Your First Canary

Acquiring your first canary is an exciting event that can lead to years of joyful companionship. It can also be a frustrating disappointment if you aren’t properly prepared before hand. Some people just jump right into bird ownership without having carefully though through the process. Hopefully this short article will help you get started along the right path. You may also find the articles “Bird Buying Tips” and the “Canary Care Sheet” on our website helpful.

Canary Basics

Canaries are essentially man-made creations that look nothing like the wild birds that were used generations ago to develop the various breeds. Yes unlike most birds canaries have been domestically bred and engineered for so many generations that they are specific breeds.

They have been developed to emphasize a particular trait or traits that determine their specific breed. There are three categories of canaries;

Color Bred- Color Bred Canaries have been developed to show a particular desired color. Generally these canaries require special food supplements to maintain their color.

Type- Type Canaries have been bred to emphasize certain physical characteristics like size, shape, plumage, and stature. This is similar to what dog breeders have done in developing pure bred dogs.

Song- Song Canaries have been bred to develop a particular song that is the defining song of that breed. Yes, Color Bred and Type Canaries do also sing, but the Song Breeds must sing in a particular series of notes, patterns and volume. (For the most part males do the singing. Occasionally a female may sing, but it is fairly rare.)

Canaries are generally bred in late winter or early spring. The chicks mature rapidly and fledge (leave the nest) at about three weeks of age. The chicks generally have developed their song by late fall. This means that late Fall or early Winter is an ideal time to purchase a canary because by then the males will be singing.

When the birds are molting, they usually stop singing. Don’t worry if your bird starts dropping feathers, and stops singing. Once he replaces the dropped feathers he’ll start signing again. Usually the birds molt once a year. Drastic changes in temperature may stimulate additional molts.

Housing

Obviously you will need a cage for your new bird. Canaries don’t require a particularly large cage, but they are active and will appreciate extra space. Their activity is generally short flights and hopping back and forth. Keeping this in mind a cage that is longer than it is tall is better suited for their activity. A suitable cage size is 15”-18” wide, by 12”-14” deep by 12”-15” high.

The spacing on the wires should be 3/8”-1/2”.

At least two perches should be mounted at opposite ends of the cage leaving sufficient room from the side of the cage for the bird to turn around without bumping its tail on the wires.

A pull out tray on the bottom of the cage makes for easier cleaning. Plain paper can be used to line the tray. News can be used, but the ink may stain the bird’s feet and feathers if it comes in contact with the paper.

Place the cage in a room where there is family activity to allow interaction with the bird. The cage may be suspended from a ceiling swag-hook and chain, or placed on a stand designed for that purpose. It should be placed high enough to allow easy viewing and to safely keep other pets and small children from getting to the cage. Place the cage out of direct sunlight, or direct blasts of cold or warm air. Canaries can handle cool temperatures fairly well, but extremes of heat or cold can lead to health issues. If you’re comfortable, the bird is probably comfortable as well.

Diet

Canaries are closely related to finches and have similar dietary needs. These tiny songsters are primarily seed eaters, but don’t make the mistake of feeding them exclusively seed. Exclusive seed diets are notoriously low in essential vitamins and minerals and protein. Supplement a premium quality canary seed mix with fresh dark greens like romaine lettuce, escarole, dandelion leaves or kale. Small quantities of vegetables like broccoli heads, grated carrots, or a slice of zucchini squash, or cucumber can and should be offered. Small pieces of toast or plain cereals like cornflakes can be used as treat.

A cuttlebone adds a source of calcium.

A vitamin supplement should also be added to the diet. Water soluble vitamins can be used or they can be added to the egg-food or moistened greens. If the vitamin is added to the drinking water, the water drinker or dish must be washed every day to avoid bacterial growth.

Egg-food is an important component in the diet. Egg-food is high in protein, highly digestible and easy for the birds to eat. It also is a great transitional food for young birds when they are starting to wean. During molting and breeding season it should be offered daily. Throughout the balance of the year three days a week is sufficient. (Please see the article on feeding egg-foods elsewhere on our website.)

Fresh drinking water should always be available. In addition to drinking water, canaries love to bathe. Occasionally offer a shallow bowl of fresh room temperature for a bath.

New Bird Owner Shopping List

Cage

Perches

Food and water dishes or drinker

Vita Canary Seed Mix

            or Waterslager Special

            or 75/25 Canary Mix

Song Food (as a treat.)

Quiko Special Egg-food

Quiko Rusk

Quiko Multivitamin (powder) or Quikon V (liquid vitamin)

Cuttlebone

Cuttlebone holder

Bath house or shallow dish