Answer:
Question:
It is the middle of the breeding season for me, unfortunately I'm having great difficulty in getting fertile eggs from my canaries. This is the second round that the females have laid eggs and they were all infertile.
Answer:
Most infertile eggs are a result of the hen laying before she is in full breeding condition. If the hen begs the male to breed with her, fertility is not generally a problem. An occasional male is infertile, especially when breeding closely related birds, but these can be culled from the stock. It is a common practice to increase the frequency of extras such as egg food and greens in a well-meaning attempt to manipulate the birds into breeding. However, successful breeding will come naturally for the birds if we avoid the temptation to rush them. To be successful in breeding, take your clues from the birds. When we study the birds and pick up on their signals, we will produce optimal results. I will give you some general guidelines.
Foo
The Club wishes to thank Linda for her article. She has a new version of her book, Canary Tales that can be purchased from her. To contact Linda email her at canarytales@juno.com or visit her Web site:
Getting Ready For Breeding:
Get the males ready first:
If the males are lagging behind (not dropping wings and displaying breeding behavior about one month before breeding), coat their seed with a little wheat germ oil and powdered vitamin containing amino acids. One may also increase toasted wheat germ for the males. It is slower than raw wheat germ but doesn't have the problem of making the males too aggressive like wheat germ oil can do when it is overdone. With this feeding method you should see the hens feeding each other for several weeks before pairing and inviting mating when paired.
In time you will find the best stock. Those who have the greatest natural instincts for breeding will become your favorites. Experience is a great teacher, so try to get as many females as you can handle. In one season you will be able to tell the most maternal females. You will select your males for Song and your females for production, as without production there will not be any song. In most cases, the strong healthy females will be your choice. If the occasion arises try to retain a green or variegated roller. They are a pleasure to work with in the breeding cage or on the show bench. The green male roller was always selected for song and the female for her ability to perform in the breeding cages.
In recent years there has been much published on the roller canary. It is advisable to have as many of these articles and books as possible. Untold bits of priceless information are written to help the breeder. Penny-wise and pound-foolish fits the thinking of a person that purchases an expensive trio of rollers and doesn't care to band their offspring. The same economy holds true when a novice breeder purchases rollers before they have learned their basic care. We must all learn the fundamentals and from time to time review them. The saying goes that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but sometimes-old dogs forget their old tricks.
There is a very energetic new group of roller breeders in Oklahoma City staging annual roller contests. It is a great opportunity to visit and participate in these annual events. The show dates and addresses are in your favorite magazine. These annual events are very interesting to the hobbyist, and give added exposure to roller canaries as pets. What is fascinating about the roller is how tr
ained they are so that at a Judge's command they will sing for 30 minutes. A well breed roller is easy to train to sing and has a far superior tone quality. Musical training can be helpful in breeding rollers, but a person with a love for fine music can do just as well. A good roller will teach you the roller song. Tone and variations are very important in a roller's song.
Your rollers are always in some degree of confinement, so it's your obligation to care for their needs. During the summer and early fall months your rollers will be molting. At that time flaxseed, cucumber and protein foods should be added to their daily ration.
NOTE: This article, written by the late author, was originally printed in 1987 in American Cage Bird Magazine
Roller Clubs On The Rise
The Northwest Club in Washington State is growing and may have a show in December this year. This is very good news considering they almost folded a few years back. An alliance between their club, our club and the Southern Cal club should be formed and a sanctioned Pacific Roller show established. Consider the competition and learning that could be attained. Perhaps rotating the show to each location every 3rd year should be considered. Oakland will volunteer to hold the Show first. Lobby with your local club officers: Northwest - President Paul Scandlyn
619-259-37
Judging Seminar Proposed to be Held in Oakland
A seminar, sponsored by the OIRCC, has been proposed. This judge's clinic seminar would allow active Judges to come to our club for the express purpose of instruction in roller judging. This proposed Judging Clinic would be open to serious breeders and exhibitors and other judges in training. Members from other clubs are welcome. The format of the clinic is not yet agreed upon, however a possible format would be as follows: Set a time period 2-3 days, set a period of instruction of 2 to 4 hours, break up the instruction sessions into instruction time and practice time. This is planned for the Fall when young birds are in full song. Depending on timing and Judges availability, it may be possible to hold the Clinic near the OIRCC Song Contest Dec 7-10. Contact Steve Billmire for more information.
RESOURCE LIST
MAIL ORDER
Fax: 847-296-7897
7088 Lyndon Street, Rosemont, IL 60018
P.O Box 948 West Plains, MO 65775
GQF Manufacturing Company 912-236-0651
Fax: 912-234-9978
P.O. Box 1552, Savannah, GA 31498
One Glamore Court, Smithtown, NY 11787
2786 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820
305-681-4444
8535 N.W. 56 Street, Miami, FL 33166
1004 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
OIRCC COMMUNICATIONS at this years January regular meeting:
I delivered the following Memorandum to our President and Club. The letter was read aloud to the members in attendance. I am publishing this memo since I believe all members of the Oakland club, members of all the other clubs in the US should be made aware of the situation in Oakland, and with the Fancy. The intent of the memo is not to be just a critic of the Roller clubs, and their shows, but to identify problems. With identification we can move forward with resolutions and improve the situation. It's basically starting point to improve our club, our relationships with other clubs, and to promote the idea of an organized West and East Show, and possibly a National Show. This may unite the clubs, breeders, and exhibitors across the country. I believe it starts with the people of each club. Without the support of you this memo means nothing. Comments, responses and suggestions are encouraged.
1999 New Member List:
Welcome new members, and to all members who renewed their membership. Good luck breeding in 99'.
OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL ROLLER CANARY CLUB meets at 1 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of the months of February through November at HEMENES Kempo Kung-Fu School, 1572 150th Street, San Leandro CA. Club dues are
$OIRCC CLASSIFIEDS
- $5.00 for two lines. $10.00 for four lines. $ 20.00 1/4 page. (Per year)
ROLLER CANARY HIGHNOTES is Published by the Oakland International Roller Canary Club to improve the advancement, breeding, and exhibition of German Roller Canaries. Hopefully it will encourage the promotion of the fancy and help instruct our members who are not able to attend our regular monthly meetings in San Leandro CA. The opinions of the writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Club nor it's officers. We encourage all members and readers to feel free to send in comments, questions, and any articles they would like to see printed. Judges, Master Breeders, Champion, Amateur, and Novice breeders of Roller Canaries are cordially asked to contribute articles for publication. Subscription price of HIGHNOTES is $8 per year for Non-OIRCC Members. Back issues are $2.00 per copy.
NEXT MEETING: 28 March 99
Subject: Breeding Season
Comments? Please e-mail to:
jpagrella@comcast.net