Canaries are well known for their beauty and varied colors. These members of the
finch family have been domesticated since the 1400’s. Male canaries are popular
for their sweet singing. Canaries do well when kept singly or in a male/female or
female/female pairs.
Average Size
3-4 inches in length
Life span
10+ years with proper care.
Feeding
Specialized pelleted diets are highly recommended and should consist of 60%-70% of the diet. If your bird is used to a seed diet, convert to pellets gradually; fresh pellets or seeds and fresh, clean, chlorine free water should always be available.
Give fresh fruits and vegetables daily; discard uneaten food before it spoils; finches appreciate quality and variety in their food.
Housing
A cage approximately 24” W x 14” D x 18” H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 3/8” apart, makes a good home for up to 3 finches; as with all animals, it is best to provide the largest habitat possible.
Perches should be at least 3” long and ½” in diameter; a variety of perch sizes and materials 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 cage paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches.
Maintenance
Provide filtered, chlorine-free, lukewarm water regularly for bathing and remove the water when done; as an alternative, mist the bird with water or a grooming spray. Nails should be trimmed by a qualified person to prevent injury to the bird.
Clean and disinfect the cage and perches regularly; replace substrate or cage liner weekly or more often if needed; replace food and water daily.
Replace perches, dishes and toys when worn or damaged. Always wash your hands after touching your bird and cage.
Temps
Birds acclimate well to average household temperatures; be cautious of extreme temperature change; cage should be placed off the floor in an area that is well-lit and away from drafts.
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Humidity
No special requirements
Lighting
Well lit rooms.
Water & Accessories
Install a bird bath, food and water dishes and a variety of perches. Also include toys for your canary to play with. Don’t forget about adding treats and grit as well.
BASIC REPRODUCTIVE INFORMATION
Consider canaries if you want to raise pets in your own home. Unlike dogs and cats, there is no surplus of unwanted cage birds. If you decide to breed canaries, my best advice is to read a book about breeding them because there is more you should know than can be covered in an article. However, I will go over some basics.
Obviously, you need to start with a male and a female. This is not always simple because it is difficult to determine the sex of canaries by appearance. Most males sing and most females don't, but there are exceptions both ways. The only way to be 100% sure is to buy older birds from a breeder who has already bred them once. Ask for a "proven" hen who was a good mother and you will avoid disappointment.
Canaries are only fertile when the length of the day is increasing to about 12 hours. This naturally happens in the spring. The birds must also have adequate nutrition which should include animal protein such as hard-boiled eggs. It is crucial to provide a cuttlebone or similar source of calcium for the hen to eat.
Canaries are territorial and each pair needs its own cage. If the hen fights with the male, she is not ready and they should be separated. For convenience, many breeders use a double cage with a removable wire partition. When you observe them "kissing" through the bars, you can remove the partition and see if they are compatible.
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