The Dangers Of Gas Heaters And City Water For Canaries And Other Caged Birds

by James Leahy
(Pamplona, Northern Spain)

Hello: Years ago I gave a gift of a very dear one-year-old roller canary to a good friend. He was a great singer in his soft and unimposing Roller manner.

The following winter, during a very cold month of January, the heating system in my friend's apartment building broke down for more than a week. To remedy the situation he made use of 2 or 3 bottled-gas heaters.

This went on for some time but just enough to kill that wonderful little yellow speck of a wonderful and talented canary. A fresh air and no-cigarette-smoke atmosphere is also a basic requirement for
keeping our little friends healthy and happy.

People should be aware of this matter, although I haven't seen it mentioned on any web-site or book dealing with canaries or other caged-birds.

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Darren's Note: This is an excellent reminder James. Thanks. Air quality is discussed on 2 pages here at CanaryAdvisor.com

The Canary Health page and the Cage Location page
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One more point about water: I give my Malinois-Waterslager canary mineral water with very low lime content. I also, at times collect rainwater for that purpose.

Why?

Simply because city water is loaded with chemical substances that are not recommendable for any organism, including our own. But a canary´s tiny and sensitive organism is quite sensitive to these chemicals.

I drink city water, but for my canary, only bottled mineral water. I have noticed positive changes in his behavior, including vitality and singing. Four tablespoons of mineral- or rain water is not going to impoverish anybody.