Canary- a miniature bird, not distinguished by intelligence, so for what reason were they given to kings and monks in the 16th century? The reason lies in musical ability. Of course, if you go outside you can hear the singing of many birds. But it is the canary that is so unpretentious in food, it is easy to train and maintain.
Description of the canary bird
Canary slightly smaller than its ancestor - the Canary finch, it is 13.5-14.5 cm in size (singing, colorful), while decorative canaries are from 11 cm to 23 cm. canaries rounded head, long claws, short beak and harmonious finch. This bird has many colors, although yellow is the most common, the color of the plumage can be white, brown, orange, light brown, greenish. flies canary wavy, and some individuals have tufts and curls on the head. Canary changes the color of plumage depending on natural conditions, for example, with climate change. And if you change the bird’s diet, the color also changes. Unusual, right?
A special feature of the bird is its sensitivity to natural gas. The cage with this bird was taken into the mine, and if it felt alarmed, people immediately left as quickly as possible, because gas explosions occurred in such places, thereby saving the lives of many people! Did you know that canary can imitate sounds, and even remember their sequence in order to reproduce them later? She also remembers other people’s singing, storing a huge number of sounds in her memory. He begins his song in a quiet tone, and when he sings, perhaps your neighbors will hear it too.
FOOD AND MAINTENANCE OF CANARIES
What to feed a canary
From the right diet many things depend, for example, plumage, health and life expectancy. The main diet consists from 3 feeds: grains, oilseeds and succulents.
TO grain feed include seeds of various plants - oats, millet, barley, wheat, corn, buckwheat, rice, canary seed. Succulent grass seeds ( quinoa, dandelion, plantain). Bran, rapeseed, chestnuts and acorns, seeds and nuts (oilseeds, flaxseeds, sunflower). Also, to the canary You can give berries, fruits and vegetables. Most canaries They love grapes, apricots, cherries, sweet apples and peaches. Dry fruits are a good treat: raisins, dried apricots, prunes, figs, dates, apples. Plus, freshly squeezed juice is great, except for those that contain a lot of sugar.
In winter, add twigs of fruit and deciduous trees to the cage, for example, apple, cherry, alder, birch, linden, maple, hawthorn, rowan, raspberry, currant, elderberry, beech, willow, aspen, alder, ash. Canary Food of animal origin is also suitable: fish oil, low-fat cottage cheese, boiled chicken eggs, honey, various insects.
What a canary can't do:
Potato
Persimmon
Mango
Papaya
Avocado
Parsley and other herbs
Keeping canary birds at home
domestic canary Spends most of his time in a cage, and care is kept to a minimum. You can choose any cage; it will be easier for you with a metal one, since it is easier to wash and can be disinfected. Equip the cage with a swing, a bowl, a drinking bowl, and a mirror. Remember that the cage should be spacious, with several perches. And all that is required of you for care is feeding the bird, changing the water daily and cleaning the cage a couple of times a week. How to tame a canary? You need to talk to her constantly and in an even tone, and let her fly out of the cage. Over time, the bird will get used to you, because it is quite tame, and can easily sit on your shoulder. These birds love to bathe, thereby cleaning their skin and feathers. The water should be at room temperature. Attach the bathing suit to the outside of the door, so water will not get into the cage, then remove the bathing suit and close the door. You can bathe the bird every day; wash the bathing suit every day.
VIDEO: CANARY SINGING
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A CANARY SINGING? NO? YOU WILL HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO!
The house canary is a subspecies of the Canary finch domesticated in the 15th century. A huge variety of different breeds and color forms have been developed. It is believed that there are already more than 12,000 breeds and species of Domestic Canary in the world, which are usually divided into three main groups: The bulk of all bred Canary breeds belong to the groups of Colored and Decorative Canaries, the number of Song Canary breeds is less than 10.
The British managed to develop varieties of original shapes and colors, for example, the “humpbacked”, orange-red with dark green wings (nervous), and the giant Manchester.
Bright yellow canaries - "saffron" - appeared as a result of an admixture of blood from colored canaries. They are fertile, but weaker than dark ones and less capable of singing. Pied canaries were bred by Russian canary breeders by mating green and lemon birds. They are hardy and good singers. Russian and German canary breeders prefer large light yellow (whitish) canaries.
In Germany, the center of canary breeding was Adreasberg on the Harz. The famous Harz or Tyrolean canaries became famous for their pipe melody, echoing Tyrolean songs. Birds were taught this type of singing using pipes and organs. The secret of breeding and training canaries has been passed down from generation to generation.
Canary breeding in Russia
The canary was brought to Russia from Germany at the end of the 16th century. In Russia, until 1917, canary breeding was one of the very significant sources of side income for the population. Canary breeding was practiced in such regions as Smolensk, Tula, Kaluga, Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod, and Ivanovo.The village of Pavlovo in the Nizhny Novgorod province, the Linen Plant in the Kaluga region and the small district towns of the Bryansk province - Starodub, Surazh and Novozybkov - were famous for their “canary factories”. They bred hundreds and thousands of canaries and sold them at Nizhny Novgorod, Kaluga, Smolensk and other fairs.
In an effort to improve the canary song, to make it more tender and melodic, canary breeders systematically selected the most talented singing birds and used various methods of training them. As “teachers” they used the common bunting, the great tit, the Muscovy, the dubrovnik, special metal pipes, whistles, and bird organs.
In Russia before the revolution, there were real canary centers where birds with different vocal abilities were bred. Canaries were valued not only by their origin (Tula, Ivanovo, Moscow, Pavlovsk), but also by the characteristics of the song “mode”, which was given the names of its creators (“Ryabovsky”, “Shelyadovsky”, “Korablevsky”, “Goremykinsky”).
Before the revolution, Canary competitions were held twice a year. Singing was assessed according to many criteria by expert judges. A medal could be obtained not only for singing the oatmeal chant, but also by teaching a canary to reproduce a Mozart melody or a popular song. A competitive canary cost no less than a cavalry horse.
In the USSR, canary competitions often took place over several days, as there were so many people willing to submit their birds for auditions. After the collapse of the USSR, canary breeding went through a period of decline, but is gradually beginning to revive in Russia. There are canary clubs in Krasnodar, Rostov, Pavlovo, Ivanovo and other cities. There are now 3 clubs in Moscow, including the Russian Canary Support Fund.
Colorbred canaries
This group of Domestic Canary breeds includes species bred to produce new plumage color variations. A huge variety of colors and color combinations have been obtained: white, gray, yellow, green, red, orange, forelock, harlequin, pockmarked, etc.
Of all the color types of Color Bred Canaries, the red color type is usually classified into a separate group (Red Factor Canary), which is considered the most valuable and expensive.
Decorative Canaries (Type canaries)
This group of House Canary breeds includes species bred for certain characteristics, such as body size and shape, unusual plumage, etc.
Humpback Canary
Humpback canaries have an upright posture with their heads held firmly down. Belgian Fancy Canary, Gibber Italicus Canary
Yorkshire Canary
The Yorkshire canary is distinguished by its larger size (up to 19 cm) and a body shape reminiscent of a carrot. Yorkshire Canary
Canary Border
The Border Canary is a small, beautiful, compact and hardy canary with a round body and glossy plumage. Size up to 14 cm. Border Fancy Canary - "Wee Gem"
Canary Fife Fancy
The Fife Fancy canary (Mini Border) differs little in appearance from the Border breed, but has a miniature size - up to 11.5 cm.
Fife Fancy Canary
Crested Canary
Crested Canaries are distinguished by the presence of elongated and slightly raised feathers on the head that form a crest. Crested Canary, Gloster Fancy Canary, Lancashire Canary
Norwich Canary, Norwich Canary
The Norwich Canary is a stocky, large canary with a dense build and bullish appearance. Tufted and regular head shapes are possible. Size up to 16 cm. Norwich Canary - "John Bull Canary"
Canary Lizard, Lizard Canary
Lizard canaries have mottled plumage reminiscent of lizard scales and a distinctively colored “cap” on their head. Size up to 14 cm. Lizard Canary
Staffordshire canary
The Staffordshire Canary was developed in England in the 1980s by crossing the Gloster Fancy and the Red Factor and is predominantly bright red or pink. Size up to 12.7 cm. Stafford Canary
North Dutch Curly Canary
The Dutch Curly Canary breed, described in 1700, is the ancestor of all later Curly Canaries. In Russia, Curly Canaries are sometimes called Frize Canaries from the French Frisé - curly, curly. Size 16.5-17 cm. Northern Dutch Frill Canary
Parisian Curly Canary
Parisian Frilled Canary, Frisé Parisien Canaris In Russia, this breed is sometimes called the "Parisian Trumpeter". The Parisian breed of Curly Canaries is considered one of the largest. The Parisian Curly differs from most other Curly Canary breeds by having uniform curling throughout the body. An unusual feature of the Parisian Curly Canary breed is its overlapping toes, curled like a corkscrew. Size up to 21 cm. Parisian Frill Canary, Frisé Parisien Canaris
Curly Canary Fiorino
The Fiorino Curly Canary is similar to the North Dutch Curly Canary, but is smaller in size. A feature of the genetics of the Fiorino breed is that one of the producers must have a headdress - a “cap”. The Fiorino breed was developed in Italy and received recognition in 1982. Size up to 13 cm. Fiorino Frill Canary
Curly-haired Canary Mehringer
The breed of Curly Canary Mehringer was first presented at the exhibition in 1989. The Curly Canary Mehringer is a smaller copy of the Parisian breed of Curly Canary - the "Parisian Trumpeter". Size up to 13 cm. Mehringer Frill Canary
Song canaries
This group of House Canary breeds includes species bred to improve the singing - vocal characteristics of male House Canaries - Kenars. Birds of the group Song canaries are valued for their ability to reproduce certain sounds and melodies; body shape, color and plumage properties are not particularly important.
German Song Canary - German Roller (Harz Roller)
The German Roller is distinguished by its low, quiet-sounding voice and the ability to sing without opening its beak. The tune of the German Roller consists of a dull roll, knorr, whistles and a dull bell. The dull rumble is considered the most important element of the melody. According to the standard, the song of a German Roller should be even, smooth and soft. Intermittency, sharp and crackling sounds in trills, isolated shouts and high-pitched whistles are considered disadvantages. Size 11.4 - 12.7 cm. German Roller Canary (Harz Roller Canary) Belgian Song Canary - Waterslieger or Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Singing Canary Malinois is distinguished not only by its singing, but also by its beauty, slenderness and grace. The most valuable parts of the Malinois song are gurgling, gurgling and gurgling sounds (sounds of moving water). Each Malinois song ends spectacularly with three nightingale tours. The song of the Belgian canary, in comparison with the Rollers, is much more complex and richer. Size up to 16.5 cm. Waterslager Canary, Belgian Waterslager Song Canary, Malinois Canary, Water Singer Spanish Song Canary - Timbrados España
A distinctive feature of the breed "Spanish Singing Canary Timbrados" is the performance of three song rounds, consisting of a certain sequence of scattered trills, reminiscent of the playing of Spanish castanets. Timbrados is considered the oldest breed of Song Canaries. Timbrados canaries perform complex songs that must be loud, metallic, bright and harmonious. Size up to 12.7 cm. Spanish Timbrado Canary American Song Canary - American Singer
The American Singer Canary, obtained by crossing the German Roller Canary and the Border Canary breeds, is distinguished not only by its melodic, varied and louder singing, but also by its attractive appearance. The American Song Canary breed reflects the best features of both breeds - the musical ability of the Roller and the pleasant appearance of the Border Canary. Size up to 14.6 cm. American Singer Canary Since the time of the great geographical discoveries, travelers have brought their impressions of them from almost unexplored countries. As well as scientific material and drawings, but also a variety of unusual animals and birds. Among them, the ancestors of modern canary birds were brought from the Canary Islands. By the way, the name of the birds came from the name of these islands.
As soon as the first canaries arrived in Europe, and then after some time in Russia, they gradually became very popular, primarily because of their singing ability.
Gradually, people learned to raise and breed birds in captivity. And even entire villages in Russia at that time were engaged only in breeding birds, building cages and making other accessories.
Over a long period of time, as a result of being kept in captivity, this species of bird began to differ significantly from the ancestors (see photo of a canary) of wild canaries (canary finches). First of all, this concerns the color of feathers, as well as singing, and it is predominantly males who sing.
Appearance of canaries and their description
What kind of canaries are there - usually domestic ones are not large in size, usually the body length is 12-15 cm, and sometimes decorative breeds of birds can be a little larger and reach sizes up to 23 cm. The body of birds is harmonious, the head is round, and the beak is short and looks like a skittle.
Breeds are also distinguished as colored and songbirds; colored birds can be of a wide variety of colors. But the most popular color of birds is still yellow and its varieties.
Note!
Ornamental bird breeds are those species that are distinguished by non-standard plumage, some slight modification of the body or size.
Character and training of canaries
The nature of the birds is quite calm and accommodating, and males are more friendly towards humans than females. But at the same time, if the bird came to a person at a more mature age, they may be reluctant to make contact and in some cases even show mild aggression.
Since they have already formed a certain character, and birds rarely change their habits. To change the character of an adult, you need to make a lot of effort and have great patience.
If the individual is young, then here too you need to show patience and calmness; during the first days of the bird’s stay in the house, you should disturb it as little as possible, and approach its habitat only to change food, and you should not make any impetuous or sudden movements.
When the domestic canary gets used to the new place, you can begin to gradually tame it. The cage should be positioned so that it is at eye level, and you should go into the room where the bird is located more often, then you can even sit next to the cage. You can even start talking to her in a quiet and gentle voice.
Note!
When the canary freezes and seems to listen to the words, you can begin taming your hands. To do this, you need to carefully insert your hand with a tasty treat into the cage. Sooner or later the bird will get used to the hand and will sit on it.
Under no circumstances should you shout at it, shake the cage or generally offend it; as a result of such an attitude, the bird will completely refuse to have a relationship with a person.
Keeping and caring for poultry
It is advisable that the cage have a double bottom, this will make cleaning it much easier. Inside the cage there must be two thin perches made of wood, their surface must be rough.
Most canaries love water procedures, and therefore, in order for the bird to have the opportunity to bathe, a deep container with water at room temperature is placed several times a week. After bathing, the container is immediately removed.
Note!
They also benefit from flying around the room, which they also do several times a week. Before this, it is necessary to close all windows and vents, remove other animals and small children from the room. It is also advisable to close the curtains on the windows to prevent birds from hitting the glass.
While the bird is flying around the room, you can clean the cage, not only clean it of debris and feces, but also pour boiling water over it and treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Birds need to be fed with balanced food; almost any specialized store sells food for canaries, both regular and intended for molting.
It is recommended to add sunflower seeds without peel and crushed buckwheat to the food. Once or twice a week you need to give a little boiled egg. Do not forget about the greens and the supply of calcium to the bird (the source of calcium is chalk or crushed eggshells).
It is important to avoid bird obesity; the total amount of feed per day should not exceed 2 tablespoons; it is best to throw away stale feed.
Breeding canaries at home
Some people try to breed canaries at home, some are seriously interested in this matter, and some are just for fun, but, nevertheless, in both cases this issue must be approached responsibly. To breed them, large males with beautiful plumage and good singing ability should be selected.
If the breed is planned to be pure, then only one female is added to the male; if not, then 2-3 females. You should also prepare a nest in the cage; for this, small wicker baskets are placed in it, inside which dry hay, thick threads made from natural materials, and thin soft twigs are placed.
During the period of courtship, mating and reproduction in general, you should not move the cage and minimize tidying in it. After mating, the female lays eggs after about 10 days and incubates them for about 15 days.
As soon as the chicks hatch, the male can be removed from the cage, and the amount of food should be increased. You should definitely increase the amount of egg whites and soft foods in your diet.
As soon as the chicks are one month old, they should be placed in other cages, especially for males. At this age, females can be distinguished from males by their chirping; in males it is longer and more melodic, while in females it is short and not particularly melodic.
Photo of a canary
The second subspecies of wild canary is the European wild canary. It inhabits gardens, parks and groves in eastern Europe up to the western regions of Belarus and Ukraine, from where this subspecies has spread even throughout the Baltic states and the Leningrad region. The song of the canary from the Canary Islands is richer than that of the European wild canary.
In addition to the canary, the genus of canary finches also includes the Mozambique finch, gray finch, red-fronted finch and others. When they are mated with a domestic canary, hybrids are obtained, which subsequently produce offspring.
The first detailed description of the life of wild canaries was given by the German naturalist Karl Bolle in 1885. These small birds avoid shady forests and are found in sparse forest plantings, among bushes and on the edges of groves. They love gardens and often nest in close proximity to human habitation. During the non-breeding period of their lives, wild canaries stay in flocks, flying from one place to another in search of food. They eat the seeds of a variety of herbaceous plants, tender greens and some berries.
A delicacy for them are poppy seeds, garden lettuce, cabbage, as well as semi-ripe “canary seed”. During the period of feeding their chicks, canaries also eat small insects, in particular, aphids and scale insects. They love to swim in water and splash excitedly in the shallow waters of streams and rivers. Before sunset, canaries gather for their roosting area. They take a fancy to some tree, and their lively hubbub does not stop for a long time. During the nesting season, flocks break up into pairs, the female usually hatches the chicks, and the male is constantly nearby and sings continuously.
The song of a wild canary in natural conditions enchants people. K. Bolle wrote: “The singing of a wild canary, in general, is similar to the singing of an ordinary domestic canary and is distinguished by the same character, but, performed in the open air, among roses, jasmine and cypress trees, where the hardness of sound is lost in the air heights, this song sounds much more more beautiful, cleaner and louder. The chest sounds that sink into the soul make a particularly strong impression precisely when performed by the wild canary and those domestic ones who are kept on the Canary Islands and learn to sing from the wild ones.”
History of Canary Domestication
In 1478, the Spaniards reached the Canary Islands and made the archipelago their colony. Among the rich nature, their attention was attracted by beautifully singing small birds. Although the wild canary hardly tolerates captivity, already at that time many local residents kept canaries in cages woven from reeds and willow branches, where they not only sang well, but also successfully reproduced. The Spaniards saw in canaries a wonderful way to get rich. For a hundred years they held a monopoly on their import into Europe. They succeeded in this primarily due to the fact that only males were imported to Europe, having a richer and more melodic singing than females. Thus, birds could only breed in natural conditions or in the homes of breeders from whom they had to be purchased. In those days, birds were worth a lot of money, and only very rich people could afford to keep these wonderful singers. Members of royal families and other high-ranking persons kept kenars in gold and silver cages decorated with precious stones and pearls. At the same time, birds acquired from the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands, accustomed to living in captivity, quickly adapted to new conditions. However, completely wild canaries caught in the forests mostly died, unable to adapt to captivity.
Over time, the Spaniards' monopoly on the breeding and importation of canaries was broken. Legend says that around the 16th century, a Spanish ship carrying a large shipment of canaries crashed off the coast of Malta. Despite the shipwreck, one of the crew managed to open the cage doors and release the birds, who escaped and ended up on the island. The local climate turned out to be quite suitable for them, thanks to which the birds took root and even began to interbreed with local finches. As a result, beautiful offspring were born, which, in terms of vocal abilities, were almost in no way inferior to the Canary Kenars.
So the first country in Europe after Spain where canary breeding began was Italy. From here, canary breeding spread to Germany, and in 1600, Italian canaries appeared in Tyrol, which later became the center of canary breeding in Europe. Their popularity grew, and with this growth, more and more countries began to keep and breed these cute birds. Over time, birds became easier to breed in captivity and became widespread throughout Europe, becoming cheaper in price and accessible not only to the privileged class, but also to ordinary hobbyists. Canaries have become almost the most common indoor bird.
Then they became favorites around the world, reaching China, Japan, Australia, North and South America. The color of canaries also changed: from the beginning of the 17th century, more and more bright yellow birds began to appear among the offspring of canaries, independently of each other, in different places. This was due to the general climate change in Europe, although no one knew about it in those years. Naturally, not only the most virtuoso singers, but also the most beautiful individuals who were pleasing to the eye were allowed into breeding.
In addition, breeders began to experiment with their selection, and by 1700 about 30 different color varieties of canaries were already known in the world. As a result of these genetic “experiments,” not only color mutations began to appear, but also other mutations associated with changes in the structure of the feather cover, body proportions, and size of the birds, which subsequently led to the appearance of canaries of different breeds (now there are more than 120 of them), which are usually separated into three groups: singing, colored and decorative. We can talk about canary breeds in a separate article, because each of them has its own history, its own wonderful qualities and its loyal fans. All of them are distinguished by many different characteristics and their variations: color, the presence of crests and curls, physique, size, habits and, of course, the nature of their song.
Canaries in Russia
In the 18th – 19th centuries, a wave of canary breeding swept our country. Our breeding centers have become Moscow, Kaluga, Tula, Kyiv, Medyn, Pavlovo-on-Oka, Ivanovo and other large and small cities. In Russia, singing canaries were especially valued, and forest birds with the best vocal abilities were chosen to teach young canaries to sing: larks, tits, buntings, nightingales. Unlike European breeding lines and methods of teaching birds to sing, Russian canaries have become a separate species - the so-called Russian canary. The Russian Canary is not officially recognized as a breed, since it does not have a clear standard. Only 3 singing canary breeds have gained international fame: the German (Harz Roller), the Belgian (Malinois) and the Spanish (Timbrados).
Before the revolution in Russia, under the patronage of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich, the Imperial Society of Canary Lovers was formed, where competitions were held twice a year for the best performance of the so-called oatmeal chant. Birds that could reproduce graceful and delicate melodies, such as the music of Mozart, were also valued. Competitors were evaluated by qualified expert judges.
The criteria by which the value of a bird was determined were its origin, as well as the peculiarities of the song pattern, which were given the names of their creators, the famous Russian amateur canary breeders (Gorshkovsky, Ryabovsky, Shiplevsky, Goremykinsky, Shelyadovsky, Muzlanovsky). The last Emperor Nicholas II was a passionate lover of canaries. According to contemporaries, the famous breeder from the city of Pavlovo-on-Oka, I.N. Gorshkov, was awarded an icon of the Mother of God for supplying the emperor with the best songbirds.
Both World Wars, a real plague of the 20th century, caused enormous damage to canary breeding, including in our country, but the passion for canaries in the hearts of canary lovers did not fade away. Canary breeding competitions were regularly held in the USSR, where lovers of these birds came from all over Russia and the Union republics.
Choosing a canary: pros and cons
Like any pet, any bird has its pros and cons. In various articles, we have repeatedly talked about responsibility when getting a pet and an informed decision that must be made not “impromptu”, but after thinking through everything to the smallest detail.Unlike parrots and many other popular caged birds, canaries practically do not get used to being handled, although they need company. They are quite comfortable both in a flock and when kept in pairs. If you have the opportunity to spend at least a few hours a day with a canary, you can limit yourself to one bird, but it is better that the pet does not get bored alone - alas, in our difficult times there are fewer and fewer housewives or unemployed pensioners. Therefore, few people can afford the constant joy of communicating with their feathered pets. But what does the appearance of several little birds entail? Of course, in addition to the main cage for the canary singer, you will also need spare cages:
Laying in case of quarantine of a sick bird, small cages for temporary seating of males and females to allow the birds to rest and calmly moult between nesting sites,
- the nest cell itself, where the couple lives and produces offspring, and
- a so-called flight (remember this term, it comes up in the literature all the time) cage for growing young animals.
Will there be enough space in the house, will there be safe corners in a cramped apartment, inaccessible to drafts, cats and small children?
Tactile contact with an animal is vital for a person, especially a lonely person. But what is pleasant for us is not very pleasant for wild pets - all this squeezing, stroking and constant attempts to touch the birds with our hands can be perceived by birds as stress. At first, the birds will be scared even if you stick your hand with food into the cage, but soon they will begin to associate you and your movements with something pleasant, because it is you who give them food and safety.
Do not delude yourself that communicating with the canary and teaching it to sing will turn the bird into an affectionate and intelligent “kitty” and “sweetheart”. Of course, he will recognize you, and you will be surprised by more and more successes and victories, the bird’s intelligence will develop, but you will not establish such a close friendship as with a cat or dog. If you are in dire need of psychological support and love, it is better to opt for some other animal or get a canary and... someone else.
But remember the safety measures! Unlike the same finches, which are not recommended to leave the cage unless necessary, canaries need to be let out to fly around the room. Therefore, isolate birds from any sources of external danger - cats, dogs, small children, poisonous indoor plants, faulty or exposed wiring, open windows, gaps between walls and furniture, and so on. Think through your entire interior down to the smallest detail! You may need to make some rearrangements or even minor repairs before the bird arrives.
You decided to buy a canary, chose its breed, decided how many birds will live in your home, found a good breeder or pet store, and looked for a pet for yourself. What to do next?Recommended optimal cell sizes:
- for a lonely canary: 40*30*30 cm
- for a couple (nest cage): 60*40*40 cm
- for a small flock or passage for young animals: 100*50*50 cm or a spacious enclosure.
Despite the fact that canaries are southern birds, they do not like too harsh light and direct sunlight, so the cage must be placed in a bright place, but not on a window and, of course, away from drafts. Canaries are quite shy, so one of the walls of the cage, for example, the back one, should be covered with cardboard, plywood, a sheet of plastic, or draped with cloth. Once in a cage that is transparent and visible from all sides, the birds will experience constant stress and anxiety.
Like all other birds, canaries need perches, preferably of different diameters (but not less than 1-1.5 cm), so that they can sit and hold their fingers in different positions: this helps strengthen their muscle tone and grind down their claws. The minimum distance from the top perch to the ceiling of the cage should be no less than the height of the bird, so that when it flies up to its perch it cannot hit itself. A certain distance between the perch and the walls of the cage should be maintained for the same reason.
The first flight around the room will not happen immediately. A bird that arrives at a new home should be left alone for at least two weeks and should not be released under any circumstances. Let her get used to you, your appearance, your voice and the room in which she is located. In a stressful situation, a canary released from its cage can perform unimaginable “feats” and get into trouble. Having fallen into a gap between furniture or another hard-to-reach place, the canary can become numb with fear and stop speaking, so finding it and removing it will be very difficult and even dangerous - moving large and heavy objects in search of the loss, you risk crushing the pet.
Don’t forget about surprises and stupid things that can’t happen even theoretically, but... for some reason they happen! For example, a bird may accidentally fall into a flower vase with a narrow neck, land in a jewelry box or desk drawer that someone in the household automatically closes, land in a bag or plastic bag with some things, and so on. When a canary flies around a room, the door and window must be closed, but check other rooms too before flying!
Look into the kitchen: is the gas burning, are there uncovered pots of hot food on the stove, is there a cup of boiling water on the table, is there someone’s lit cigarette lying in the ashtray... I deliberately scare you and make you tremble and imagine terrible scenes, because this is how you will learn to follow all safety measures automatically. The day may come when the door opens with a slight draft, or you yourself forget to close it, rush to a phone call or someone's shout, forget to lock the cat, and in a matter of seconds something irreparable will happen.
But that’s not the case: you are already accustomed to caution and ensure the bird’s safety practically on “autopilot”, which means that it is not in danger of any trouble. However, for this you need to accustom yourself and all your relatives to order very, very strictly.
It is difficult to catch a bird after a “walk”; it is easier and safer to lure it back into the cage. To do this, darken the room and illuminate the cage with a table lamp, and the canary will fly into the light. In addition, over time, she will develop a food reflex, and she will return to her “home” at the moment when she gets hungry. To achieve this result, never feed your canaries outside of their cage.
Now about the seating of the young couple. If your birds are not yet at least a year old, it is better not to house them together! Laying too early can lead to exhaustion of the female, complications during egg laying (you may even have to contact a veterinarian), and the birth of weak or non-viable offspring. If the birds are already ready to mate, we must remember that not all couples get along with ease.
If clashes arise between the feathered spouses, you may have to place them in different cages again. By gradually moving the cages closer to each other so that the birds see each other but cannot connect, you will ensure that they develop mutual interest. In addition, when calling the female, the canary will begin to sing very well. Some canary breeders use this technique (attracting a male by an unavailable female) when teaching canary canaries to sing in order to stimulate their desire to sing.
There is another great way to make your pets become friends - this is to give them a series of joint flights around the room. In a large space, they do not need to divide the territory or sort things out, but they will begin to show interested curiosity towards each other, and soon, after almost 2-3 walks around the room, they can be placed in a nesting cage.
Like most finches, canaries love to take baths! To do this, they need to buy a special hanging bathing suit that hangs on the cage door. Bathing water should be changed every day. Pour about 1-2 cm of water into the bathing suit, in no case more! The canary is a tiny, graceful bird; in too much water it can simply choke!
Pay close attention to the emptying of the feeders. You may think they are full, but when you look inside, you will only see the husks of the husked grains. Replenish the feeders regularly, daily, so the birds can eat as much as they want, whenever they want. This only applies to dry grain mixtures! Canaries also require supplements: greens and fresh fruits, protein (cottage cheese, hard-boiled egg), a source of calcium and gravel for digestion. Don't forget to provide a drinking bowl with clean, fresh water. The water must be changed daily.
Among various literary and online sources, you will often come across the name “canary seed”. This cereal, which has an official name - Canary canary - actually belongs to the genus Canary, which has a total of about 25 species. Canary seed is by no means the only food for canaries; it is only included in ready-made balanced bird feeds. There is bird food that bears the same name, but this phrase only means a brand, trademark, or original name of the product indicated on the package. In fact, you need to consult with the breeder about what food the birds consumed before moving to your home, and stick to their usual diet in the future.
Keeping the cage clean is vital for all birds, especially delicate and sensitive babies like canaries. A complete cleaning of the cage should occur approximately once a week, and it is better to empty the retractable tray and change the bedding every day.
Bibliography:
Iofina I. O. Canaries - M.: “Veche”, 2007.
Rakhmanov A.I. Home canary. Content. Breeding. Feeding. – M.: LLC “Aquarium Print”, K.: OJSC “House of Printing – VYATKA”, 2005.
Huebl M. Canaries. Maintenance and care.\ Transl. with him. N. V. Zhuravlevoy - M.: Aquarium Print LLC, 2007.
Shpakovich I. A. Canaries. – M.: AST Publishing House LLC, Donetsk: “Stalker”, 2004.
Anna Kurtz
Domestic canaries They are very popular: they are unpretentious in their content, sing melodiously, and delight the eye with their bright colors. Canaries grow up to 11-22 centimeters, depending on the variety. Canaries can be singing, colorful and decorative. Bird colors can be different - red, yellow, white, orange, brown, gray, green. Individuals with green-yellow or gray stripes predominate. Decorative breeds - Fife Fancy, lizard, mountainous, curly birds of non-standard sizes with original plumage or body shape.
photo: Canaries of various colors
The canary's natural habitat is the forests of the Canary Archipelago. These birds were discovered by the Spanish conquistadors in 1473, they kept them in their homes in small reed cages and enjoyed their singing. By the way, mostly only male canaries sing, most actively in the spring; females have a less melodious voice. Young individuals are highly trained and can copy the voices of others or a tape recording.
Canaries are kept in a cage measuring 40 centimeters or more; it should be comfortable not only for the pet, but also for cleaning and disinfection. Equip the cage with perches, feeders, a bathing bowl and a drinking bowl. Retractable feeders and glass drinkers are preferable. Birds should be taught to bathe from the age of one month. Every week the cage must be disinfected - the bird is removed during this time. All toys, perches and other objects are scalded with hot water and wiped with chamomile tincture or other means. Let the bird fly out of its cage for half an hour; gradually it can be taught to fly when called and sit on your shoulder. The bedding is sawdust or paper; in the evening the cage is covered with thick cloth so that the bird does not wake you up in the morning with its singing.
photo: Canaries are one of the most beloved songbirds in our country
It is not difficult to obtain offspring in captivity: select a pair of beautiful and healthy canaries and place them in a separate cage. It is interesting that the bird takes its voice from its father, and its color from both parents. The female builds a nest from scrap materials - scraps, threads, balls. They hang it in the corner of the cage and do not change its location. After about a week, when the female gets used to it, she lays a clutch, the parents take care of the offspring together, and less than a month after birth, the babies leave the parental nest. Grain food should be purchased specifically for canaries; as treats you can give grated crackers, sunflower seeds, hard-boiled chicken eggs, plant foods (sweet apples, peppers, dandelion leaves, lettuce, horse sorrel), but do not overfeed the bird with greens. In winter, you can germinate rapeseed or wheat grains. Mineral feeding - ground eggshells, chalk, coarse river sand, charcoal.
photo: A canary can imitate its owner's voice!
- These birds exhibit high sensitivity to carbon monoxide and methane. This is an indicator of air purity that miners used: while the bird was singing, one could work calmly; if firedamp appeared, the canary immediately stopped singing and fell from its perch;
- Tsar Nicholas II was very fond of the singing of canaries; birds were brought to him even to palaces in St. Petersburg;
- At one time, canaries were very expensive; a beautifully singing bird could cost more than a cavalry horse;
- The Spaniards, who first saw these birds, banned the export of canaries from the country under pain of death, and if they sold, then only males;
- In captivity, canaries can live up to 15 years and are distinguished by their cheerful character and beautiful voices.