| If you're considering sharing your home | | | | your canary's cage, then you've picked a |
| with a pet canary, it's probably because | | | | spot that's too drafty for your new |
| you've heard so much about their nearly | | | | feathered friend! As far as cages go, |
| constant, bubbly singing. Join the club! | | | | your canary doesn't require anything too |
| Since the seventeenth century, pet | | | | spectacular-just enough room to hop |
| owners the world over have kept canaries | | | | about and stretch his wings. Make sure |
| for nothing more than the sheer pleasure | | | | you purchase a cage that is at least two |
| of birdsong filling their homes. A | | | | feet wide and three or four feet tall. |
| canary is not merely a feathered music | | | | Get a cage with a tray in the bottom to |
| box, though, and pet canary care is so | | | | make for easy cleaning, and make sure |
| much more than the gilded cage of old. A | | | | that the bars of the cage are not coated |
| canary is a living thing, dependent on | | | | with toxic paint or other chemical |
| you for food, shelter, and love, and | | | | sealants. You should clean your canary's |
| canary care, while not rocket science, | | | | cage thoroughly at least once a week, |
| involves a certain level of avian | | | | washing perches, food and water |
| expertise. Ready to become an expert? | | | | containers, and toys in a mild bleach |
| Study hard! | | | | solution, and washing down the rest of |
| Thanks to selective breeding, there's | | | | the cage with dish soap and warm water. |
| quite possibly a canary out there to | | | | While they can't stand drafts, canaries |
| suit every personality and desire. Some | | | | do love indirect sunlight. A good supply |
| canaries are bred for their coloration, | | | | of natural light will keep your canary |
| some are bred for their shape, and some, | | | | singing, and will also interest him in |
| of course, are bred to produce a very | | | | breeding should a female be present. If |
| specific song pattern. What kind of | | | | a draft will kill a canary the fastest, |
| canary you purchase will depend on what | | | | a second runner up is dehydration. |
| canary resources are available near you. | | | | Because of their speedy metabolisms, |
| If you can find a reputable canary | | | | canaries require a lot of water and may |
| breeder, that will be your best option. | | | | die if they go as little as a day |
| Many pet stores now, however, commit to | | | | without it. Change your canary's water |
| purchasing healthy birds only from | | | | daily and never leave for more than a |
| reputable breeders, but check first to | | | | day without asking someone to water your |
| make sure that your canary was not wild | | | | canary for you. As for food, seed is the |
| caught or raised in less-than-desirable | | | | mainstay of a canary's diet, and there |
| conditions. If the pet store manager can | | | | are many good commercially available |
| not account for where your potential | | | | seed mixes made specifically for |
| canary came from, don't buy a canary | | | | canaries. You should supplement your |
| from that store! Oh, and be sure that | | | | canary's seed with a little fresh fruit |
| the canary you purchase is a male, if | | | | and boiled egg every day. An apple slice |
| it's a strong singer you're after. The | | | | and a fourth of a hard boiled egg is |
| females are incapable of producing the | | | | enough. You should also provide your |
| characteristic long trills and melodies | | | | canary with a cuttlebone, as he will |
| that made canaries famous. | | | | gnaw on this to attain necessary |
| Canaries can be quite delicate, so a | | | | calcium. |
| primary part of learning to care for a | | | | With these basic rules and supplies of |
| pet canary is to realize that prevention | | | | pet canary care well in hand, you're |
| is key. If there's a number one rule of | | | | ready to seek out the perfect canary for |
| pet canary care, it's that you | | | | you. Will you choose a rosy red |
| absolutely must keep your canary away | | | | colorbred canary, an exotic Persian |
| from drafts at all times. A drafty room | | | | Singer, or something in between? |
| can kill a canary without any warning | | | | Whatever your decision, your canary will |
| whatsoever, and even a slight draft can | | | | thank you exuberantly for the next ten |
| prevent your canary from warbling. If a | | | | to fifteen years the best way he knows |
| lit candle flickers when held outside | | | | how-by singing his heart out. |