Canary Care Guide
Get to Know Your Canary
Basic Information
Common Name
Canary
Scientific Name
Serinus canaria domestica
Distribution
Canary Islands/ Europe
Size
4”- 8”
Life span
5 - 15 years
Checklist for Your Canary
Essential Items
Cage
Cage liner & litter
Perch – Wood, Ropes
Food
Spray millet
Feeder cups for food & water
Treats
Bird bath
Ladders & swings
Mite repellent
Cuttlebone
Everything your Canary needs, all in one place.
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Feeding Your Canary
Food & Water
- Fresh water daily
- Canary seed
- 25% seed, 75% pellet
- Fresh dark leafy greens
- Collard greens, Spinach, Kale, Watercress, Turnip Greens etc.
- Fresh Fruits
- Berries, Apples, Guava, Nectarines, Bananas, Pears, Pineapple etc.
- Spray Millet
- Treats should not exceed 10% of their food intake
Safe to Feed
Prepackaged bird treats
Avoid
Chocolate & other candy
Onions
Avocados
Highly salted foods
Canary Habitat
Caging & Environment
- Canaries can be housed in any cage that features ½” bar spacing.
- They must have several perches (preferably made of different materials – wood, rope, etc.). A variety of perches in diameter will support your canaries’ feet, which will prevent pressure sores.
- Do not overcrowd the cage as the canary must have space to fly around for exercise.
- Provide a water cup, seed/pellet cup, and fresh food cup as well as a cuttlebone. Cuttlebones provide extra calcium and will help keep your birds beak trim.
- Canaries do not need toys however they will enjoy a swing and use their beak to tap on the bell. A canary may enjoy a mirror. They will either like it or attack it.
- Watch out for fumes. Place the canary cage in a safe place with clean fresh air to breathe. Overheated non-stick surfaces containing Teflon, such as those found on cookware, drip pans, irons, and self-cleaning ovens, can emit odorless fumes that are rapidly fatal to birds. Birds have sensitive respiratory systems, keep this in mind when finding the best place for your parakeet.
Cleaning
- Spot clean your cage daily.
- Replace substrate or liners weekly.
- Deep clean monthly. Move your canary to a secure place away from your cleaning space (preferably a travel carrier or small cage for birds). Clean all bowls, toys, and perches. Wooden perches must be scrubbed gently with a brush (do not wet). Do not use cleaning agents around your bird.
- Thoroughly dry the habitat and ensure it is odor free before returning your bird.
- Replace worn toys, dishes and perches as needed.
- Monthly is the best time to rotate toys.
Handling Your Canary
Behavior & Handling
- The canary is popular for singing. The male canary especially can be very vocal.
- Canaries enjoy being around people however not being handled the same way you would handle a parrot.
- Canaries are social birds and will do well in an Aviary. They will also be fine by themselves. Do not house two males together in a cage as it is likely they will fight.
- Canary nails grow long. Use sandy perches or perch covers to prevent overgrowth. Make sure to find a Vet or Service that will be able to trim your birds’ nails.
- Most pet birds are diurnal species, meaning that they get up at dawn and settle in to sleep at dusk. Most birds do best with 10-12 hours of sleep a night. Cover the birds cage at night. Exposing companion birds to artificially long days via household lights or televisions can result in sleep deprivation.
- Your bird needs a bath. Bathing your bird is important to its feathers, skin, and sinuses. Some birds prefer bath bowls while others prefer to be misted. Experiment with both to find out what your bird enjoys. Birds should be bathed one to two times weekly.
- Never clip a canary’s wings, they must have flight for exercise.
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