Hello there! I am thinking of getting a canary. I just love their songs and think Ruby might enjoy one also. Any advice on what type, sex, etc. would be best? Thanks, Jessalyn

Males are usually better singers. I have three (long story involving ailing grandparents, angered fiancee, and, like most of these stories, they ended up at my house) and they are really fun. They like to interact with people, love their baths and their greens and will sing their hearts out even on the darkest morning. I don't know much about the different varieties, so I will defer to the experts there!

I can't remember all I learned about canaries! There are a number of canary sites that even have the different songs to hear, that different types have. I didn't even know they had different styles!

They are fascinating - like parrots. I love to look at the canaries at the bird shows. The 2 tone ones [red/white] kind of stole my heart. It's a miracle [&my husband] that I don't have at least one.

I think it will be a nice addition to your home & offer some interest for Ruby. Maybe Ruby will learn Canary.

There are three kinds of canary breeds: song, color or type. All male canaries sing but if what you want is beautiful song (and there is absolutely nothing on this earth like the song of a song canary!), you need to go for the song breeds. From low tone to high: Malinois or Waterslagger from Belgium (called waterslagger because of the characteristic 'water drops falling in a barrel of water' sound they make), Hartz Roller from Germany (low but melodic rolls are their thing) and Spanish Timbrado from Spain (the highest in pitch, loudest and most prolific of singers -their characteristic is disonancy- also the most similar to the wild canary from a genetic point of view). If what you want is beauty, go for the color canaries (the most common -and also the most over and inbred so be very careful who you buy from if you go with them- are the red factors) or the type canaries (hundreds of breeds created for body conformation or plumage, some very pretty, some very weird and abnormal looking).

Canaries are not really interactive birds as they are not social in nature, they are territorial and they should never be handled or kept in a cage with other canaries unless they are all hens (which don't sing) and the cage is very large. The less aggressive types (type and color canaries) can be kept with other canaries but it shortens their lifespan as it's very stressing for males to share a territory and stress depresses their immune system. Song canaries are too aggressive and would attack each other constantly and stop singing if forced to share a cage.

I bred canaries for many years and still have quite a number of them (mostly Spanish Timbrados but I also have one Russian Singer and one American Singer males and a red factor female). I love all birds but canaries are and always will be my first love and passion.

Thanks so much for all of that info, Bea! That really helps me alot. I think I will get one. I already have a nice big cage so all I need is to find the little bird!

Check out Jenn's 2 canaries & 2 Budgies! + a Tiel - all out & about.

At a crossroads, what to do?

Jess - as soon as I heard a male canary singing I KNEW that I had to have one. So the search began! Ended up with a female (was told a male) My husband then got me a red factor male and he sings ALL of the time, beautifully!

They both hang out with my other birds and get along very well!

Cant wait to see your new fid

Thanks Jenn!

Bea, that was great info, thanks!!

I learn so much here, I cant remember it all.... lol

I also love them and have thought about getting one one day for the pretty song. Maybe it would contrast the Macaw and Zon screams a little bit.

Can they be relativley hand friendly? I always thought they were more of a aviary or strictly cage bird and was always afraid that if it got out, I would never get it back in.

I've read that if you get them very young they can be hand tamed. But then you don't know if you have a male or female.

Jenn has hers out of the cage. Maybe she can say.