Removing eggs from canary nest and returning

[atatum]

We are novice at this. Our canaries just layed eggs and we read we need to remove them from the nest and then return them all at once when she's layed them all. We did that. But the book didn't say anything about incubating the eggs while we were waiting to return them to the nest, so we didn't. We are confused by this lack of info in the book! Does the incubation period begin when the hen starts sitting or from the time they are layed? Will the eggs we returned to the nest hatch if they are fertilized? she is now sitting on them round the clock.:S

[julie270]

i did not remove the eggs and 2 weeks from the day we starting having the eggs hatch we now have 3 babies and 2 eggs to go, they r presious

[Florence]

Julie I am so happy for you! Honest. It must be a truly miraculous sight seeing how nature works

[paul101]

Two schools of thought on this.
Put the eggs in sawdust or sand...keep at 65 degree's F so they dont incubate, rotate daily...Must subsitute eggs you remove with "dummy eggs".
Return eggs when the hen is done laying and she will incubate and they will hatch at the same time with no runts.
Second...let nature do what she intends to do...a smaller bird may not be a sickly bird at hatching, however may need more time to develope.
I'd think you may do more damage removing the eggs (breakage and shock to her) then you could ever do letting nature take her course.

[Birdy]

I didn't realize there was so much that goes into hatching canaries. Last spring, my uncle, work works in construction came home with a bird nest that he had found in a bathroom fan in a house he was building. We actually incubated the eggs and hatched 4 baby robins!!! We feed them with an eye dropper. We only lost one. It was a miracle. Hope the baby canaries are well!

[apples]

I doubt there would be any harm in keeping them warm while you have them pulled. Your house temperature should be warm enough if there is no drafts, just keep an eye on your thermostat and you should be fine.