Canary Information
The canary originates from Madeira and the Canary Islands. They are a small songbird from the finch family. There are three main types of canary, Colorbred canary - bred for their colours, Type Canary - bred for their shape and conformation, and Song Canary - bred for their unique song patterns. Canaries generally live between 5-6 years plus dependant on breed and grow between 4-8 inches in length. Some important requirements that should be followed can be found below.
● A sufficiently sized aviary or cage which if outside requires nesting boxes to protect them from the elements.
● A constant supply of clean water to drink and extra for bathing.
● A well balanced diet including 1-2 teaspoons daily of bird pellets and regular bite sized treats of fruit, salad and vegetables. Canaries also need a cuttlefish bone to peck at and need some mineral grit to aid digestion.
● Branches, toys and a mirror to provide entertainment for the birds. A wooden perch for each bird is also required for sleeping. Canaries require bark covered twigs to perch on so they can grip.
● Canaries dont like to be handled too much so its best for them to have room to fly in their cage and make sure its cage is cleaned out on a regular basis.
● Check the canary's beak and claws in case they need clipping and take to a vet if required.
● Check the bird regularly for any illnesses and take to the vet if they seem under the weather. If a canary is pulling its feathers out it is probably because its bored or stressed. Try to ensure your canary has lots of toys and space in which to live.
More information...
The male canary is the bird which sings. They do this to attract a female. If 2 canaries are kept together then the male wont sing and they also dont sing during the summer as this is their molting period. If they stop singing at other times then this could suggest an illness in the bird and vet advice should be seeked. A cage for a canary should have dimensions of 12 inches X 12 inches X 15 inches. This is a minimum but if many birds are kept then a bigger cage will be required. The most famous canary known is the cartoon character called "Tweety Pie" created by Warner Bros. Canaries used to be used by miners as an early warning indication of poisonous gases. The miners would take a canary into the shafts as a visual and audiable sign and if the bird died then they knew that they had to evacuate. The use of canaries was phased out as recent as 1987.
Canary products...
There are many suppliers of a variety of products for Canaries. We have analysed several online retailers and have located some usual and unique products available for you pet canary. If any of these interest you, follow this link and see what else these sites can offer!