The Care of Canaries

Rectangular cages with room to fly are a good option for housing canaries.

Canaries are small, colorful songbirds that are often kept as pets. They are much less demanding than most types of pet birds, making them easier to keep, especially if you are a beginner bird owner. These birds stay small, growing only to between 4 and 8 inches. They are known as bird-oriented birds, meaning they get along with birds more comfortably than humans. Therefore, they demand little attention. However, a canary requires a few basic things to remain healthy and happy.

Things You'll Need

• Canary cage
• Bird perches
• Bird substrate or bedding
• One small shallow bowl
• One large shallow bowl
• Varied canary food
• Canary vitamins
• Mineral block or cuttlebone

Instructions

1. Provide the canary with a large cage. This cage can be as large as you like, but should be between 16 and 20 inches square as a minimum size. Since canaries need a calm environment in which to live and sleep, place the cage in a quiet room in the house, away from loud noises or interruptions. The cage should be off the ground, at about eye level, and should be next to a wall so the bird feels secure. It should also be away from any drafty or sunny areas that could change the temperature too drastically for the canary.

2. Place several bird perches inside the cage so the canary can sit comfortably. These can be purchased at a pet store, or you can use natural branches. The bark on the branches will help to keep the canary's claws trimmed. The branches should be between 3/8 and 3/4 inches around.

3. Spread a substrate, such as torn newspaper or pine shavings, on the bottom of the cage to catch the bird droppings.

4. Place a shallow bowl in the cage and fill it with fresh water daily, so that the canary has enough to drink. You can place another, slightly larger water dish on the cage bottom so that the canary can bathe. This dish should also be shallow.

5. Feed the canary about 1 tsp. of seed every day. There are many different prepared canary seeds blends available that you can choose from. Canaries very rarely overeat, so don't worry about giving too much food.

6. Supplement the canary's seed food with other treats of fresh fruit and vegetables. This includes things like kale, peas, cucumbers, spinach, apples and oranges. Giving fruit and vegetables provides beneficial vitamins, as well as varying the canary's diet, keeping it interested in eating.

7. Provide canary vitamin supplements if you or your veterinarian feel your canary is not getting enough. Many prepared seeds have vitamins in them, so you may not have to supply extra nutrients.

8. Place a mineral block or cuttlebone in the canary's cage. These minerals will ensure that the canary has a strong beak, as well as aid in digestion.

9. Clean the canary's cage at least once a week. Wash the food, water and bathing dishes, as well as the perches. Remove the substrate and replace it with clean bedding.

References

• The Canary's Nest; Basic Pet Canary Care; Marvin B. Walton
• Animal World: Canary Care; Clarice Brough