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How to Handle Care for Your Canary Step by Step
When care for your canary leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
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Part
1
Housing Your Canary
1
Buy a big cage.
Canaries like to fly from side to side, making it important that you have a very wide, but not necessarily tall, cage. For one canary your cage should be about 16” tall and 30” wide. The larger the cage, the better for the canary.
- Canaries like to fly from side to side, making it important that you have a very wide, but not necessarily tall, cage.
- For one canary your cage should be about 16” tall and 30” wide.
- The larger the cage, the better for the canary.
- Canaries like to fly from side to side, making it important that you have a very wide, but not necessarily tall, cage.
- For one canary your cage should be about 16” tall and 30” wide.
2
Install perches.
At the pet store, buy natural wood to install along the cage for perches. Buy perches of different diameter to add some diversity to your canary's experience. Because canaries like to fly horizontally, rather than up or down, place the perches on the sides of the cage, across from one another.
- At the pet store, buy natural wood to install along the cage for perches.
- Buy perches of different diameter to add some diversity to your canary's experience.
- Because canaries like to fly horizontally, rather than up or down, place the perches on the sides of the cage, across from one another.
- At the pet store, buy natural wood to install along the cage for perches.
- Buy perches of different diameter to add some diversity to your canary's experience.
3
Clean the cage regularly.
Line the bottom of the cage with plain paper, such as butcher's paper. Every day you should replace this paper and clean water and food bowls. Once a week use soap and water or bird cage disinfectant to wash down the entire cage. Avoid using bleach.
- Line the bottom of the cage with plain paper, such as butcher's paper.
- Every day you should replace this paper and clean water and food bowls.
- Once a week use soap and water or bird cage disinfectant to wash down the entire cage.
- Avoid using bleach.
- Line the bottom of the cage with plain paper, such as butcher's paper.
Part
2
Feeding Your Canary
1
Feed your canary pellets.
Pellets are a preferred substitute for seeds, because they are designed to include more of the protein and vitamins that your canary needs. However, if your canary was not raised on a pellets, it will likely refuse to eat them. You can try to transition a canary to pellets, but you must do it slowly and carefully.
- Pellets are a preferred substitute for seeds, because they are designed to include more of the protein and vitamins that your canary needs.
- However, if your canary was not raised on a pellets, it will likely refuse to eat them.
- You can try to transition a canary to pellets, but you must do it slowly and carefully.
- Pellets are a preferred substitute for seeds, because they are designed to include more of the protein and vitamins that your canary needs.
- However, if your canary was not raised on a pellets, it will likely refuse to eat them.
2
Feed your canary fruits and vegetables.
About 20 -25% of your canary's daily diet should consist of fruits or vegetables. Every day wash and cut some fruit or vegetables into very small pieces. Place less than a teaspoon in a separate dish. Vary the types of fruit and vegetables you feed your canary frequently.
- About 20 -25% of your canary's daily diet should consist of fruits or vegetables.
- Every day wash and cut some fruit or vegetables into very small pieces.
- Place less than a teaspoon in a separate dish.
- Vary the types of fruit and vegetables you feed your canary frequently.
- About 20 -25% of your canary's daily diet should consist of fruits or vegetables.
3
Feed your canary protein.
If your canary is on a seed diet it likely is not getting enough protein. A good way to supplement your canary's protein supply is to feed an egg that is boiled for 15-20 minutes. Let it cool down and put small pieces in the treat dish twice per week.
- If your canary is on a seed diet it likely is not getting enough protein.
- A good way to supplement your canary's protein supply is to feed an egg that is boiled for 15-20 minutes.
- Let it cool down and put small pieces in the treat dish twice per week.
- If your canary is on a seed diet it likely is not getting enough protein.
- A good way to supplement your canary's protein supply is to feed an egg that is boiled for 15-20 minutes.
Part
3
Keeping Your Canary Happy and Healthy
1
Provide entertainment.
A toy or a swing in the cage can help keep your canary entertained. However, canaries are less inclined to play with toys than many other types of birds. One toy should be sufficient. More can clutter up the cage and make it harder for your canary to fly around, which should be your top priority.
- A toy or a swing in the cage can help keep your canary entertained.
- However, canaries are less inclined to play with toys than many other types of birds.
- One toy should be sufficient.
- More can clutter up the cage and make it harder for your canary to fly around, which should be your top priority.
- A toy or a swing in the cage can help keep your canary entertained.
2
Watch for illness.
Canaries are hearty animals. Be aware of signs of illness, however, so that you can take your canary to the vet if anything is wrong. Be mindful if you canary lacks appetite or begins to lose weight rapidly.
- Canaries are hearty animals.
- Be aware of signs of illness, however, so that you can take your canary to the vet if anything is wrong.
- Be mindful if you canary lacks appetite or begins to lose weight rapidly.
- Canaries are hearty animals.
- Be aware of signs of illness, however, so that you can take your canary to the vet if anything is wrong.
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