 20 to 30 days old. They may 

 be left with the parents as long as they are fed and should never 

 be removed entirely until it is found that they are able to crack 

 the seeds upon w^hich they must feed. Sometimes a female prepar- 

 ing a nest for a second brood will pluck the feathers from the 

 young. In such case the j^oung should be placed in a small nursery 

 cage suspended from the side of the breeding cage in a manner that 

 will allow feeding between the wires. When the young are finally 

 removed they must not be placed with birds older and stronger for 

 a time. They should be .watched carefully the first day, and if any 

 one does not feed it must be returned to the parents at once. 

 Though most of the losses among canaries come at this time, with 

 care in food and cleanliness there should be little trouble. 



SEX AND AGE. 



To determine the sex and age in living canaries is difficult and is 

 to be attempted only b}^ one who has had long experience as a canary 

 fancier. The external characters denoting sex are not easily de- 

 scribed. In nearly all cases a male may be recognized by his pro- 

 ficiency as a songster, but occasionally female birds also possess a 

 clear, full song. Wlien in breeding condition the sex may be deter- 

 mined readily by examining the vent. In males it is protuberant. 



