Canary Care and Feeding

The biggest canary mistake is feeding seed alone. It looks natural, but an all-seed diet is low in vitamins, minerals, protein and iodine, and it drives obesity, fatty liver and iodine-deficiency goitre, a swollen thyroid that can cause clicking or wheezy breathing and regurgitation. Balance the seed with daily greens and vegetables, a small formulated pellet or egg-based soft food, and a cuttlebone for calcium. Add egg food through the moult and breeding season. Never feed avocado, which is toxic to birds.

Canaries are active little birds that need a long flight cage rather than a tall narrow one, because they fly side to side rather than climb. Give them several perches of varying thickness, set away from the feeder so droppings do not foul the food, plus a shallow dish for bathing. Keep the cage out of draughts, kitchen fumes and harsh afternoon sun, and give them clear daylight and quiet, dark nights to keep the male in song.

Canaries are watchers rather than cuddlers. Most prefer not to be handled and show contentment through song and activity rather than physical affection. They are happy kept singly, and a lone male sings best, while males housed together may squabble in the breeding season. Move slowly around the cage, talk or play gentle music, and let a new bird settle for a week or two before expecting full song.