Finches And Canaries

Finches And Canaries

As pets, canaries and finches are fairly easy to maintain. While songbirds generally don’t like to be handled, they are fascinating to observe. Depending on the bird, expect a life span of 5–10 years.

Before purchasing a pet songbird, consider the following:

Songbirds need nutritious food, fresh water and a clean habitat.

Songbirds need daily attention and interaction.

All household members should understand how to handle and care for a songbird, and they should all be as eager as you to welcome a songbird into the family.

Whether to get more than one bird depends on the type of bird. Canaries tend to be solitary birds, content on their own. Finches are more social birds, happiest in the company of their own kind.

Your songbird will need plenty of opportunity to fly, but it’s best not to allow a canary or finch out of the cage. A typical house offers many dangers to a bird. Provide your bird with an appropriately sized cage, not free reign of your house.

Offer your songbird a bath at least twice a week. Fill a shallow dish with 6 cm of room-temperature water and place it in the cage. Once your songbird has finished bathing, remove the water.

Nails should be trimmed about twice a year, by you or a qualified professional.

Unless you live in a cool climate, you likely won’t need to cover your bird’s cage at night. Some birds appreciate the extra privacy and others feel panicked. Take your cue from your bird’s behaviour.

As a rule, songbirds do not like to be handled. If you must remove a songbird from the cage, remove all perches, turn out the lights, then gently reach into the enclosure. Place one hand over the bird’s back, with the head resting between your first and second finger. Use your thumb and remaining fingers to gently restrain the wings.

Songbirds may not like to be handled, but they do enjoy company. Place your songbirds’ cage in a draft free area, out of direct sunlight, where they can watch and be watched. Don’t place the cage under or near an air conditioning unit or vent, or in the kitchen.

Select as large a cage as possible. The minimum suggested size is 60 cm long, 30 cm wide and 30 cm tall. Width is more important than height, as songbirds fly back and forth, rather than up and down. A rectangular, metal cage with vertical bars is best. Wood or wicker cages may be attractive, but are impossible to disinfect. The bars should be no more than 12 mm apart, to prevent the bird from getting his or her head stuck. Line the bottom of the cage with newspaper or paper towels.

Provide your songbirds with plenty of perches of varying diameters. Pesticide-free branches from nontoxic trees such as apple, elm, or maple make natural and attractive perches. Finches, in particular, will appreciate the privacy that the leaves can afford. Wood, plastic and hemp perches can also be purchased. Monitor hemp or rope perches carefully, as the fibres can become tangled around the bird’s toes. Avoid perches made of synthetic fibres or covered in sandpaper, which can cause irritation to the feet. Concrete perches can help keep the nails and beak properly worn down, but provide some non-concrete perches as well.

Their attractive plumage and cheerful song make small songbirdsdelightful companions.

News

Bird Habit

Birdwatching is a very enjoyable, relaxing habit, but catching sight of a rare bird, whether it is a rare species or just rare to where you are birdwatching, can be quite a thrill. There are many beautiful ...

Birding Houston: Rare Birds - Associated Content

BETHLEHEM — The faces have gotten old, the nerves frayed. The heat, the insects and the security guards are never-ending. Add it all together and you get a fourth week of Eagles training camp Lehigh, which ...

Tensions boiling over, practices heated at Birds' camp - Daily Local News

BETHLEHEM — The faces have gotten old, the nerves frayed. The heat, the insects and the security guards are never-ending. Add it all together and you get a fourth week of Eagles training camp at old Lehigh U ...