How to Care for Your Pet Canary

This morning as I was putting fresh water in the birdbath in my backyard, I thought back to things in my childhood that had to do with pets and animals, and how those experiences brought about a love and respect for living creatures.

When I was a little girl I spent a lot of time with my Grandma, who lived in a row house in Washington, DC.  She had a beautiful little sunroom in her house and she always had several cages of Canaries.  I remember them singing along to music on her radio every morning with the sun streaming in the windows.  They were so beautiful and happy, and that always made me happy, too.  I would sit there in her big, comfy chair and listen to their joyful songs.  There were times when she had four to five birdies in the cages, and for some reason she called them all Petey.  I can’t help but smile when these memories come back to me, and I dedicate this article to my beautiful, loving Grandma and all of her beautiful Canaries named Petey.

Canary Facts

The ancestor of the domesticated canary we see today can be found in the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira.  The average size of an adult bird is 3-4 inches long, measures from head to the end of the tail.  Their average life span for a healthy canary is 10+ years with proper care.

Normal Behavior

Male Canaries are known for their singing but some females will also sing.  Their song is not as strong as the male, and it sometimes is more of a chirping than singing.   Mirrors are not recommended for a Canary’s cage, and canaries will not sing if there are mirrors present.  For their mental stimulation, provide foraging toys.  Canaries need room to fly in their habitat.  Canaries exercise by flying, and so should not have their wings clipped.

Diet and Feeding

A well-balanced Canary diet consists of:

·   Specialized pellets should make up 60-70% of diet; red-factor Canaries need specialized food to maintain                   color, fresh vegetables and fruit,and moderate amounts of fortified seeds.

·   Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily.

Do not feed birds avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol as these can cause serious medical                 conditions. Avoid sugar and high fat treats.

Things to remember when feeding your Canary:

·   Fresh food and water should always be available.

·   Vegetables and fruits not eaten within a few hours should be discarded.

Treats should not exceed 10% of total food intake.

Grooming, Hygiene and Habitat Maintenance

***Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after you handle anything going into or out of your Canary’s cage, and especially if you are handling your Canary.  This is important for your Canary’s health, as well as yours.

Bird Baths: Give your canary a chance to take a bath at least once a week, and daily during the summer by placing a dish on the bottom of the cage. A bath with full enclosure will help to keep the water splashing to a minimum. Bathing is very important to canaries during molting and breeding.   A water mister can also be used, as canaries like to be clean and they enjoy bathing.

Nail Grooming: Their nails will occasionally need to be trimmed, but be careful never to clip into the vein as the bird can quickly bleed to death. Bird nail trimmers and styptic powder to stop the bleeding are available at pet shops. See video on how to trim your Canary’s nails.

Clean and disinfect the habitat and perches regularly; replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed.

Replace perches, dishes, and toys when worn or damaged; rotate new toys into the habitat regularly.
Ensure that there are no habitat parts or toys with lead, zinc or lead-based paints or galvanized parts as these can cause serious medical issues if ingested by your bird.

Do not use a lot of cleaning agents around your bird as the fumes can be harmful. It is recommended to use a natural cleaning product.

Housing

Canaries acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should be placed off the floor in an area that is well-lit and away from drafts.  Place the cage on a stand or hang it from a wall bracket at eye level or at about 6 feet off the floor. Be sure the spot you pick has good light and is well ventilated, but free from drafts. It should be away from doors and windows where direct exposure to sunlight can make it overly warm, but placed close to at least one wall to provide a feeling of security.
The cage should be covered at night to prevent drafts and disturbances.

A flight habitat approximately 18″W x 14″D x 18″H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 3/8″ apart, makes a good home for one Canary. A flight habitat is strongly recommended. It is best to provide the largest habitat, or cage, possible.
Perches should be at least 3″ long and 1/ 4″- 1/2″ in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended.
A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with habitat paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning to avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches.
Canaries can be kept with at least one other Canary, preferably more; do not house male Canaries together. Different types of birds should not be housed together.
Canaries should be socialized daily by the pet parent or kept in pairs to bond with each other.

Maintenance

Although canaries require very maintenance, a clean environment as well as fresh food and water daily is a must to prevent disease and illness.  Basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes and changing the paper on the bottom of the cage every two to three days.  You should wash and dry the entire cage weekly, including the perches.  Remember to use a non-toxic, natural cleaner and avoid chemical-based products that may harm your pet.

Most of the time, canaries are simply enjoyed for their beauty and singing. However, some canaries are allowed out of their cage to perch.  When you need to hold your canary, place your palm on its back and wrap your fingers around the bird with your thumb and forefinger on either side of its head. Canaries rarely bite, and even if they do, they do not have a harmful or dangerous bite.

Canaries prefer to be able to move around and it is important to their health and well-being that they be able to fly from perch to perch. Keep the cage accessories to a minimum to allow free movement. A single toy, or branch will be plenty and you can change them around periodically to provide variety.

You can train your canary to perch on your hand, on a perch you hold, or fly around the room.  See the Wikipedia page for training your canary here http://www.wikihow.com/Train-Your-Canary

Potential Problems

Canaries are very hardy birds and almost all illnesses can be traced to improper diet, dirty cages, and drafts. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise will prevent most canary illnesses. If a canary becomes ill it will lose weight rapidly, so it is essential that you know your bird and watch for drastic changes as indications of illness.
Some signs of illness to be aware of are droppings that are not black and white, feathers that are ruffled, lack of appetite, wheezing, molting out of season, does not sing, and lethargy.

Always visit and consult with a veterinarian who specializes in avian health issues when your pet shows signs of ill health.

Understanding what makes Canaries happy and healthy will be the first step towards a rewarding, fun relationship with these fine feathered friends.