Canary.
“I taw, taw a Putty-Tat!” That says the most famous canary in the world: the Piu-Piu. Tweety Birds are yellow canaries for good reason: they are popular birds and known for their singing abilities. But are these birds really good pets? It all depends on what the owner wants from a pet bird.
Canaries are a type of finch, but unlike many finches, they are not particularly social animals. They usually only come together in the wild to mate. Due to this trait, it is unlikely that an owner would be able to “tame” the bird to sit on a finger or truly bond with it. Depending on the owner, this might not be a bad thing. If the owner wants a beautiful pet bird that doesn’t require a lot of attention, canaries are good candidates. The downside, however, is that the owner is unlikely to have the bird as a companion, unlike members of the parrot’s social family, who rely on their human owners for love and companionship.
Canaries do not require much interaction.
These birds do well in the home of working people, as they do not require much interaction. Again, due to their solitary nature, canaries are happy being “just birds.” On the other hand, some finches, such as society finches or zebras, prefer to be in flocks.
Another advantage of canaries is that they do not need large cages like parrots. Cages that allow them to fly from side to side instead of up and down are best, but they don’t have to be too big. Canaries exercise in flight and therefore their wings should not be clipped. These birds, also unlike parrots, do not need time “out” of their cages. Like small birds, they feel safer and more secure in their cages, and being outdoors tends to stress them out.
Canaries do not require large cages.
Canaries require a regular sleep schedule that is synchronized with the sun, but this can be adjusted somewhat with electric lights and cage covers. However, even with the cage covered, birds should always have a quiet place to rest at night, away from noise and bright lights. This is essential to maintain the bird’s health and, with good care, a canary can live up to ten years.
Avocados are poisonous to canaries.
A prospective owner should consider purchasing a pet canary from a local breeder. This ensures that the owner will be sure of the bird’s health and that it will sing. The owner should be careful to purchase a bird that is at least two years old, as it can be difficult to determine the sex of younger birds. Only the male sings, so if the owner wants a songbird, he must choose a male.
Canaries will eat most of the same fruits and vegetables that are safe for human consumption.
Canaries don’t talk like African gray parrots, but they can often mimic a few musical notes and maybe a word or two. Owners say that talking and whistling to their pets, in addition to playing music, improves their singing abilities. Some breeders “train” their male canaries before putting them up for sale, and this helps to ensure that they sing in their new homes.
The feeding of canaries is also relatively simple. Their food is readily available, and they also eat most fresh fruits and vegetables that are safe for human consumption, except for avocados, which are poisonous to them. The potential owner should purchase a book about their new pet, and there is a lot of information available online about feeding and care. You should also make sure you know a veterinarian in the area who treats birds. Breeders can usually provide referrals to good vets in the area.
Canaries are certainly good “first” birds, but the question remains: do they make good pets? If the owner is looking for a relatively low maintenance bird that can sing but doesn’t squawk or vocalize like larger birds, then yes, they make very good pets. If the owner wants an animal that doesn’t require constant attention and is reasonably cheap to keep, canaries are the perfect pets.