Download Article
Download Article
Canaries love to live alone, and they are a relatively low-maintenance bird. As long as they have fresh food and room to fly, they will be content. Even if you only have one canary, your canary needs a large cage stocked with all of the basic necessities of life. Give them food and water once a day, and encourage them to get lots of exercise so that they can be healthy and happy!
Steps
-
Buy a large, rectangular cage. A good cage for a single canary will let them fly back and forth many times. Get one that is at least 16 inches (41 cm) tall and 30 inches (76 cm) wide with bars that are 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) apart. It should also be wide and long, rather than tall, to give the bird room to fly.
- Do not buy a round or ornamental cage. These do not provide enough space for the canary to fly properly.
- Pick a metal cage made out of iron or powder-coated steel.
-
Find a safe but active area to put the cage. Find a room that is frequently occupied so that your canary does not get lonely. Set the cage against the wall or in a corner away from any windows, doors, air vents, direct sunlight, or drafts. [1] X Research source
- A living or family room, home office, or dining room may be good places. Do not put the cage in the kitchen.
- Do not use any sprays, air fresheners, furniture polish, scented candles, cigarettes, or other fragrances in the same room as the cage.
- Do not place the cage on the ground. It should be at least eye level.
Advertisement -
Line the cage with newspaper or cob bedding. Newspaper lining will help you clean up bird droppings easily, and cob bedding works well too. Replace the newspaper or bedding every day so that the cage does not become too dirty.
- Avoid using cat litter or wood shavings as cage liner.
-
Set out some perches. Perches give your canary somewhere to fly and roost. Two perches in their cage will keep them active and happy. Look for perches between 3 ⁄ 8 inch (9.5 mm) and 3 ⁄ 4 inch (19 mm) in diameter.
- Tree branches make for great perches.
- Place the perches about 16 inches (41 cm) apart in the cage. Place them at opposite ends of the cage to maximize their room to fly. [2] X Research source
-
Put in dishes for food, water, and a bath. Generally, canaries will need three dishes—one for food, one for water, and one for a bath. Do not put the dishes under the canary’s perches or else droppings might fall into them. [3] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Feed your canary a varied diet. Canaries need a varied diet of seeds, pellets, fresh fruit, and leafy vegetables. You can usually find a special canary mix of seeds and pellets at pet stores. Give them one teaspoon of this mix a day.
- Some good vegetables and fruits for the canary include kale, apples, broccoli, grapes, dandelion, oranges, bananas, peas, and melons.
- Attach both a cuttlefish bone and an avian mineral block to the side of the cage. Your canary will slowly eat away at these for calcium and minerals.
- Never feed your canary avocado as it is toxic to birds.
-
Replace their water daily. Canaries need constant access to fresh water. Once a day, take the bowl out of the cage. Empty it out, and wash it with warm water and soap. Rinse it well and dry it with a towel before refilling with fresh water. [4] X Research source
-
Clean their cage once a week. The cage needs a full cleaning once a week. Put the canary in a bird carrier. Empty out the liner before scrubbing the entire cage with hot water and soap. Wash all of the dishes and perches too. Let everything dry before putting them back in the cage. [5] X Research source
- The cage liner and dishes should be washed every day.
-
Cover the cage at night. Canaries are sensitive to the sun. They may stay awake if there is any light coming into their cage. To prevent this, place a blanket or a cover over the cage after the sun goes down.
-
Watch for signs of sickness. Canaries have delicate lungs, and they can be prone to mites or other parasites. Take your canary to a specialized avian veterinarian if they show any signs of sickness. [6] X Research source
- Common signs of sickness include fluffed, ruffled, or thinning feathers, inactivity, discolored feces, discharge around the eyes or beak, or squinting.
- To find a local avian vet, you can use the database at the Association of Avian Vets.
Advertisement
-
Stick a few toys in their cage. Give your canary two or three items in their cage to play with. Canaries are especially fond of swings, and yours might even play with balls, bells, or sticks from trees. [7] X Research source
-
Let them fly free in a room. Open the cage door to let your canary fly around for about thirty minutes. Afterwards, lure them back to their cage by putting some fresh food or treats inside. Once they are inside, close the cage door before they can fly out again. [8] X Research source
- Close all doors and windows before releasing your canary. All windows and mirrors should be covered so that the canary does not fly into them.
- Make sure to turn off all ceiling fans before letting the canary loose.
-
Teach males to sing. Typically young male canaries learn to sing from an older male, but if you only have the one canary, you will need to teach them yourself. Use CDs or nature videos of canaries singing to teach them.
- While rare, sometimes female canaries can learn to sing too. Typically, however, females only chirp.
-
Avoid handling your canary. Canaries generally do not like to be held by humans. Limit your handling to when you need to clean the cage or check them for illness. Your canary is perfectly happy watching and singing to you from their cage. [9] X Research source
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow can I help my canary to not be afraid of me?Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois and in 2011 was elected to the board of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.Spend lots of time by your canary's cage, and talk to it in a calm, soothing voice. Be patient. It will become more comfortable around you with time.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- Proper housing and feeding are both important factors in keeping your canary happy and healthy. With proper care, you can expect your canary to live to about 14 years old.Thanks
- While you may be tempted to get your canary a companion, canaries tend to prefer to live alone when they are in cages.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.beautyofbirds.com/canaryinfo.html
- ↑ https://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1840&aid=1706
- ↑ https://www.petsworld.co.uk/canaries.htm
- ↑ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/canaries-feeding
- ↑ https://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1794&aid=2837
- ↑ https://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=2606
- ↑ https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/finches_and_canaries/finch_accessories/toys
- ↑ https://petcentral.chewy.com/let-your-canary-fly-outside-its-cage/
- ↑ https://www.pbspettravel.co.uk/blog/how-to-keep-canaries/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To keep a single canary, it's a good idea to move its cage to a busy spot in your home, like your living room, so it doesn't get lonely. You should also put a few fun toys in its cage, like swings, bells, and branches, so it has things to play with. Additionally, try to let your canary out of its cage for at least 30 minutes a day so it can fly around and stretch its wings. If you have a male canary, you can teach it how to sing by playing recordings of canary songs near its cage. For tips from our Veterinary co-author, like how to set up a comfortable cage for your canary, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 56,351 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Thank you much. My brother recently passed, he had birds and loved them. I love outside birds, I want a little friend." ..." more
Advertisement
96%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Thank you much. My brother recently passed, he had birds and loved them. I love outside birds, I want a little friend."
..."
more
"My neighbor gave me a canary today. We are looking forward to a happy life together. Thanks for all of the tips."
