How To Raise Canaries: All The Aspects That Matter To You

Canary bird :

The canary bird belongs to the kingdom of animals, the chordates family, the vertebrate phylum, and the bird category, and its original home returns to the Micronesian islands that are located in the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores, and it should be noted that the canary bird currently in stores has evolved, and it differs from the wild canary .

Length:

10 to 20 cm long.

Weight :

It weighs less than 31 grams on average.

Characteristics of canary birds: The canary is characterized by beautiful colors, as the yellow-green color covers most of its body, and the bright colors vary due to breeding from several different strains such as orange, red and white, and yellow is the most common color for canaries.

Average lifespan:

Canaries live from 5 to 15 years.

The most important aspects of breeding canary birds

Canary food

Foods suitable for canaries:

The canary relies on several different plant sources to obtain food. Some of them are as follows:

The diet is based on a mixture of granules and seeds, but you should not rely solely on seeds, as they may cause a deficiency of nutrients and diseases such as liver, kidney and heart diseases, in addition to obesity.

It is preferable to add fresh vegetables and fruits daily, in addition to providing cooked eggs to provide it with protein and vitamin A, which enhances its bright colors. It is also preferable to add leafy vegetables after chopping them well.

The canary must be provided with calcium, by offering it cuttlefish bones, and it is preferable to expose it to the sun for at least 3 to 4 hours to obtain an optimal metabolism of calcium.

Fresh, purified water is provided and must be changed daily, preferably free of chlorine, fluorine and minerals. It is recommended to use spring water or unflavored drinking water.

Foods that are not suitable for canaries:

There are many foods that may not be suitable for birds in general, and the following are some of them:

Chocolate : Chocolate can cause poisoning, which leads to vomiting and diarrhea, and if the condition progresses, it may affect the nervous system and eventually cause death.

Apple seeds: contain amounts of cyanide, which is toxic to birds.

Avocado : Avocado peel causes heart failure and death in birds.

Onions : Consuming a lot of onions may lead to anemia in the canary, in addition to shortness of breath and death.

Mushrooms : Mushrooms cause digestive disorders in canaries, and some species may cause liver failure.

Tomato leaves : They are highly toxic to canaries.

Canary dwelling

The canary bird spends most of its life inside the cage, so several things must be taken into account, the most important of which are:

Provide enough space for him to fly inside the cage, as he gets used to getting exercises back and forth inside the cage.

A space of at least 45 cm wide, 45 cm deep, and 60 cm high must be provided so that he can move smoothly inside the cage.

You must pay attention that there are no gaps between the bars of the cage, and that they do not exceed 2 cm to avoid the bird getting out of them.

It is preferable to have a number of figures of different sizes and shapes to help the canary create different patterns of flight. It is also recommended to add swings, bells and mirrors.

Canary cleaning

Canary birds prefer to shower constantly, so it is recommended to put a basin of water 2 cm deep inside the cage, and it is preferable that the water be of moderate temperature. To dry during the day.

Canary breeding

The following are the most important points for canary breeding:

Choosing the right canary : It is preferable to choose a canary with good feathers that is active, and the active male canary is characterized by singing. There are two types of birds, birds with soft feathers and birds with hard feathers that are tight on the body. It is preferable to breed two different types of birds together.

Cage : Each pair of birds must have a special cage, to complete the breeding process and raise the young, and some types of canaries tend to have two females and take care of their young at the same time.

Feeding : Birds breed in late winter and early spring. At this time, they need more protein in their system. It is preferable to give a female canary boiled eggs to increase the percentage of calcium. It is also preferable to provide boiled egg yolks with grains for the young.

Health problems in canary birds

The following are the most important and dangerous diseases that affect canaries.

Aspergillus fungus : This infection occurs as a result of a humid environment or stress, and the most important symptoms that appear on the canary are weight loss and shortness of breath, and it is fatal in most cases, and it is treated through a drug that kills the fungus, which is prescribed by the veterinarian.

Avian Infectious Yeast Infection (AGY) : The bird does not show any external signs, but it may lose weight a lot, in addition to not digesting the food well, and this appears in the stool, and in this case it is preferable to rely on a diet free of sugars.

Bird pox: This disease causes breathing problems, the appearance of scab-like spots on the bird’s skin, and yellow sores in the mouth, so it is preferable to isolate the bird from other birds because the infection does not transmit, and this disease causes death.

Bumblefoot : The symptoms of this disease appear on the legs of the bird, as it causes swelling and deformation of the feet. The main factor for this disease is dirty surfaces and dead bodies, in addition to following an excessively fat diet. Therefore, it is recommended to constantly clean the cage and use medical ointments.

Tips for dealing with canary birds

The following are the most important characteristics of the canary that you must know in order to raise the canary well:

Social behaviors: The canary is a pet bird that does not harm children or visitors, and it should not be placed with other more aggressive birds because it cannot defend itself, and it is preferable not to put more than one male in the cage to avoid a clash between them.

Training: Canary birds can be allowed out of the cage to enjoy the beauty of their voice and view, but this requires training and taming, and it is also possible to play with them, such as imitating some sounds.

Common mistakes when raising canaries

The following are the most important mistakes when raising canaries:

The most important factor in canary disease is the lack of adequate hygiene in the cage in which it lives.

Trimming the canary’s nails incorrectly may lead to the death of the bird after bleeding.

Placing the canary with other birds such as parrots may harm it, as it may attack it.