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Canaries
The canary originates from the Canary Islands, off the
coast of Africa. They have long been prized for their singing ability, and have
been kept as pets, shop companions and entertainers for centuries.
Throughout the last 500 years, many varieties of canaries
have been developed. The Roller Canary is bred purely for its vocal ability and
is the premier singing canary, and the Red Factor Canary is bred for its color.
Most canaries vary between 3 to 5 inches in length. They
need a good diet that should include a good seed or pelleted food, supplemented
with fresh fruits and vegetables. Do not feed fruit seeds, avacados, chocolate,
alcohol or caffeine, these substances can cause serious medical problems or
death.
Canaries are not social birds. A canary kept as a single
pet will be perfectly content; two males kept together will fight, as will a
female and a male, except in breeding season. As pets, canaries usually do not
interact with their owners. The occasional canary will sit on your finger or fly
around the house with you, but they are not as interactive as a budgie.
Canaries require a large enough cage to allow flight for
exercise. 18” long by 10” high and 10” wide are the minimum dimensions for a
healthy sized cage. Bar spacing should be 1/8” to 3/8”. There should be perches
of varying diameters for foot health. Shiny toys or toys with bells are among
canaries' favorites.
With proper care, life expectancy is up to 15 years.
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