Caring for Your Canary
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Life expectancy: 10-15 years
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Cannot learn to speak, but are known for their singing abilities
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“Passerine” who relies on their ability to fly to navigate their enclosure
Canaries are actually a type of finch native to the Canary Islands. They have been bred in captivity and kept as pets for over 500 years. These happy, nimble little singers are one of the easiest pet birds to keep. Their small size and unconcerned nature allow them to fit into just about any caregiver’s home. A canary’s colour may range from greenish brown to bright yellow, orange, or even red! It is rare to find a female canary that will sing; she instead will vocalize with a “peep-peep.” It is the male canaries who are known for their melodious voices!
Encouraging Singing
Canaries are solitary birds, so a lone male will do quite well to sing on his own. Singing can be encouraged by keeping two males in separate cages, out of sight, but within hearing distance. This will stir up a back and forth, almost in competition. Canaries can also be prompted to sing by playing recordings of other male canaries singing.
A canary may be less likely to sing during moulting, which is a natural process of regrowing feathers that typically occurs once a year in the middle of summer until the middle of fall.
Handling
Canaries are “ornamental” in that are kept on display, rather than handled, and enjoy living in beautiful enclosure set ups while singing to their heart’s content.
To provide a happy, healthy atmosphere for your canary, Petland recommends the following necessary, and fun accessories. We have listed them as your new pet’s four basic needs: Environmental, Behavioural, Nutritional, and Maintenance. When these needs are met, along with a loving environment provided by you, your canary can live a long and happy life.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Enclosure – When choosing a cage for your canary, get the largest cage that you can that is wide enough for flight. This bird will not receive out-of-cage time, and therefore it is essential that their cage is large enough to accommodate flying, as well as all of their perches, toys, nests, etc. Your pet counsellor can show you homes specifically designed for your bird.
Ensure the location of the cage is draft free, away from heat or air-conditioning vents, and not in direct sunlight. It should also be in a room where people frequently hang out so that the canary feels part of the family. Consider using a cage stand to hold the cage and store supplies.
Cage Cover – A cage cover helps your canary get the rest they need (approximately 12 hours). Remember that birds wake at sunrise and sleep at sunset. The cover can be a blanket, but make sure the canary is not shredding it, as this can pose a choking risk.
Lighting –Your bird needs daily exposure to ultraviolet light. In our climate, regular outdoor access is not always possible, and sunlight through a window is ineffective because the glass filters out important UV rays. Using a UVA/UVB bulb and avian floor lamp is therefore essential.
UVA and UVB light help prevent calcium and vitamin D3 deficiencies, which can lead to serious health problems. UV exposure also allows birds to see colours properly, as they can become effectively colour blind without it. In addition, UVA light may help reduce abnormal behaviours such as feather plucking, phobias, and aggression. For more information, ask a pet counsellor for a copy of the Ultraviolet Lighting for Birds and Reptiles Tip Sheet.
Perches – Birds are not meant to stand on the same perch size all the time. Provide your canary with a variety of perch diameters (3/8-3/4 inch) for proper foot exercise, ideally branch-like perches with diverse sizes and textures. Place these higher in the cage where they prefer to rest. Rough perches (like concrete or sandpaper) can help trim nails but should be placed lower so they’re used less often. Ensure perches allow easy access to food and water, without being positioned above dishes where droppings could contaminate them.
BEHAVIOURAL
Toys – Toys typically mimic the natural activities of the species in the wild, such as flying, preening, foraging, building nests, and defending their nest site. Providing a variety of toys will give them the extra mental stimulation and entertainment they need. Without, they can grow bored and take up bad behaviours such as plucking or fighting (if housed with another).
A pacifier toy is fashioned to encourage preening. Small rope toys with bells, and beaded toys also may be appreciated. Hanging plastic plants from the reptile department can serve as hiding places, which will help to make your canary feel more secure.
Nests and Nesting Material – A cozy, secure nest allows your canary to rest comfortably. Providing nesting material can encourage breeding behaviours if a male and female are housed together.
NUTRITIONAL
Staple Diet – Canary seed mix should be available at all times. Check food daily, replace if soiled, and don’t be misled by empty husks. Refill the dish every day.
Egg Food – Protein is a very important part of your canary’s diet (about 12%). Since canaries are mainly seed eaters and not insect eaters, their protein is found in canary grass and rapeseed (both found in canary seed mixes), however, as canaries can selectively pick out seeds to eat, they may not ingest sufficient quantities unless it is supplemented through egg food every day. Remove the cup after an hour or so.
Fresh Foods – Birds should be offered a salad of fresh foods every day that are shredded into pick-up-and-fly pieces. Vegetables like shredded carrots, romaine lettuce, green beans, snow peas, sweet potatoes, and eggplant make good choices. Offer a mashed-up boiled egg that is mixed with a bit of bread crumbs (so it isn’t mushy) every day. Fruits should be considered a treat and offered minimally.
Every bird is different in their tastes. While your canary may love certain fruits and vegetables, they may reject others. Keep trying and offer a variety. With exposure, they will be more willing to try in the future. Feed fresh foods in a separate dish, and remove it after one hour.
Treats – Packaged seed treats, honey sticks, egg biscuits and spray millet provide your canary with the variety they crave and the behavioural requirements they need, such as foraging.
Spray Millet – Millet is one of the few foods canaries would naturally find in the wild. When bringing your canary home, offer spray millet daily, as it may be the only food they feel comfortable eating at first. Once they have settled into their new environment, reduce millet treats to once or twice a week.
Cuttlebone – Cuttlebone will supply your canary with calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. Hang it in their cage where droppings cannot soil it. Replace it every two months, as they are very porous and absorb odours and fumes from the environment, such as smoke or cooking smells. If your bird does not show interest in the cuttlebone, grind it up into powder and mix it with their salad or favourite treat.
Iodine Block – An iodine block provides iodine, copper, and many other minerals in small quantities. It is fun to chew, and tasty too.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplement – In the wild, a bird is free to fill all of their nutritional requirements but in a cage/aviary environment, they are not. To make sure your canary is getting the vitamins their bodies require, we recommend the addition of a high-quality powdered vitamin. This may be administered on top of their daily salad. A liquid vitamin may be added to the water instead. Watch your canary to make sure they are accepting the vitaminized water since you do not want your bird to go without drinking for any length of time.
MAINTENANCE
Food Dishes – Food and water should always be available for your canary. You will need five dishes: one for the staple diet, one for egg food, one for fresh foods, one for water, and one for treats.
Substrate – Cage paper is easy to remove and will not become a soppy mess like paper towels or newspaper when water is inevitably splashed onto it. Paper-based bedding may be used if there is a grate overtop to prevent the canary from close contact amongst its feces.
Bird Bath/Showering – Offer your canary a daily misting shower or a shallow bowl of warm water for bathing. Use a clean spray bottle with warm water and mist gently from above if they dislike direct spraying. If they are hesitant to bathe, place a damp lettuce leaf in the bowl to encourage curiosity. Offer the bath in the morning so that the bird has the heat of the day to dry off.
Cage Cleaner – Use a pet-safe cleaner, ideally one that is enzyme-based to break down stains and odours. Clean the cage weekly with the cleaner or hot water and mild soap, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Avoid bleach and other household cleaners, as they can irritate your pet’s respiratory system or cause even worse problems.
Nail Clippers and Coagulant – Your canary’s nails will grow continuously. Typically, sandpaper or concrete perches are sufficient to keep the nail filed. However, nail clippers that are made especially for birds can be used to manage the length. Take care not to trim too short or cut into the blood vessels running through each nail. Keep a blood coagulant on hand in case this happens.
Cleanliness and Safety
All pets can potentially carry diseases that may be contagious to people. Hygiene procedures, such as washing your hands before and after handling your pet or its habitat, are necessary. Children should be assisted with hand washing and always have adult supervision when interacting with pets.
Attention: Certain cookware, aerosols, incense, aromatic candles, and household cleaners may be harmful or worse to your bird’s health. Ask a pet counsellor for a copy of the Safety Tips & Household Hazards Tip Sheet.
CHECKLIST
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Enclosure
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(Optional) Cage stand
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Cage cover
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UV light bulb and lamp
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A variety of perches
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A variety of toys
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Staple diet
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Egg food
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Treats
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Spray millet
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Cuttlebone
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Iodine block
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Vitamin and mineral supplement
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Food dishes
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Substrate
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Bird bath or spray bottle
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Cage cleaner
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Nail clippers and coagulant