Canary Care

Canary Facts

Canaries make wonderful companions if cared for properly. Male canaries over 6 months should sing for most of the day. Female canaries chirp but will never sing, no matter the age.

There are 18 different types of canaries you can own but the yellow canary is the most common.  Canaries are available in white, red, orange, and even with a variety of colors and patterns including the Lizard Canary, and German Roller Canary

The average canary life span is 10 – 15 years.

Canaries are small birds. They should be between 3 – 4 inches from head to tail. They will reach full size at 12 months.

Canaries are diurnal meaning they’re awake during the day.

Feeding

Canaries are omnivores meaning they eat both plants and meat.   Pelleted foods are important for canaries. Pelleted food should make up 70% of a canaries diet with fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of protein making up the other 30%.

Safe Fruits: Apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, coconut, fig, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, melons, mango, nectarines, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, raspberries, and strawberries

Careful feeding canaries citrus fruits as it can give them TOO much iron causing “iron overload disease”

Safe Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, chic peas, chicory, corn, cucumber, dandelion, leaves, kale, kidney beans, lentils,  lima beans, mustard seed, navy beans,  parsnip, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, romaine lettuce, soy beans, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnip tops, watercress, and zucchini

Protein: Boiled eggs, egg shell, and alfalfa sprouts

Do not leave eggs in the cage for over 4 hours, Only offer enough food for your canary to eat in one sitting.

Cuttlebone, pellets, and fresh water should be available at all times.

Millet can be offered as a treat.

Grit should be added to the pellets to help canaries digest food and provide them with more vitamins.

Housing

Provide your canary with the largest possible cage.

Minimum cage size is 18Wx18Hx18L with bars 3/8” apart.

Canaries need long cages instead of tall cages since they fly side to side instead of up and down, flight cages are strongly recommended for canaries.

Canaries need a variety of perches. It’s best to provide your bird with different size perches. Different size perches help stretch birds’ feet and prevent arthritis.

Provide one nest per bird. Canaries prefer open nests.

Canaries like a variety of toys as long as they don’t obstruct flight. Toys should not have lead, zinc, or galvanized parts because they can cause medical problems in canaries.

Cages need to be placed away from drafts, heater vents, and open windows.

Cover the cage at night to prevent drafts, keep the birds warm, and keep them on a timed schedule.

Cages should never be placed in a kitchen as Teflon, smoke, and strong odors can be deadly to them.

Cages, perches, and toys should be disinfected once a month. Food and water bowls should be cleaned daily or as needed.

Behavior & Grooming

Canaries like attention but don’t typically enjoy being handled. Talking and whistling to your canary provides them with needed attention and socialization.

Males should not be housed together as they might fight and injure or kill each other.

Male canaries with mirrors in cages might not sing.

NEVER clip a canary’s wings. Canaries use their wings to help them move around, not just for flying.

Bathe your canary at least once a week in lukewarm water or by using a spray bottle.

Toenails need to kept short or canaries can injure their feet and legs.  Exotic vets will trim nails or you can do it by yourself.  Research how to trim nails before doing it. Be careful not to hit the quick as small animals can easily bleed to death. Bleeding can by stopped with styptic powder. If that doesn’t stop the bleeding you can light a match, blow it out, and immediately press the match onto the toenail to cauterize the bleeding.