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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.