Your canary is depending on YOU to provide all his needs and wants.

So come along with me now and lets take a look at CanaryAdvisor.com's helpful articles.

• You'll discover how proper canary care can get your pet canary bird into strong physical shape and develop a healthy confident attitude.
   
• Plus proper feeding for optimal nutrition, the right snack foods to offer...and what foods can kill him. Also, false information your pet shop attendant may be giving you...
   
• I'll reveal hard-to-find details about...
  ...where to snag the best deals on cages, supplies, and canary bird food. 
   
• I'll point you to great websites where you can search for a canary for sale.
   
• And learn to read your pet birds body language...What is he trying to tell you?
• Sick bird? You must act quickly!

Just click on one of the links below and discover canary bird care that will help you become "family" to your pet canary bird.

What Is A Canary?

Really?  I mean...really?

OK, I'm just playing around a little.  We all know what a canary is right?

You and I both know that a canary is a small domesticated pet bird with a beautiful song.

But the reason I ask, "What is a canary?" is because there is a whole lot more to canaries than most people realize.

• The canary is a passerine bird belonging the Finch family.  Yep, it's a finch.
• It's exact name is the Atlantic Canary (Serinus Canaria).
  
  

Where Does The Canary Come From?

The wild Atlantic Canary is native to Africa...more specifically to the Canary Islands.  Makes sense.

Early Spanish explorers began capturing the birds and selling them back on the mainland as pets.

From there, pet canaries drifted into Italy and other parts of Europe and Asia.  And eventually around the entire world.  There are even tropical canaries being bred in Alaska just south of the Arctic circle!

***Did you know that there are Canary Dogs also? They're the Canary Mastiff from the Canary Islands. They're HUUUGE...

What Do Canary Birds Look Like?

The original non-domesticated wild canary is actually more green than yellow.  And actually looks a bit like a green sparrow with dark markings like a sparrow.

Over the centuries new breeds were developed with many different sounding songs and colors.

Wild Canary

Today's domesticated pet canary can be found in a variety of colors and with a variety of markings and physical attributes.

• White, blue, orange, red.  
• Plain, spotted, speckled.  
• Smooth or fluffy.  
• Short or tall.
• Skinny or round.
  
  

How Big Do Canaries Get?

The wild Atlantic Canary bird usually measures about 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12 cm) head to tail with a wingspan of about 9 inches (22 cm).  And weighs in at a little under 1 ounce.

Domesticated canary birds can be slightly smaller or larger than that depending on the breed.

Why Do People Keep Canaries?

There are lots of little birds to be found around the world but none of them sing like the canary.

So, Reason #1: Their incredible song.

But, also, they are easily kept and bred.  They do well in captivity when provided good canary care.

Thousands of breeders earth-wide love to breed selectively for different song styles, colors, sizes, and shapes.

Canary Varieties

What Do Canary Birds Eat?

The wild canary eats small insects, seeds, sprouted seeds, and grasses.

The domesticated variety do well on a seed mix usually containing canary grass seed, rape seed, Niger seed, and millet.

Pet canaries are also usually given boiled egg for protein and fat.  

Fruits and veggies round out a good pet canary diet...berries, apple, strawberry, broccoli, dark green lettuces, and spinach.

Whole grains such as rice, corn, and oatmeal are fed occasionally in small amounts.

A variety of whole foods is an important part of good canary care.

Dr. Harvey's Incredible Canary Blend, Natural Food for Canaries (4 pounds)

Nemeth Farms Worlds Freshest Sun-Dried Spray - Non-GMO and Pesticide Free (No Stems Only Edible Tops) - Healthy Bird Treat and Supplement for All Pet Birds Keets Cockatiels Finches - 1lb

Quiko Classic Egg Food Supplement For All Birds, 1.1 Lb. Pouch

Raff Delicate Rosso Red Plumage Enhancing Paste for Canaries & Granivorous Birds with Honey and Carrots,Red Factor Poultry Egg Food 500g

Higgins 3 Pack of Sunburst Soak n' Sprout Seeds with Quinoa for Small Birds, 3 Ounces Each

UnRuffledRx FeatherUp! Bird Vitamins with Biotin for Beautiful Plumage - Feather Growth Supplements for Parrots - 90 gm - 240 Servings

Do Canaries Like People?

The pet canary bird is generally fearful of it's owners.  

But if handled when young, and regularly, can become very relaxed and friendly around people.  Some have been trained to come when called and to eat out of hands.

Does A Pet Canary Need A Partner?

Nope.

A household canary can do quite well in a cage by himself.

Would he be happier with other canaries around?  Probably.

I often recommend a canary owner get a Canary Song CD or buy a second bird and cage to be placed at the opposite end of the room...or in a nearby room where they can sing and chirp to each other.

***Two or more canaries in a small cage often fight and peck each other.  Plus, it usually stops a canary from singing.  Not good canary care.

Do All Canaries Sing?

Nuh-uh. Typically, only the mature male canary sings.  The hen usually just chirps.

However, there are some hens who have been known to sing almost as good as the males...I'd say around 10% of females will sing.

The males will start singing at sexual maturity which is at around 9 months of age.

Then, at middle age, around 7 or 8 years of age the singing will slow and eventually stop as male hormones decline.

These are just general rules...Many canaries continue to sing beyond 10 years of age.

How Long Do Canaries Live?

It's a pretty big window of time...

To the great disappointment of canary lovers everywhere, canaries will often die with little warning, and with seemingly no reason, under 3 years of age. Even with great canary care provided.

But others will live on into their teens.  I've even heard reports of canaries living to near 20 years of age.

On average, you can expect your canary to live to around 10 years of age.

***Unfortunately, irresponsible in-breeding often causes canaries to be born with health issues that sometimes result in early death.

Are Canaries Hard To Take Care Of?

Not at all.

They just need a home with a stable temperature, some fresh seed and water each day, and they'll usually do quite well.

You can even give your canary a multi-day supply of seed and water and take a short vacation.

Some other things your pet canary bird might like...

• To be let out of the cage for a few minutes each day for some exercise.
• A small amount of fruit, veggie, or boiled egg as a snack daily.
• A cage that is kept clean of droppings and old food.
• A home where he won't be harassed by cats, dogs, or children.
• A smoke-free and chemical-free home.
  
  

Prevue Pet Products Wrought Iron Flight Cage with Stand, Chalk White (F047)

Yaheetech Flight Bird Cage Iron Parrot Cage w/Detachable Rolling Stand for Budgies Parakeets Cockatiels Conures Finches Lovebirds Canaries

55" X-Large with 3/8-Inch Tight Bar Spacing for Multiple Flight Bird Aviary Budgie Canary Finches Breeding Home Cage with Removable Rolling Stand

Prevue Hendryx Breeder Cage, White, 1/2" (SPF060)

Dr. Harvey's Incredible Canary Blend, Natural Food for Canaries (4 pounds)

Prevue Pet Products Wrought Iron Flight Cage with Stand, Chalk White (F047)

Kenond No Mess Bird Feeder Water Dispenser Set, Automatic Parrot Feeder Cage Accessories, Acrylic Parakeet Seed Food Feeder Drinker for Cage, Cockatiel Squirrel Finch Lovebirds Budgies Canary

Nemeth Farms Worlds Freshest Sun-Dried Spray - Non-GMO and Pesticide Free (No Stems Only Edible Tops) - Healthy Bird Treat and Supplement for All Pet Birds Keets Cockatiels Finches - 1lb

What Is 'Molting'?

MOLTING is the process of shedding last year's old feathers and then growing new feathers to replace them.

Hard to believe but canaries have over 2000 feathers that need to be regrown in a period of about 2 months.

It happens once each year with canaries.

The molt starts after breeding and raising their young chicks.  That's around mid-summer (end of June, start of July).  It lasts about 2 months or more.

This is a strenuous time for canary birds.  Growing all those feathers takes a lot of energy.  

Your canary will become listless, restful, and will likely stop singing during this time.

What Else Should I Know About Pet Canary Care?

Here are few more tips to help you provide great canary care...

1.  Pet canaries are three-season animals.  Spring is for breeding and raising young. Summer and Fall is for molting...losing and growing new feathers. Winter is time to rest and recuperate while getting ready to breed again in the spring.

***No, you don't have to breed your canaries. But you do need to regulate their seasons by covering their cage at sundown and uncovering at sunrise.

2.  Pet canary birds are light sensitive...Their hormones, and their 3 seasons, are regulated by the number of daylight hours they're exposed to.

In the summer their days can be as high as 16 hours long.  But in the winter should be no more that about 10 hours long.

3.  Canaries have sensitive respiratory systems.  Smoke, fumes, and chemicals can irritate and even permanently damage their airways...potentially resulting in death.

4.  You can get a breeding pair and raise babies.  This is too much fun.  But it doesn't always go perfectly.

If all this sounds complicated, don't fret.  It's much easier than it sounds.  And more canary keepers have success than those that fail.

So, if you've read this far (and you have), it's obvious that you're interested in having a pet canary.

Do it!  Try it!

Good things can happen.

Canary Care FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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