Canary

A canary is a good companion for:

Children under 5

Seniors

Apartments/Condos

Children ages 5–11

Busy People

Rural Homes

Life Span

The average life span for a canary is 10 to 15 years.

Typical Behavior

Canaries are known for their wonderful song. The more content a canary, the more it will sing. Male canaries are the predominant singers, but on occasion, the female birds will sing too. A canary does not mind being the only bird in the household; however, it needs to feel part of a flock even if that flock includes the people in your home. It is important to interact with your canary. The bird will enjoy a conversation with you, as well as being able to listen to music and watch television. When you leave the house, your canary will appreciate if you leave on a radio or the television, as long as its cage is positioned to see it. Male canaries are extremely territorial and should never be put in the same cage together.

Care Requirements

A canary's wings should never be clipped because it needs to fly within its cage to reach food and water. Many items commonly found around a home can endanger a canary, especially if the bird is allowed outside its cage. Some of these dangers include a rotating ceiling fan, certain houseplants, insect pest strips, a sink or tub of hot water, open windows, other pets, spoiled food, string and thread. Canaries are especially susceptible to respiratory problems and products such as air freshener, a burning candle, household cleaning supplies, the fumes from oven-cleaner products or a self-cleaning oven, hair spray, heated cooking oil, perfume and pesticides can be deadly. Fumes from a heated Teflon pan also are toxic to canaries. For these reasons, it is very important that your canary’s cage not be located near the kitchen or bathroom. When cleaning the room in which your canary normally lives, move the cage to another room until all the associated fumes are gone.

Proper Habitat and Habitat Maintenance Requirements

The larger the cage you can provide a canary, the happier it will be. Because a round cage confuses a canary, the cage should be square or rectangular. A cuttlebone placed inside the cage will help a canary keep its beak conditioned. Canaries enjoy playing with toys and there are many to choose from at your local pet supply store. They especially like swings, but require a swing specifically designed for canaries. A birdcage should be kept away from drafts, including those created by air conditioning vents. Some sunlight is good, as long as it does not cause a bird to get too warm. A towel, sheet or light blanket can act as a cage cover and can be put over the cage at night to keep the bird warmer in cold weather and to make the bird feel safe. Cages should be cleaned at least twice a week. To make it easier to clean a cage, the bottom can be lined with paper towels, butcher paper or newsprint paper. However, do not use your local newspaper to line the cage because printed ink can be harmful to a bird. Perches should be cleaned once a week. You can use sandpaper, or there are scrapers designed specifically for this that can be bought at pet supply stores. Toys should be washed once a week.

Dietary Requirements

Canaries eat seed. All pet supply stores sell commercial birdseed products; be sure to purchase the type specific for canaries. There are a variety of treats that can be purchased for canaries too. At least once a week, offer your canary a small piece of apple in order to keep its liver healthy. If the apple is not eaten within a couple hours, remove it from the cage. Never offer an avocado to your canary, as the fruit can be deadly to birds. Because canaries have no teeth, they use gravel or grit to help grind their food. Only buy gravel or grit designed for canaries and place it in a small bowl rather than on the floor of the birdcage. Fresh drinking water should be provided in the cage at all times. Vitamins designed for canaries can be added to the drinking water. Be sure to regularly clean the water bottle in order to keep bacteria from forming.

Financial Considerations for a Canary:

Veterinary

Birds do not normally require annual veterinary visits; however, it is important to keep a close eye on your canary because signs of sickness can be very subtle. Many human illnesses can be transmitted to canaries, so when someone in the household is not feeling well, keep them away from the canary. Be sure to choose a veterinarian that specializes in birds. Specialized veterinarians sometimes charge higher rates.

Grooming

Most canaries love to take a bath but do not require professional grooming services. There are special bathtubs that may be purchased for your canary to bathe in. Once your bird has had its bath, do not leave the bathtub in the cage for more than half an hour. Canaries molt during the summer.

Animal Sitter

A professional pet sitter, a friend or neighbor can care for your canary in your absence.

Food

The cost to feed your canary will depend on its food, but most bags of canary seed cost less than $10.

Other Supplies:

Generally, a canary will require a cage (square or rectangular), a cage stand, treats, toys, a cage cover, perches, a water bottle, seed and a food dish, gravel and a dish, a cuttlebone, and a bathtub.

Interesting Facts about Canaries:

• Canaries came from the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa.
• Canaries love the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
• Coal miners took caged canaries into the mines, as the birds are highly sensitive to methane gases and carbon monoxide. If the canary stopped singing that was a warning the air was not healthy for a bird or people to breathe.
• There is a breed of canary called Lizard, as the plumage has a scale pattern similar to a lizard’s skin.
• Canaries sing with their beaks closed.