All you will need to know about Canaries in captivity and buying Canaries

Chances are that you are reading this article because you want to buy a Canary as a pet or you already own a Canary and you would like to gift this beautiful creature to someone who loves birds. The Canary is absolutely stunning to look at and can entertain its owners for many years due to its perky nature and ability to sing songs and hence is a popular choice for many bird keepers and since the Canary has limited needs its can make a good pet for people who do not have too much time to dedicate to their pet. This article will guide you through the various aspects of keeping Canaries in captivity and Buying Canaries.

Canaries in captivity

The wild Canary Serinus canaria is basically yellow – green in color with brownish streaks on its back and is native to the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira. This bird weights 15 – 20 grams and is 12.5 centimeters long with a wing span of 20 – 23 centimeters.

Domesticated canaries were bred from the Serinus canaria in the 16th Century and were brought to Europe by Spanish sailors. Canaries in captivity can be divided into 3 categories each being special in their own way. Colorbred Canaries are bred for their many color mutations, Type Canaries are bred for their shape and Song Canaries are bred for their ability to sing songs and hum specific tunes.

A Canary can live up to 10 years under optimum conditions and while buying a Canary the buyer should be prepared for such a commitment. Canaries do not require to be kept in pairs and it is possible to keep a single Canary happy with adequate toys and exercise. If you decide to get more than 1 Canary then do not purchase 2 male Canaries as males rarely co exist happily.

Although Canaries are not demanding birds they do have a few basic requirements that are mentioned below.

Housing – The cage should be big enough for the Canary to fly in and the length of the cage should not be smaller than 24 inches for the smaller varieties and 36 inches for the bigger varieties. If you decide to keep more than 1 Canary then you may want to consider a flight type cage that allows the birds to fly inside the cage and Canaries kept in flight cages should have intact wings in order to allow them to fly. The cage should have multiple perches for the Canaries to sit on and the perches should be made from natural wood so that the Canaries can peck on the perches which keep their beaks healthy and trimmed and the wooden perches also ensure that their nails stay trimmed. Avoid using sand paper or pumice stone perches as they tend to irritate the feet of the bird. The spacing between the bars should not be more than 1/2 an inch as a cage with more bar spacing can lead to injuries. Wire cages are the most popular choice for keeping Canaries as these cages are easy to clean and maintain.

Temperature and Lighting – The cage should be kept at room temperature and away from drafts, air conditioning systems and windows with too much sunlight. The cage should be covered at nights to allow the Canary to sleep in peace and the cover should be lifted once the sun is out. Artificial light is not needed for Canaries and diffused sunlight is sufficient.

Food - The basic diet of the Canary comprises of Canary seeds with a combination of rape seeds and hemp seeds. Lettuce, chickweed, coriander and slices of apple and tomato should be given to the Canary once a day. Boiled eggs cut into tiny pieces can be given once a week and wheat bread crumbs can also be given occasionally. There should be a constant supply of cuttle bone as cuttle bone is the richest source of calcium. The food given to the Canary should be fresh and not musty as this can lead to Alfa toxins poisoning. Excessive packaged treats should not be given to a Canary as they can put on weight due to the high sugar content in the treats. Fresh sprouts are an ideal source of proteins for your Canaries and since sprouts are also rich in other essential nutrients they should be given at least twice a week to your beloved Canaries.

Water - Canaries are small birds and require constant supply of fresh and clean water and the water should be changed twice a day. The water dish should be thoroughly cleaned with diluted soap at least once a day and scrubbed with a brush twice a week. Avoid adding liquid vitamins in the water as this can lead to a bacterial bloom which causes a host of illnesses in the bird.

Toys – Toys are very essential for a health Canary as they provide both mental and physical stimulation and can prevent behavioral problems such as plucking feathers or self mutilation. If the Canary is caged all the time then toys are all the more important as toys enable a caged Canary to exercise. The cage should not be cluttered with toys and there should be enough space for flying and moving about. The toys should be swapped on a regular basis to prevent boredom and the toys should be replaced when they are worm out. While using toys made out of cotton rope ensure that the toy is repaired or replaced when the rope frays or unwinds. Frayed and unwounded rope can lead to accidents.

Grooming – Canaries require a frequent bath to free their feathers from dust and to allow the oil gland based at the base of the vent to work properly. A spraying bottle can be used to spray small amounts of water on the Canary. Alternatively a shallow dish filled with water can be kept inside the cage to allow the Canary to soak himself in water. The dish should not be deep due to the small size of the Canary. The water provided should not be too hot or too cold and should be adjusted according to the outside climate.

Training- Canaries are timid birds that can be taught to accept food from your hand and even perch on your hand. While training a Canary it is important to train in short sessions and always end on a good note. You should approach the Canary slowly and confidently and talk or instruct the Canary in a gentle but firm voice. Tempting the Canary with its favorite treats is a great way to win the bird’s confidence. Training sessions should be conducted on a one on one basis and training multiple birds at the same time can confuse all the birds. A Canary should never be tapped on the beak with fingers as they are small and can be easily hurt. An owner should not hit the furniture with a rolled newspaper or any other object in an attempt to catch the bird’s attention as this can scare the bird. Canaries respond well to their owner’s voice and a firm No is all it takes to stop undesired behavior. Desired behavior should be encouraged by verbal approval and treats may be given to encourage the behavior.

Buying a Canary

After reading about the various requirements of the Canary it is time to know about type of Canary you would like to keep as a pet. Since each buyer has a specific mental image of the Canary he wants to keep as a pet it is important to buy a Canary that matches all his expectations. Listed below are the details of the 3 groups of domesticated Canaries.

The Colorbred Canary group comprises of 22 sub species each known for their distinctive color and pattern. The Colorbred Canary group includes the Green Canary, Eumo, Onxy, Albino, Yellow Melanin, Yellow Lipochrome, Phaeo, Ino, Satinet, Fawn, Red Factor Melanin, Red Factor Lipochrome, Isabel Series, Agate Series, Dominant White, Recessive White, Silver Factor, Pastel Factor, Ivory Factor, Dimorphic Factor, Blue Factor, Opal Factor and Cinnamon varieties. The Melanin, Red and Fawn Varieties are the most popular versions of Canaries in Captivity and the Dimorphic variety is preferred by many bird keepers due to the visual sexual difference between the male and female Canaries. The Sex linked genes of the Dimorphic Factor enables a person to visually differentiate the sex of the birds and the Mosaic Canary belongs to this sub category.

The Type Canary group comprises of 11 sub species each known for their unique body shape and size. The Border Canary is a selectively bred bird that stands at a 60 degree angle while the Fife Canary is a miniature Border Canary that is no bigger than 4.5 inches. The Gloster Canary is the result of selectively breeding the Border Canary and the Crested Roller Canary while the Yorkshire Canary is the result of selectively breeding a combination of the Lancashire, Belgium and Norwich Canaries. Similarly the Norwich Canary is selectively bred for its large bulky size while the Parisian Canary is selectively bred for its frilled feathers.

The Song Canary group comprises of 4 sub species each known for their ability to sing tunes and songs. The German Roller Canary sings with its beak totally closed while the Belgium Watesrslager can imitate the sound of rolling water. The Spanish Timbrados can make metallic sounds and chattering sounds while the American Singer Canary is a combination of the Roller Canary and the Border Canary. One must remember that male Canaries sing better than female Canaries and a male Canary may not sing much during a molt. Amongst these 4 sub species the German Roller is known for its ability to mimic sounds and is the best known species of the Song Canary group. The males of the Chopper version of the Song Canary make loud sounds by keeping their beaks wide open. Gloster Canaries and American Singer Canaries are a combination of the Roller and Chopper versions and can create sounds made by both the Song Canary varieties.

While buying a Canary an owner should look out for a Canary that is active, and chirpy, has clear eyes, nostrils and the vent of the bird should be free from any build up. Often buyers are tempted to rescue birds that do not look well but one must remember that buying an ill bird can lead to infecting your other birds and the ill bird may require medical attention from a certified veterinary doctor which would means added expenses. If you are buying Canaries for breeding then you will want to inquire about the parents of the birds and a little about their genetics. Although buying Canaries that have been sexed is the best way to acquire breeding stock, these birds may be comparatively expensive. If the cost of the sexed Canaries is more than the allotted amount then you may want to buy Canaries before they have finished their baby molt as many breeders tend to sell hens as unsexed birds. If you buy the birds before they have finished their baby molt you have a better chance of purchasing male birds.

After you have decided the type of Canary you would like to purchase and you have checked the Canary to ensure that it is healthy, you have to then decide the place you want to purchase your Canary from. If you require a young Canary that has not been trained and you would like to train him yourself, you may want to locate a breeder in your area that breeds various types of Canaries. The ideal age to buy a young Canary is after the Canary has been weaned and can eat semi solid foods. Some breeders may take you around their breeding facility and educate you about the various needs of this bird. Although many people prefer commercial breeders it is possible to find backyard breeders with immense knowledge about various species of birds. Backyard breeders can be more approachable and may since they do not breed on a large scale basis they may be willing to spend some time helping you train your bird. Remember that the breeder is the only one who can answer questions about the background of the bird and you should clear all your doubts before taking the Canary home. Buying a banded bird may prove beneficial as these birds have their date of birth and place of birth on the band. Breeders can be located through online websites, your local bird shelter and through adverts in the newspaper.

Adopting an adult Canary from your local animal shelter or from someone who cannot house the bird anymore is a great way to find a bird that needs a home while saving time on basic training. Many people believe that adopted birds have behavioral problems and that is the reason the owner is giving up the bird. This is more of a myth than a fact as many bird owners give up their birds due to personal reasons like a marriage or a new job and may not have the required time to spend with the bird. Many Canaries also end up at the local animal shelter as they were gifted to a friend or a family member and the new owner could not handle the responsibility and costs involved in keeping the Canary. It is possible to encounter a few birds that may be given up due to behavioral problems but if you research properly before buying the bird then you can avoid birds with problems. One must remember that a behavioral problem is not permanent and a bird can be treated and reformed if given proper care. If you do decide to pick up a bird with a behavioral problem be prepared to spend some time winning the bird’s confidence and you may also require to spend some amount of money on medical bills. Many adopted Canaries have pleasantly surprised their owners with their ability to learn and are grateful to their owners for giving them a second chance.

Hence we can conclude that there are 3 types of Domesticated canary mainly being the Colorbred group, the type group and the sound group and the size of a Canary can vary from 4.5 inches to 8 inches depending on the type. Amongst both the sexes male Canaries are the ones to sing and mimic sounds and male Canaries may not sing during a molt. A Canary has limited requirements and a proper sized cage along with adequate toys is very essential for a health Canary. A healthy Canary should be active and perky, should not be cooped up in one end of the cage and his vent should be clear of any droppings. Canaries can be bought from Breeders or adopted from animal shelters and buying a sexed Canary can prove beneficial if you plan to breed it. Always remember that a Canary may be a small bird but is a live creature and although he may not require hours of dedication some amount of time has to be given to the bird on a daily basis to keep your pet happy.