CANARY CARE INFORMATION If provided with proper care canaries can live for 10 to 14 years. It is important to find a permanent place for your cage that is free of drafts. Canaries that are moved from place to place do not feel safe. Be sure your canary is eating seed and drinking water. Bird is most likely in a new cage, new surroundings and must be watched so he is getting food and water. Even placing an extra seed dish and water in center of cage would help. Remember all is new to your bird. For a week, you might provide cover on 3 sides of the cage so bird feels secure and protected. You are exposing him to new conditions - lighting, cage, food, people. Also if this bird has just come from show conditions light should not be full sunlight. Cage should be covered at night and kept from TV, light and sounds. TV emits tones in the ultrasound range that are audible to birds and perceived by them as very shrill. We use newspaper in the cage bottoms without the grate. Canaries like to pick around for food so no grate gives them this chance. Do not use pine or cedar shavings...the smell could have an effect on canaries song. And avoid any type litter - it collects moisture and harbors bacteria and fungus growth. Good old newspaper is just fine - stick with the black and white print. If a canary cannot see the natural cycle of the sun this can cause a false molt. Canaries like to get up when the sun rises and go to sleep when the sun goes down. During the day they enjoy a radio which keeps them used to human voices and sounds. Ours enjoy twangy country music and classical violin and flute sounds. Canaries do not always sing with equal fervor all year. When they are molting, all their energy goes into growing new plumage of around 2000 new feathers. Molt is usually July thru September - Summer Snow. In the USA, the breeding season for canaries is generally Feb to June depending on the type of canary. Young males are in song by fall. Fall is the best time of the year to buy a young male canary. Even if you leave extra food for your canary, the most you can leave them alone for is two days. Always add an extra waterer to the cage. There is no difference in temperament or character between male and female canaries. If you want a singing canary, you should always choose a male. A male canary sings to establish his territory and to attract a female. He will sing even in the company of a female, although not as frequently, since there is no need to sing to attract a mate since he has what he was singing for. Place the male canary's cage out of sight or block from his view other birds for best song. Two male canaries in a small cage will fight - possibly to the death of one. Three males in a cage is usually fine. A large aviary should be OK for two as they will establish their territory but they should be watched for any signs of fighting or aggressive behavior. A canary needs as much room to fly in their cage as possible in order for them to keep fit, healthy and happy. Try to purchase a cage that is longer than it is tall for a back and forth flight. Perches should be wood or manzinita branches with varying thickness from1/2 to 5/8 inch width. Birds' toes should not be able to reach all the way around the perch. In a pinch, wooden clothespins make good individual perches. It is important to supply your canary with a weighted bowl or bathhouse for bathing. Bathing helps to keep feathers clean and cuts dander. The best time for a bath is in the morning but make sure the bird is dry by bedtime. DO NOT let birds go to sleep wet. My birds love cold bath water - in hot weather I add ice cubes to bath water. Canaries, like you and me, need to have their nails cut. You can see a thin red vein running through the nail. NEVER cut the vein. Always cut the nail ABOVE the vein. Be sure to have a supply of septic powder to stop any bleeding. Baking powder 'may' stop bleeding. A sure sign that a canary is sick is by the way it puffs itself up in a ball. If it does this move the cage to a warm spot or place cage on a heating pad - low to medium heat - and cover. Keep bird warm for a few days. If bird had a chill it will recover. Keep this bird out of draughts and chilly areas. Canaries should not be placed outside in their cage or an open aviary, if you are in an area that is prone to mosquitos. This is due to exposure to West Nile virus and Canary Pox both transmitted by mosquitos. Be prepared if your bird escapes his cage. A squirt gun filled with water could be your best luck. Do not aim for the head but the back and wing areas. The weight of the water will ground the bird. Then you can scoop him up. Dry off any excess water with an absorbent paper towel. Place back in cage. And if he escaped on his own, do some preventative type measure so it will not happen again.

FOOD, WATER, ETC FOR CANARIES Feed a quality vitamin enriched seed mixture for canaries. This seed should be the bulk of your birds diet. Veggies, people food, and fruits are an indispensable part of their diet. Some birds will refuse to eat certain things and others will gobble it up. Taste varies among birds. Veggies: Corn (on the cob cut in half like a wheel), carrots - cooked, raw or grated, sweet peas, mustard greens, dandelion greens, broccoli, spinach (but not to hens during breeding season); bok choy, romaine, endive. Be sure to wash all completely or buy from a health type food store. People food: Cooked rice, boiled potato, cooked pastas, Cheerios-crushed; cornbread-made with water instead of milk and you can add extra egg, corn flakes, hard boiled eggs, cooked yams. Fruits: apples, oranges, grapes, kiwi, bananas, melons. Avoid all seeds in any fruit, remove seeds before feeding. NO FOODS: AVOCADO, CHOCOLATE, HEAD LETTUCE. Watch for too much grease, salt and fat. Extras: cuttlebone, spray millet, egg biscuit, eggfood (CeDE or ProTeen). Hens need extra calcium - treat cup of oyster shell calcium or blue mineral grit. Just watch out for hens feeding this calcium to new chicks - check the chicks crops. Prime is an excellent vitamin/mineral supplement-use 2X a week on soft food. *Feed a varied diet *Clean hulls from seed cup every other day. *Give only fresh food. *Offer as much fruit, veggies, people food that will be consumed in 1/2 day. *Avoid sudden changes in diet. *Do not give anything straight from the refrigerator. *Do not feed wild plants from the yard. *Avoid sandpaper perches. *Avoid air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, insecticides, and toxic fumes from overheated nonstick cookware. *Avoid access to toxic house plants, ceiling fans, cats, dogs or young children. You should have at least 2 food cups - one for seed and one for eggfood or songfood treat. People type food can be given in a flat dish on bottom of cage but spread food out as moist food will SOUR & SPOIL!! You do not want a canary with a stomach problem. For nestling food for new hatched chicks we use 1 cup sprouted/soaked seed, 1/2 eggfood, and 1 hard boiled eggs (finely grated). Mix well and you can add any vitamins, probiotics, or medication as needed. Some eggfoods now contain probiotics. Also you can dehydrate greens - mustard, collards - using a dehydrator and mix in the food for young chicks. We buy gallon jugs of drinking water from the grocery store. Not spring water but DRINKING water. Two times a day we check each waterer and add extra water if needed or replace waterer if dirty. We wash waterers every weekend. About once a month we add 2 TBS of apple cider vinegar (from health food store) to a gallon of drinking water - this helps to maintain the flora in their stomach. Remember you can go to extremes in cleaning and not cleaning. The sickest birds I have viewed were in a home where the gent changed the cages 3 times a day to the point of sterlizing them. SOME DIRT IS GOOD! Be sure you are aware of the prevention and treatment for lice, mites and air-sac mites. Mites can be external as well as internal. Find a good Avian Vet in your area to contact, if needed. Also see information on this site on external and internal mites preventation. Enjoy your canary - Happy Canarying!!!

TREATMENT FOR SCALEY FEET Campho phenique and vasoline are available at your local drug store. In a small glass jar, mix together 2 tbs vasoline with 1 tbs campho phenique. Mix well. When not in use keep lid on jar. It lasts a long time and does not need to be refrigerated. Lightly rub this salve on the birds feet for 5 days in a row. DO NOT SCRUB! But rub gently into skin on feet. (avoid getting on feathers) On the last day massage salve in with your fingers - the scales should rub off unless you have a really bad case. A small cloth like a wash rag can be used to rub off scales but not until the last day. Be very gentle! An older bird can have scales with no scaley mites. Remember that some birds are more prone to scaley feet than others. White birds seem to have very senitive skin on their feet so rub extra easy. In the event you cause the foot or feet to bleed have an antiseptic type ointment ready to apply and treat daily until healed. Remember scaley mites on the feet could mean you need to treat for internal air sac mites.

FOR EXTERNAL MITES: We use FrontLine Spray Treatment prior to breeding season and matching of pairs. Be sure to get the lower strength type with 0.29% fipronil. One short spray on the back of the neck - moving feathers so it contacts skin - or short spray under the wing. This repels mites for up to 30 to 90 days on birds.

FOR INTERNAL MITES: We use a product called Scatt from Birds 2 Grow. Their link is shown in our link section. Follow their directions. Living in Florida we use 2X a year in November - getting ready for breeding season - and in May at end of breeding season. This product is ideal for owners of a small number of birds and inexpensive. Plus it does not required a follow up treatment as with Ivomectrin. If you have birds - YOU HAVE MITES! Go to the pet shop...they come home on your clothes....go in the yard....they come in on your shoes....got a dog or cat...keep them treated also as they can carry mites. We live in Florida and with a tropical climate, we practice prevention. Spray trays with an insecticide when changing papers. Spray empty tray then put paper over sprayed tray. Mites like to hide under and in the paper folds. PREVENTION IS THE KEY!

ADVICE ON PURCHASING A QUALITY SONG CANARY 1. Verify that the seller is an active member of a club representing this breed of canary. The bird available should be banded to a known song canary club. Ask seller to explain band information to you. 2. Ask the show record of the breeder, and if any of the birds are scored. Breeders that exhibit usually have the best quality stock. This will be reflected in their show records. 3. Ask breeder about the standards for the breed such as: colors, feathering, size, etc. 4. Breeder should provide a pedigree on all birds sold. You need to know bloodlines to maintain and breed quality birds. 5. If possible ask to hear the male sing. Depending on the season, time of day, and other factors the male canary should be in song. Fall is the best time to buy young males. 6. Bring a small transport cage with you - perches should all be at a lower level for transport. Have a dark cloth or towel to cover the cage. Have your larger cage at home with sufficient flight room (back and forth) to maintain canaries lungs. 7. Bird care facilites should be clean and well lighted. 8. Breeder should give you a food sample and care instructions. 9. Let breeder know if you want a show quality canary or a pet quality canary. 10. Arrive on time when appointment is set. It is best to be by yourself or with one other canary fancier. ************************************************* There are 3 kinds of canaries: "Type" canaries are bred for conformation, feathering, and posture. "Color" canaries are bred for exactly that - their color - red, orange, opal, white, etc. "Song" canaries are bred for their sound, note variety, tone, tours, bells, flutes, etc. If you want a canary that has a superior song and singing abilities - you want a 'Song Canary'.

TIPS AND CONDITIONS TO HELP YOUR BIRD SING 1. Be sure you have the right size cage. A canary does not belong in one of those cute house type cages. Your canary uses his lungs to produce song - he needs a cage that he can fly back and forth. Cage should be minimum of 24 in length with perches set for back and forth flight not up and down. 2. Cage placement should be where he receives good bright light. Area should be draft free. Cages do not belong in kitchen - fumes from cooking oils and teflon will rob a bird of his song. Overheated teflon will kill a bird! 3. If a canary has been singing and stops consider it may be a molt. Young canaries hatched the current year will not molt unless conditions in his area are wrong. Review 1 & 2 above and make sure you have correct cage and placement. Try liquid Vitamin B complex in his water - water color should be a nice yellow. Make fresh daily for 5 days. 4. A canary sings to attract a mate. If you place a hen or other male next to him, he feels he has done his job and has no need to sing. Any other canary or bird - cock or hen - must be out of his sight. 5. Canary should be kept on a strict light schedule. Cover with dark cloth at sunset and remove cover at sunrise. Light effects their hormones so try to follow the cycle of the sun. 6. TV sounds are not audible to canaries. Plus the flicker of the color may cause further problems. I once had a lady that could not understand why her bird would not sing. Upon visiting I was absolutely amazed that she had put her cage on top of her console TV. Once she moved the bird to a more secure place, he was singing. 7. Do not move cage from place to place. Keep in one secure area. You may even cover top and 3 sides with a light colored cloth during the day - this gives the bird a secure feeling. If cage is near a window may see shadows passing by and scare him - shadow may be a hawk to him. 8. Between 72 degrees and 68 degrees is an ideal tempature for your song canary. HAPPY CANARYING, CANARY ROW AVIARY SARA PALMER PORT CHARLOTTE, FL Phone: 941 830 8468 or 941 266 8568 For information on the history of the waterslager canary refer to web page for the following club: Western Waterslager Club

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