The Canary Blues

by Nadine
(Grove City, PA)

Hi,

I rescued a canary that had to have a leg amputated because a breeder put his band on too tight. He was to replace the canary I had for twelve years; his name was Chipper.

I got a cage large enough for him to exercise his wings and bought special perches that are easy for him to perch on.

He came with a plastic nest lined with soft felt where he spends most of his time. I used the American Singer Canary Song CD to teach him how to sing just like I taught Chipper.

I've always had canaries, but Beaker, (that's what I named him) had the prettiest song of all.

Everything was going just fine until he went through his first molt.

It just so happened that at the same time he started molting, I bought a small mirror with a bell on the bottom to entertain him. He loved the mirror.

I put it close to his nest and he used to stand on his one leg and prop the little stump he has on the rim of the nest for balance. He would play all day, but then he stopped singing.

The molting stage is over now, but he still isn't singing and I don't know why.

I feel so bad for him. All he does is sit in his nest and look at himself in his mirror. He doesn't even talk to the mirror anymore.

Do you have any suggestions?

Nadine