Select a shielded location for the breeding cage. Wild birds seek
seclusion and privacy when they nest, and will often leave the nest and
eggs entirely if disturbed, and relocate in a better hiding place.
Although canaries have been bred in cages for hundreds of years, this
tendency to desert the nest and nestlings persists. The breeding cage
should have a solid foundation and the perches should be tried
individually to be sure that they are steady and firm.
Provide a flashlight for the breeding room. It will come in handy for
brief nighttime checkups on the birds; for removing the male, which is
best done at night; and for candling the eggs after the hen has been
setting for about six days. Provide a small cardboard box half filled
with a dry cereal such as corn meal, or with cotton. This receptacle is
for the first few eggs and its use is explained in the paragraph "Round
One." Another early season chore is to secure three or four dummy canary
eggs. Such dummy eggs can be purchased from pet dealers, but a small {~VULGAR FRACTION THREE EIGHTHS~}{~DOUBLE PRIME~}
diameter marble or wooden ball will suffice. Their use is also explained
under "Round One."