Canaries love to fly and sing, although given their solitary nature it can be difficult to get them to play. But if you can give your canary a happy home, he can certainly enjoy himself. Encourage him to fly as much as possible, both inside the cage and outside. Resist the temptation to get him a mate or mate, as canaries are better off in solitude.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make the Cage a Fun Space
Step 1. Make sure the cage is large enough
Canaries may be small, but they need spacious cages to flap their wings, jump and fly as they please. The right cage for a canary should be at least 40cm tall and 75cm wide.
Avoid round cages - the canary will have less room to fly and it may be difficult to hang perches
Step 2. Place the cage in a heavily used area of the house
Canaries are very active birds and your little bird will happily interact with your family. Keep it in an interesting place, such as the living room or office area.
- As much as canaries enjoy watching humans, many of them don't like being touched. Let the canary observe you, but try not to annoy it.
- Place the cage in a spot that is bright but not in direct sunlight, and that is well ventilated but out of drafts from windows or air ducts.
- Place the cage about 1.80 meters from the floor. You can hang it or place it on a stand.
Step 3. Add a set of perches to the cage to encourage the canary to fly
He will be delighted to be able to jump from one perch to another. Place the perches at various heights, so that the canary has different possible flight paths.
- Choose perches that have a diameter between 10 and 20 mm.
- Place perches of different thickness in the cage - it will reduce paw problems.
Step 4. Put some toys in the cage
Canaries don't need as many toys as other birds; however, having some interesting objects available keeps them active. Avoid cramming the cage; two or three games are enough and advance. Toys suitable for canaries are:
- Mirrors.
- Plastic balls.
- Swings.
- Twigs with leaves.
- Bells.
- Balls of vine shoots.
- Intertwined ropes.
Step 5. Put a bath tub in the cage
You can attach a bird tub to the cage wall or tuck a small bowl of fresh water inside. Your canary will be able to cool off in the water whenever it feels the need.
- If the canary doesn't want to use the tub, try gently spraying it with a spray bottle filled with fresh water.
- Change the water in the tub every day.
Method 2 of 3: Let it fly into the house
Step 1. Make sure the room is safe
Some precautions will make your canary's flight safer: choose a room with little furniture; turn off the fans; make sure all windows and doors are closed; check that there are no exposed wires that it could nibble on.
- Cover mirrors and windows so the canary doesn't hit you.
- As long as the canary is free, do not allow other larger animals, such as cats and dogs, to enter the room.
- Do not keep toxic plants in the room. These include avocado, foxglove, lilies and tomato plants.
Step 2. Open the cage
The canary could go out of its own accord; if he doesn't, place a perch outside the cage to encourage him to come out. He will be happy to fly around the room until he gets tired or hungry.
Step 3. Watch the canary
You should stay in the room as long as it is free. While your canary is exploring the environment, do a quiet activity, such as reading a book or surfing the internet.
Step 4. Convince the canary to re-enter the cage by luring it with food
After about 30 minutes, he will probably be hungry. Put some fresh food in the cage and wait for it to come back on its own. Once the canary is inside, slowly approach and close the cage before it flies away again.
- Don't move too fast - the canary may see you and run away.
- Do not feed him outside the cage, or it may become difficult to get him back.
Step 5. Capture the canary with a net if necessary
Canaries can be difficult to catch with your hands; in case he does not intend to return to the cage, use a bird net to catch your bird. Move the screen slowly to gently trap it. Once caught in the net, gently take it in your hands and return it to the cage.
To catch it easier, you can try dimming the lights to make it believe it is night and make it stop flying. Do not completely darken the room, however, as it could get hurt
Method 3 of 3: Keep Company of the Canary
Step 1. Spend time with your canary
While canaries don't really like being hand-held by humans, that doesn't mean they can't enjoy their company anyway. Engage in a quiet activity while in the same room with your canary. If it's a boy, he might even start singing for you!
Step 2. Play some recordings of canaries singing
Your canary may need to be taught to sing. The best way to do this is to let him listen to other canaries. You can use CDs or videos. You might even catch him replying to tapes.
Male canaries sing regularly; females, on the other hand, do so much more infrequently
Step 3. Avoid providing your canary with a mate or mate if they live in a cage
Canaries can be very territorial in confined spaces. If you keep the canary in a cage and not an aviary, it is best to leave it alone.
