The following profile has been sent to me by our own member, Denise, for posting:

Canaries
By: Denise
www.affaviary.com

Scientific Name: Serinus canaria

Pet Appeal: Canaries are a cage bird, and should be adored from afar. They are not interactive birds.

Description: There are 3 Classifications of canaries, type, song, & color. Each breed had it's own definition, size, song, and characteristics.

Care and Feeding: Canaries eat mainly canary seed and rape seed, the other seeds available for canaries should only be given as treats, as they are fattening and the bird will become lethargic and lazy and less likely to sing. They should be offered fresh spinach or leaf lettuce, a little calcium in the form of a cuttlebone. They should be offered a bird bath, they do like to bath.

Housing: A canary should have a cage with vertical bars, perches should be 1/2 inch or 2 cm., it is good to use different size perches for foot exercise. The cage should be roomy, having at least 1 perch set high in the cage for the canary to roost (sleep). The cage should be placed high, so they canary can look down on us so to speak.

Maintenance: Cage cleaning and toe nail trimming is about all the maintenance canaries need.

Social behavior: Male canaries should be kept in a cage by themselves to ensure quality singing. 2 male in a cage will fight. 2 hens can be kept in a cage with little or no problems.

Handling/Training: Canaries can be handled but they are considered a cage bird.

Activities: Canaries do not require toys, mirrors or any other form of entertainment…a swing is all they need to keep themselves occupied.

Breeding / Reproduction: Canaries breed easily and readily if provided with quality food, lighting, secure surroundings, and conditioning. They breed in breeding cages and aviaries. They lay their eggs in a nest usually 3 to 6 eggs laid 1 per day. Breeding season is usually from December to April, allow a hen to have only 2 clutches.

Availability: Canaries are easily obtainable.