CANARY

If you are considering sharing your home with a pet canary its probably because you have heard so much about their nearly constant bubbly singing Join the club Since the seventeenth century pet owners the world over have kept canaries for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of birdsong filling their homes A canary is not merely a feathered music box though and pet canary care is so much more than the gilded cage of old A canary is a living thing dependent on you for food shelter and love and canary care while not rocket science involves a certain level of avian expertise Ready to become an expert Study hard Thanks to selective breeding theres quite possibly a canary out there to suit every personality and desire Some canaries are bred for their coloration some are bred for their shape and some of course are bred to produce a very specific song pattern What kind of canary you purchase will depend on what canary resources are available near you If you can find a reputable canary breeder that will be your best option Many pet stores now however commit to purchasing healthy birds only from reputable breeders but check first to make sure that your canary was not wild caught or raised in lessthandesirable conditions If the pet store manager can not account for where your potential canary came from dont buy a canary from that store Oh and be sure that the canary you purchase is a male if its a strong singer you are after The females are incapable of producing the characteristic long trills and melodies that made canaries famous

Canaries can be quite delicate so a primary part of learning to care for a pet canary is to realize that prevention is key If theres a number one rule of pet canary care its that you absolutely must keep your canary away from drafts at all times A drafty room can kill a canary without any warning whatsoever and even a slight draft can prevent your canary from warbling If a lit candle flickers when held outside your canarys cage then you have picked a spot thats too drafty for your new feathered friend As far as cages go your canary doesnt require anything too spectacularjust enough room to hop about and stretch his wings Make sure you purchase a cage that is at least two feet wide and three or four feet tall Get a cage with a tray in the bottom to make for easy cleaning and make sure that the bars of the cage are not coated with toxic paint or other chemical sealants You should clean your canarys cage thoroughly at least once a week washing perches food and water containers and toys in a mild bleach solution and washing down the rest of the cage with dish soap and warm water

While they cant stand drafts canaries do love indirect sunlight A good supply of natural light will keep your canary singing and will also interest him in breeding should a female be present If a draft will kill a canary the fastest a second runner up is dehydration Because of their speedy metabolisms canaries require a lot of water and may die if they go as little as a day without it Change your canarys water daily and never leave for more than a day without asking someone to water your canary for you As for food seed is the mainstay of a canarys diet and there are many good commercially available seed mixes made specifically for canaries You should supplement your canarys seed with a little fresh fruit and boiled egg every day An apple slice and a fourth of a hard boiled egg is enough You should also provide your canary with a cuttlebone as he will gnaw on this to attain necessary calcium

With these basic rules and supplies of pet canary care well in hand you are ready to seek out the perfect canary for you Will you choose a rosy red colorbred canary an exotic Persian Singer or something in between Whatever your decision your canary will thank you exuberantly for the next ten to fifteen years the best way he knows howby singing his heart out

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