My Canary Won't Sing After Molting

Canaries, male birds especially, are renowned for their beautiful song. However, canaries change plumage, or molt, once a year and during this time neither male nor female birds sing.

Molting

Molting in canaries usually takes place during the summer and lasts for between six and eight weeks. If molting lasts longer than eight weeks, it may be that your canary has some kind of feather or skin disorder and you should consult a veterinary surgeon.

Appetite

During molting a canary may eat more or less than normal, depending on its comfort level. Molting can be stressful and uncomfortable for a bird, but, equally, the production of new feathers requires an increase in metabolism.

Diet

Molting canaries benefit from a protein-rich and fat-rich diet, which can include well cooked beans, rice, eggs, meat and seafood. At the end of molting, birds can be given flax, hemp or niger seeds to encourage them to start singing again.

References

• Avian Web: Canaries