What to Expect in Canaries?

Canary birds are small brightly colored, endearing in their physical appearance, and have a loving friendly affectionate personality. They are known to be the undemanding little charmer, that is usually what beginners in bird raising, or in the journey of being a bird enthusiast take care of first. They are also known to be great beginner birds. 

Raising them, even if you have little to zero knowledge about raising birds will still give you a high probability of success. Their pleasant and welcoming demeanor, and them being low maintenance to care really stands out. So how do we raise them? What are the essential things to know if you are an absolute beginner? Let’s find out. 

Social Birds

They bond well and connect well with their owners, rest assured they will love you immediately. These birds are social creatures. They love being around people, they love to sing, and they do not disappoint in doing so, it is really a delight to hear. Surprisingly, as much as they love company, they are also relatively solitary birds. They can thrive and will not get lonely even if they are alone in their cage, they can entertain themselves, this really proves how low maintenance they are. In addition to that, they do not have specific caring needs to thrive and be at their best state. 

Shelter

Canaries love to fly, so ideally, you should opt for a big cage for them. Their small size should not stop you from doing so since flying for them is an everyday physical activity. You should buy a cage that is long in the length rather than its width since they fly back and forth. 

Place their cage where they can get enough sun exposure and natural lighting, do not place them in direct sunlight. Daylight is important in regulating the flow of their day, and at night, covering their cage with a blanket will be a cue that their day is over, and it’s time for them to get sufficient rest of 12 hours, abide by this. Take also in consideration the spot, the cage should be placed where most people gather, and where canaries can really have a good grasp of room around them. 

They love high perches as it is close to their natural place in the wild, as they love to hang and spend their time in high branches, securing their safety over their predators. 

Feeding

A canary’s balanced diet should look like 70% high-quality nutritious pellets or seeds, 15% fruits, and 15% vegetables. This is to achieve an optimum health condition and because generally, fruits and vegetables provide nutrients and wonders as well, they are natural, thus it is always the right thing to incorporate. 

Provide fresh water daily for drinking, for their hydration, and for healthy digestion. Their water should be replaced daily to ensure its cleanliness and safety, for it can be very prone to dirt, germs, and bacteria. 

As to the frequency of feeding, they should be fed twice a day, in the morning and another one in the late afternoon. Treats should be limited to only twice per day to maintain their healthy weight. Cleaning their food and water dishes every day is the basic principle of proper hygiene. Abide by this. 

Health Tips for Canary

Decorate their cage with toys, for them to play around when they are not flying.

This will keep them stimulated and their mind inactive condition. Set aside the time of your day to visit and gently pet them. It can be a great bonding time for the two of you, and you can also observe them in silence, it will give them the assurance that they are not alone. Encourage your family and friends to do so as well.

As for bathing them, do so in a water dish full of lukewarm water.

They can clean themselves by soaking in them. Alternatively, you can clean them by misting water gently on them. Trim their nails regularly, if you are still a beginner, it is best to ask for the veterinarian’s help and gradually practice it safely. Clean and disinfect their cages as well as their perches weekly. Replace their toys, perches, or their dishes when they have been worn out or damaged. 

To know what the signs of a healthy canary are, you should be seeing the following:

• Lively, active and highly sociable
• Abide on their eating schedule and finishes their meals
• Dry nares and lively dry eyes
• Beak, legs and their feet looks normal and healthy
• Smooth and shiny, well groomed feathers

To know if they are experiencing pain, or have an underlying, undiagnosed illness. Below are the signs to look out for: 

• Swelling of beaks
• Plucked or soiled feathers
• Wheezing or coughing
• Discolored, or runny stools
• Discharges from eyes and nose
• Swelling of eyes
• Loss of their appetite
• Lethargy
• Inactive

These signs should not be ignored and should immediately call for veterinarian’s help to aid proper medical attention and treatment. 

As for when they possess all the signs of a healthy canary, it is encouraged to have a yearly consultation to further validate and maintain their condition. 

Conclusion

Birds are wonderful companions, and taking canary as an example, it is certain that you can form a great relationship with them, moreover have fun and fulfill taking care of them by yourself. Raising them is easy, yet still needed to be consistently maintained and shown up to. Afterward, you can be assured by the joy their presence can give you, they can really turn one into a bird enthusiast. With their endearing looks, adorable voice, and pleasant, friendly, and affectionate demeanor?