Questions from new canary owner

[theresa92841]

I am getting a couple of books on canaries. And I am going to call my vet on Monday to see if I should bring the bird in just for a general welleness exam since I just got him. But I wondered what y'all think on the following:

1. Cover the cage or don't cover the cage? He didn't have his cage covered at the store and in fact there was a little bit of light on all the time.

2. Converting to pellet from seed - mix small amount of pellet with seed and gradually increase amount or put pellet in separate bowl and slowly decrease the amount of seed available?

3. Provide bath every day? several times a week? once a week? or do you mist?

4. Roll the cage to the bathroom to remove the bird? Let if fly around in the bathroom and then capture it? How would you try to remove the bird so that you could put it in a carrier?

5. How small do I cut up the fresh fruit and veggies I offer the bird? As small as pellets are? size of a dime?

I was on my vet's website and he said that he doesn't follow the "rule" that you have to have the lights on at the same time or off at the same time. That his birds have adjusted to his lifestyle. So that makes me wonder if the advice I am reading is really just "ideally".

For example, with my dog, she knows she gets fed when I get up and when I get home. I get up at 4:30 or 6:00 or 6:30 or 8:00. I get home at 5:00 or 5:30 or 7:00 or 8:00. She seems fine with my routine but in the "ideal" training info, I would be told I need to feed her at the same time each day.

So I am wondering if that is what I should keep in mind for the bird. That I keep my house temperature comfortable for me. That I keep my schedule the way it is. Etc. and that he will be able to adjust.

I probably way overthink things. And on another forum they were just downright mean to me.

[LadyLynn]

yes, don't over think, but there are some things that are important.

1. keep your birds warm. You don't want them getting cold.
2. yes, they will adjust to your schedule. "These are intellegent creatures."
3. Roll the bird into the bathroom? I should hope you'll be able to train your bird enough to trust you enough to step up on you, to hold it's position for at least a short time no matter where you are in the house.

4. Covering the bird can sometimes be a big controvery, but for the most part it's much better to cover your bird at night for sleeping.

a pelleted diet is always better than a seed diet. They make pellets big enough for cockatiels, small enough for them too and that might be good for a canary.

but don't panick, and yes, ask all the qurestions that you need to.

[krazy4birds]

As far as cutting up the food and such I would make it pretty small. I cover my birds at night too. Books are a great comfort when you just want to retain some of the important issues and to have for a quick question, although you may not follow exactly what the book says at least it will give you a structure so you can set up your own personal regimen. I have a book for every bird I have and a few that just cover all the basics for all pet birds.

[theresa92841]

well, i am starting to feel a little more comfortable with what i should do. When I was at the vet I must have asked him a list of 20 plus questions that included the above.

He gave me the following advice:
1. If I think that the bird is too disturbed by light or noise where his cage is at night or if he could get chilly, to go ahead and cover 3 sides of the cage. He recommended I put some strips of paper on the cage so I could tell if any draft was around.

2. He said canaries are fine on a seed variety. But that pellets are good too. So I am going to mix pellets in with the seed and see what the bird does. Le Beau is very adventurous. He checks out whatever I put in his food dishes and tries them, so I think he will try the pellets too.

3. I forgot to ask about the bath. I think that every day that I am home and around to take it out of the cage again, that I will over him a bath. So far he hasn't figured out what they are. I've been putting them on the bottom of the cage. I've ordered one to go on the side of the cage, but it hasn't arrived yet.

4. He recommended putting the cage in a small area like the bathroom and doing the lights out technique I mentioned in another thread. And after I showed how inept I am at taking the bird out of the cage where I have it now, I will definitely try this. I tried it with the carrier when I got home from the vet and it worked so much easier. I handled the bird less. And I have to think it was less stressful than my trying to catch him after he got out of the cage and flew around the house.

5. He recommended that I clip some of the veggies to the cage bar and let the bird peck at it. So they can't be too small. And that I shred carrots. I grated some carrot today and gave it to him. He really liked it. So I think I just need to experiement and see what workds.

He also said that the bird will get use to whatever schedule, temperature, location you have. So if I have an irregular schedule it will be fine with that. temperature variations are fine. He says the temperatures I keep my house should be fine. He said it is good to open your windows when the weather is nice. And that it is good to move the cage to different locations . . . that he will get use to it and find it interesting. He said it is only if you have those all set and then try to change them that the bird will have problems.

Oh and he said the bird is very healthy. He gave me an idea of what signs to look for to indicate if he gets sick.

So I am starting to think that I can do this. :D

[Macawpower58]

I used to cover, now I don't. If your house is dark, quiet and no breezes, it probably won't matter much. If you watch TV late, you have a breeze, etc....then a cover will ensure your canary is getting the rest it needs.

Linda suggested cockatiel pellets for your canary. Hopefully she is aware of a canary's dietary needs. I am not, but would question if they are the same as a cockatiels. Just something to ponder.

Your canary will like sleeping when the sun is down. That is natural for birds. They can and do adjust to whatever your schedule is, just ensure your bird gets enough quiet undisturbed rest.

On the size of the food, since canaries can't hold it in their feet, you either need it small enough for them to eat, or large enough that it remains stable as they bite off pieces. Trial and error is needed here. Once again, I doubt a canary has the same needs as other parrots. Hopefully their are canary folk here who know. Linda.......are you a canary owner??

Misting is great, many smaller birds though love a tub inserted for them to bathe in. Try both, and find which your bird likes best. Bathe early so the bird has time to dry before bed. If your bird likes a daily bath, go for it. At least once a week though should suffice.

[theresa92841]

At the pet store, they had pellets for canaries. So I had bought that. It was what the lady selling the bird showed me. There may be other brands.

That is a good idea about misting. Maybe I should try that too or instead and see if he likes that better. I had heard that about letting him bathe early in the day so he would be dry at night. That is why I will only do it on days that I am home to take the water back out again. Three days a week, I leave and am not home for 10 - 12 hours, so I would avoid those days.

I didn't know that canaries couldn't hold food in their feet. That gives me a better idea of what to do with the veggies. I think I like the idea of seeing about clipping it to the cage securely. I think that would be easier if Le Beau goes for it. Cutting up greens small is hard to do. grating the carrot was easy though. I have broccoli to try on him tomorrow.

I also am not sure how much veggie to give him. he is small so I don't want to give him way too much and just waste it. But so far it is hard to tell.

[LadyLynn]

Becky, I was not really meaning to suggest cockatiel pellets or seeds, it just struck me that those formulations are small enough that a canary "Might," and I do mean Might, be able to handle them.....................

And yes, I'm aware Canaries are different and should probably eat what is formulated for them as opposed to cockatiel or conure foods.

[Macawpower58]

Thanks Linda......lol........I wasn't quizzing you, I just don't know much about canaries myself. I know one of the bird lovers on here has one, but can not remember who it is.