What causes canaries to get sick or die while laying their eggs?

Hello, so sorry to hear that Carmen passed away. It sounds like she may have been egg-bound. Here is a link to an article about egg binding in birds that may answer more of your questions. ( http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=3060 ) The only way to really get an idea of why she died is to get a necropsy (autopsy) done on her by a veterinarian. All I can really say is that birds are very good about hiding how sick they are until it is too late in most cases. Any time you think a bird may be sick you need to get them to a vet right away as likely they have been hiding symptoms for a while. Again, so sorry this happened. Hope this helps to clarify things.

It sounds as if your female may be sick and it would be best to bring her to a vet ASAP. It is possible she is exhausted from laying the eggs due to malnutrition, has an illness, or even has a stuck egg that is making her ill. Seeking veterinary care in person ASAP is best to try and get her feeling better. You may also need to separate her into a warm hospital cage until you can get to the vet to help make her more comfortable and reduce stress.

It's possible that an egg broke during the massage and that was the fluid released, or she may have been constipated and released a lot of stool at once, however it is best to schedule a veterinary exam to rule out any possible infection or other underlying cause, especially if she is having repeated egg-binding. Making sure she has access to calcium can help prevent egg-binding, either by offering "egg-food" treats, or cuttle bone. You can also remove any nesting material and nests in her environment to try and discourage breeding and egg laying.

She could have another egg stuck in her, it's very common in birds and it is called being egg bound, you will need to take her to an avian vet specialist urgently otherwise she is not likely to survive.

If Fifi is acting weak or sick while trying to lay an egg she needs to be seen by an avian veterinarian. Egg binding is when a bird cannot normally pass her egg and can be a life threatening condition. Here is some more information https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/egg-binding-in-birds https://lafeber.com/vet/wp-content/uploads/Egg-laying-problems-Klaphake.pdf If you need to find an avian vet, start here https://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803

I'm sorry to hear about Noel's sudden passing. Unfortunately, birds are very good at hiding illness until it is too late, so it is possible Noel was ill for a while prior and it just wasn't noticed. Aging-related issues, illness, nutritional problems, sudden strokes, organ failure, etc are all potential causes of sudden death in an older bird. If you're having trouble coping with Noel's passing, checking out some online resources such as the Rainbow Bridge where you can chat with other pet owners and even create an online memorial may give you some comfort in your time of loss.

That is a lot of questions! And one I don't really have a good answer to. Sudden death can be caused by a number of things including illness, parasites, infections, nutritional issues, etc. It's always a good idea to first make sure the environment your birds are in is kept clean, and that they have access to a balanced diet and fresh water at all times. It is also a good idea to quarantine any new birds for a few days before introducing them to the other birds you own in order to prevent the spread of any illness. Stress from being put with strange birds, recently re-homed, switched to a new cage, etc can also cause a bird to act ill. Making sure they are in an environment that is free from harassment by other pets or people, is in a warm-draft free area, and that all birds can easily access food, water, perches and sleeping space is best. If you suspect one or more birds are ill it is best to separate them immediately into a hospital cage that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water to prevent the spread of illness and to keep any sick birds from being picked on. Seeking veterinary care to check for the cause of their illness is also a good idea.