If you're used to getting up and lying down to singing birds, that's your option. A canary is the most suitable bird for home keeping. Its maintenance and care will not require much money and effort. Canaries have brought in Spanish and Portuguese sailors from the Canary Islands, as the name of these birds makes clear. The male canary is called kenar. Wild species of canary birds, from which all domestic canaries originated, is called Canary finch. The finches are grey with a green hue. Canaries, however, for a long time in captivity, have multiplied the family of canaries with all the colors of the rainbow.
There are gently green "canary" canaries, orange, yellow, red, white, black, light gray, brown, there are also varieties of canaries with non-standard body composition - crested, curly, etc. differ from the standard sizes, plumage, shape of the head, tail, etc.
A cage is required to keep the canary at home. It is desirable that the cell be rectangular, long, wide and at least half a meter high. The canaries are kept alone, but during the mating and breeding period, it is allowed to keep together with the male. In the cage, it is desirable to have a double bottom with a retractable cage cleaning tray, retractable feeders, and drinkers, several wooden poles for birds. It is better if the feeders and drinkers will go complete with the cage, so it will be easier to clean, change the water.
The canary needs a swimsuit because these birds need to bathe every day. It helps to keep the plumage clean. The leotard, which is up to half the height of the legs, attaches itself to the cage wall, and after bathing, the water is poured out. You can only drink and bathe the canaries with constant water at room temperature.
Feed the canaries with the grain mixture sold in the shop. It is a permanent food and requires less than one and a half teaspoons per day for each canary. Canaries have very high metabolism and cannot be left without food for even two hours. In addition to grain mixtures, they are given soft fodder - usually boiled eggs, carrots. They are also entitled to vitamin supplements, such as pieces of fruit, cheese, vegetables, grass, for example, sour cream, sorrel, salad, dandelion for better digestion.
In canaries, the main "singers" are males. While young, the male can repeat for sounds from the outside environment, it is possible to "teach" him to sing, using the recording of singing, for example, from the Internet. Kenaris can imitate a motivator that is constantly tapping or whistling near their cell. But about a year or so, the kenar remembers his song, and it does not change. A female sings less often and not so beautifully.
In captivity, it is quite possible to raise chicks. It happens approximately in March. Formating in a cage to the female-run the male. Before that, the cage with the male is placed next to each other so that the birds get to know each other and want to talk to each other. After mating the male is not removed, because he takes a direct part in the upbringing of offspring. Three to ten days after mating, the female starts laying eggs. During this period, immediately after mating, she builds a nest. For the nest, she needs a net attached to the wall of the cell as the basis for the nest, or a few branches attached next to each other.
For the material, you can slip her bundles of threads of cotton and linen, dry clean straw, pieces of soft cloth, cotton wool. Eggs hatch for two weeks, and the male often replaces the female. During this period, it is better not to let future parents bathe so that they do not get wet with eggs. After raising the chicks, the male takes part in feeding the chicks along with the female. It takes about a month for the chicks to start eating the same food as their parents. From now on, they are resettled from their mother and the male is also resettled separately.
When taking care of canaries, it is necessary to remember that they do not like and are afraid of sharp sounds and bright blinding light. Fright can lead to the death of a bird. Talk to them in a quiet and gentle voice, taking care of them, do not forget about the conversation, praise. Sometimes it is necessary to let them fly around the apartment, after closing all the doors and windows and removing other animals, as well as open basins and pots with liquids, hot stove, and other hazards. Independent flights, and semi-freedom of movement with the ability to fly knead muscles helps to improve their mood. Canaries start singing with the first rays of light, so if you don't want to hear the concert in the morning, cover the cage with a thick cloth from the evening.