The Morning Routine for My Canaries
Many of you have been asking for an update on my canaries… and I’m happy to report all of them are doing very well.
Caring for birds requires time and diligence to keep their environments clean, with ample amounts of fresh food and water, but for anyone who enjoys their melodious song and curious, active personalities, it’s well worth every chore. Canaries are good-natured, gentle and hardy birds. And every morning, the cage is cleaned and the birds are given a fresh buffet of seeds to keep them happy.
Recently, we took a few more snapshots, so I could share them here with you, enjoy.
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- My canaries love it here on my porch – they can see so much of the activity around the farm from the big floor to ceiling glass windows and doors.
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- Canaries are very hardy, but to keep them healthy their cage must always be as clean as possible. Every morning, the shelves and trays are all wiped down with a damp rag.
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- This process is done while the birds are in the cage – they love to watch from their natural wooden perches. Canaries also love to see people, and will often recognize regular visitors. This is part of their daily routine, so they are not scared – many will continue to sing during the cleaning process.
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- The different levels are cleaned thoroughly – these birds can be a little messy.
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- In the servery, all their dishes are emptied and cleaned.
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- A drop of the liquid vitamin is mixed with their water. Several bowls of fresh water are provided at all times.
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- The food dishes are filled with a variety of seed mixes. I am always looking for the best, most nutritious seeds I can find to keep my birds healthy. I provide multiple feed bowls with a buffet of seeds along with all their fresh vegetables and fruits.
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- Red factor canaries need certain nutrients to maintain their bold, colorful plumage. A scoop of food containing beta-carotene, canthaxanthin and carotenoids is added to their seed dishes. They are also given a specially formulated probiotic.
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- Once everything is cleaned, a layer of fresh cob bedding is placed on the bottom tray. And then the filled food bowls are returned to their various locations in the cage. The birds rush to them right away.
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- Red factor canaries are prized for their color rather than their song, but they are also very melodious singers and enjoy singing. My canaries love to listen to classical music, which I keep on for them during the day.
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- Here’s a look at the frenzy of hungry canaries gathering at the bowls – some down below and others one level up. A canary’s metabolism is very fast, so it’s important to be observant of their eating needs and habits.
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- We also add California Premium Spray Millet®. Birds love these, and they provide a healthy, nutritious, pleasantly sweet-smelling treat.
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- Seed blends are designed to support the birds’ seasonal needs. These blends are carefully selected to provide the widest range of micronutrients for resting, breeding and molting seasons.
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- They like some mixes more than others, but I always offer a healthy variety containing a balance of protein, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids necessary for proper growth and immune system functioning.
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- Canaries are generally good-natured, social creatures. Healthy canaries will always have clear, bright eyes, clean, smooth feathers and curious, active dispositions.
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- They are all so beautiful and striking in color. The bold colors of these red factor canaries can range in shades of light peach to apricot to orange to red. And some have these gorgeous dark markings.
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- As some of you may recall, I also have a pair of Combassou finches given to me by my friend Ari Katz. These small, friendly finches are native to South Africa and are dark in color with orange feet and pinkish-white bills – such wonderful additions to my flock. This is the female.
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- Here is the male Combassou finch. All my birds love to perch. I always use natural wooden branches that can provide many different perching levels. We change these perches regularly. These branches always come from here at the farm – repurposed after being cut.
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- If you choose to keep canaries, remember to get the largest cage your home can accommodate, and the nicest cage your budget can afford. Canaries need room to flap their wings and fly from perch to perch.
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- This young canary is eager to see what else may come into the cage.
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- These two seem to be perched at a favorite spot – along the edge of one of the feeding throughs.
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- And this bright orange canary is on a large dish of seed.
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- I find these birds to be so photogenic no matter what they’re doing. This canary stopped during his mid-morning snack to look out the big window overlooking the paddocks – I wonder what caught its attention.
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- Caring for birds is a big responsibility. It requires time and diligence to keep their environments looking as clean as can be. In return, these birds provide wonderful company, song and curious, fun-loving personalities.
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