Canaries love to live alone and keeping them is relatively cheap. They just need fresh food and space to fly, to be happy. Even if you only have one canary, it will need a large cage stocked with all the basic things for life. Give him food and water once a day and encourage him to do plenty of physical activity to keep him happy and healthy.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Hosting a Canary
Step 1. Buy a large, rectangular cage
A good canary aviary must allow them to fly back and forth many times. Get one that's at least 41cm high and 76cm wide, and the space between the bars is 1.3cm. It must be wide and deep, rather than tall, to give the bird enough room to fly.
- Don't buy an ornamental or round cage. They do not allow the canary to have enough space for flight;
- Get one made of metal, iron or painted steel.
Step 2. Find a safe area to place the cage, but one that is active at the same time
Look for a room that you occupy frequently so the canary won't feel lonely. Place it against a wall or in a corner, away from windows, doors, drafts, direct sunlight, and drafts.
- The living room, study or dining room are great places. Don't put the cage in the kitchen;
- Do not use sprays, air fresheners, furniture polish, scented candles, cigarettes in the same room where the aviary is present;
- Don't put it on the floor. It must be at least at eye level.
Step 3. Place newspaper or corn chips at the bottom of the cage
It will be easier for you to clean the canary's droppings. Replace them every day so the aviary doesn't get too dirty.
Do not use cat litter or wood shavings
Step 4. Place perches
They allow the canary to perch after the flight. Two perches in the cage will keep him active and happy. Look for them to be between 9, 5 and 19mm in diameter.
- Tree branches are excellent perches;
- Place them approximately 41 cm apart from each other. Positioned at both ends of the cage, they maximize flight space.
Step 5. Add bowls for water and food, and a baby bath
Generally, canaries need three bowls: one for food, one for water, and one for bathing. Do not put them under the perches or they could fall into them the excrement.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for the Canary
Step 1. Feed your canary a varied diet
It needs seeds, pellets, fresh fruit and leafy vegetables. You can easily find special seed and pellet mixes at pet stores. Give him a teaspoon of this mix daily.
- Among the various types of fruits and vegetables you can give to the canary are cabbage, apples, broccoli, grapes, dandelions, oranges, bananas, peas and melons.
- Hang a cuttlebone and a block of bird mineral on one side of the cage. The canary will eat them slowly and get some calcium and minerals from them.
- Never feed him avocado, it's toxic.
Step 2. Replace the water every day
Canaries need constant access to fresh water. Once a day, remove the drinking bottle from the cage. Empty it and wash it with warm soapy water. Rinse it well and dry it with a cloth before refilling it.
Step 3. Clean his cage once a week
You need to do a thorough cleaning with this frequency. Place the canary in a pet carrier. Discard the material on the bottom before scrubbing the entire aviary with warm, soapy water. Also wash the bowls and perches. Wait until everything is dry before putting it back.
The bottom of the cage and bowls should be cleaned every day
Step 4. Cover the cage at night
Canaries are sensitive to sunlight. They stay awake if they see any kind of glow. To avoid this, put a blanket or towel over the aviary when the sun goes down.
Step 5. Check for disease symptoms
Canaries have delicate lungs and are prone to parasitic diseases. Take him to a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animals if he seems to have symptoms of a medical condition.
- The most common symptoms are ruffled or thinned feathers, inactivity, discolored stools, discharge around the eyes or beak, squint.
- To find a veterinarian experienced in exotic birds, you can use the database of this site: Veterinarians Specializing in Exotic Animals
Part 3 of 3: Keeping the Canary Active
Step 1. Hang some toys in his cage
Give the canary two or three objects to play with. These animals particularly love swings; yours might also have fun with wooden balls, bells, or twigs.
Step 2. Let it fly free in a room
Open the door of the cage and let the canary fly for at least thirty minutes. After that, lure him into the aviary with some fresh food or some treats. Once inside, close the door again to keep him from coming out again.
- Close all doors and windows before releasing the canary. All mirrors and glass must be covered to prevent it from bumping into them.
- Also be sure to turn off all ceiling fans.
Step 3. Teach the male to sing
Young male canaries usually learn to sing from adult canaries, but if you only have one, you will need to teach them. To do this, he uses CDs or videos of his peers singing in nature.
It is rare, but sometimes even females can learn to sing. Usually, however, they only chirp
Step 4. Avoid picking it up
Canaries don't like being handled by humans. Just do this when you need to put him in the carrier to clean the cage, or to check if he is okay. He will be more than happy to watch you and sing for you from his aviary.
Advice
- A suitable cage and proper diet are important factors for your canary to be happy and healthy. With proper care, he will be able to live up to about 14 years.
- While it may be tempting to take another to keep them company, be aware that canaries prefer to live alone when in captivity.
