Canaries are a very beautiful and popular bird pet.
I. Appearance Characteristics
- small size: canaries are generally about 12 cm to 14 cm in length, slender and graceful.
- Brilliant feathers: their feathers are rich and varied in colour, yellow, white, orange, green, etc., and some varieties are also mottled or spotted. For example, the feathers of the orange-red trill canary are mainly orange-red, with bright and eye-catching colours; the white canary is as white as snow, giving people a kind of pure beauty.
- small beak: the canary’s beak is relatively small, conical, suitable for pecking all kinds of seeds and grains.
- Bright eyes: their eyes are usually black or brown, bright and attractive, adding a spirit to its lovely appearance.
Two, habits
- Lively and active: Canaries are very active and like to jump and fly in the cage to show their vigour. They are curious about their surroundings and often observe the movements around them.
- Pleasant singing voice: Canaries are known for their beautiful singing voice. Their song is clear and melodious, sometimes with variations, and can be mesmerising. Male canaries are usually more vocal than females, and use their song to attract the opposite sex and assert their territory.
- Diet: Canaries are vegetarian birds, feeding mainly on seeds, grains, vegetables and fruits. When keeping them, you can provide them with specialised canary feed and also add some fresh vegetables and fruits as appropriate to ensure their nutritional balance.
- Social: Although canaries can be kept individually, they also have a certain social nature. If multiple canaries are kept, they will communicate and play with each other to increase the fun of life.
III. Key Points for Breeding
- Breeding environment:
- Cage: Choosing a suitable cage is an important step in keeping canaries. The size of the cage should be determined by the number and size of the canaries. Generally speaking, each canary needs a space of at least 20cm x 20cm x 30cm. The cage can be made of metal or plastic, which should be sturdy and durable, as well as well ventilated.
- Location: Place the cage in a well-ventilated area that receives plenty of sunlight but avoids direct sunlight. Avoid placing the cage in a damp, noisy or smelly place such as a windy place, kitchen or bathroom.
- Cleaning: Clean the cage regularly to maintain a hygienic environment. Remove faeces and food residues daily and thoroughly clean and disinfect the cage once a week.
- Dietary nutrition:
- Staple food: Provide high quality canary feed and ensure that the feed is fresh and free from deterioration. The feed should contain various nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals.
- Supplementary food: Some fresh vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, green vegetables and apples, can be added appropriately to supplement vitamins and fibre. However, care should be taken to control the amount to avoid overfeeding leading to indigestion.
- Water: Provide fresh and clean drinking water, change the water every day and keep it clean.
- Daily care:
- Bathing: Canaries love to bathe, you can place a shallow basin in the cage, add the right amount of warm water and let the canaries bathe themselves. Bathing can help them keep their feathers clean and healthy.
- Trimming Feathers: If the canary’s feathers are too long or damaged, you can trim them appropriately. However, be careful to have it done by a professional to avoid cutting the canary.
- Health check: Regularly observe the health condition of the canary, such as the mental state, appetite and faeces. If any abnormality is found, consult your veterinarian promptly.
All in all, canaries are beautiful and lovely bird pets. As long as you provide the right breeding environment, diet and care, they can live a healthy and happy life and bring you endless joy.
