Need some Canary help! New owner here, don't know what to do..

[LuvGold00]

Need some Pet Talk help here... My grandmother has become very ill, and will no longer be able to live by herself at her house anymore. She's 92, so she's been really lucky. But, now we have her canary... I have no experience with canaries. What should I feed? How often? Do they like toys? All the general things, any advice would be GREAT!

Thanks!

[Vermontcat]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I found some basic care info at the Petsmart website.
Canary care (http://www.petsmart.com/global/articles/article_detail.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673 332927&bmUID=1134097695305)
Haven't you owned parakeets in the past?
I think you will need the same basic things for a canary that you need for parakeets.
Hopefully the link can help you out.

[LuvGold00]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother.
I found some basic care info at the Petsmart website.
Canary care (http://www.petsmart.com/global/articles/article_detail.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673 332927&bmUID=1134097695305)
Haven't you owned parakeets in the past?
I think you will need the same basic things for a canary that you need for parakeets.
Hopefully the link can help you out.

I have two lovebirds, but they keep each other company really... I don't know much about canaries, are they similar to canaries?

[LKPike]

well we feed our birdies once a day (and change the water out then too) they rather play with newspaper than expensive toys, and *I* personally do not know but my hubby says giving a bird a mirror is just liking giving it a mate and will keep them company (?) I dunno. if its an older bird it might rather be left alone anyway, but younger birds in my experience want to be with you, for cuddles, friendships, ..biting. it shouldnt be that hard to get him into a schedule since youve already got small birds, they arent muchly different.

[crazy_caique]

Sorry to hear about your grandmother.Canary's need a nice sized cage to fly,only male sing,it is best to have one canary if you want it to sing,i read in bird talk they like swings,they can live 15 years,canery are said to like to bath in a small dish

[crazy_caique]

all of my info is coming form Bird talk magazine and things i have read on canarys,I read they do best as an only canery because they will pick on each other but if you want to get another canary get 2 more so the head canary has not just on other housemate to bother.But I would just keep your bird as an only bird your bird might not want a canary friend he could have never lived with other canarys.I read don't bath them more then 2x a week because of there feathers will dull,mixed seed,eggfood,and veggies is what it says to feed them in BT,but i think some pellets wouldn't hurt.
Do you know how old your bird is?Is your bird male or female?

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I don't have too much experience with canaries (some,but not much) but I do have pleanty of bird (especially small bird) experience.

Canaries are a lot like finches in how you care for them. You can buy a seed mix especially for canaries at a pet store. You can give them some finch seed too if you'd like. Most small birds like millet for a treat too. Leave the seeds in his cage at all times! I freshen my birds seeds twice a day. Canaries, like finches need egg food as a part of their diet.

I find most finches like leafy greens, I'd immagine a canary would too. You can clip them to the side with a close pin.

Most every bird I've met LOVES to have a mirror. They love to talk to the "other bird" in the mirror. ;) Swings are usually loved by most birds too.

Do you know what kind of canary he is? I've always loved canaries. I someday hope to have a crested canary.

You have to post pictures! Good luck with him!

[LuvGold00]

Do you know how old your bird is?Is your bird male or female?

I don't know how old he is, I know they got him at a pet store maybe 2 years ago. It's a male, but since my gram has been sick, he hasn't sung in weeks. :(

And I don't know what kind he is, he's yellow with a little brown on his head. Once we put him in his new cage, and he's more relaxed I'll try to get some pictures.

[crazy_caique]

what's his name?

[Husky_mom]

i´ve had canaries before, you feed them once a day, or as you see food is running low, you can blow the food container to let the eaten seeds fly, so you really see how mush is left, and water change as needed (1,2,3,4,10 times)

if hes been alone for 2 years or so, it might as well be worse to put a mirror since hes used to be alone in his territory, but you can introduce a female which will be more pleasant than having the image of another male.

regarding food, at pet stores you can find a wide variety of canary food which i think is very similar to finch food, you can also give him some veggies, bread, and buy some calcium stone.

for toys, they play with anything, newspaper, strings, balls, you can get him a swing for his cage.

[LuvGold00]

what's his name?

He doesn't really have one, my Gram use to call him Tweety.

[LKPike]

my mil's cockatiel is named tweeter :)