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Before Buying a Canary

© Mary Wilson

Author's note: Although this article deals with canaries, it can apply to any bird as well.

Canary ownership, like that of all birds, takes responsibility and dedication. If you're thinking of buying a canary you have a unique set of questions to ask yourself. Most pet birds are of the parrot family. For the most part these questions are the same ones you'd ask if you were thinking of buying any other bird, but because canaries, finches, and other softbills do not become tame, they have special needs. Once you've decided on a canary, then ask yourself the following questions to be sure a canary fits into your lifestyle.

The following list of questions is not all exclusive. Before buying any bird, you should speak with owners and breeders to decide if it is the pet for you.

Given the proper care and treatment, the canary can live for 10 to 14 years. Are you prepared to keep it for that long?

Is there a permanent place in your apartment or home for the canary? Canaries are timid birds and can become frightened if their cages are moved constantly. Is the cage set high enough so as not to be disturbed by children or other pets?

Do you have enough time in your schedule to properly care for the canary? Cage paper should be cleaned daily. Feed and water dishes need to be cleaned and filled daily. Eggs, fresh fruits or vegtables, or sprouts need to be chopped and provided. Perishable foodstuffs should be removed within 4 hours to prevent bacteria from forming.

What about the other pets in your household? Tweety and Sylvester may look cute on the television, but in real life they can be a nightmare. Dogs, especially the varieties bred for hunting, seem unable to overcome their aggression towards birds. Ferrets are also notorious for attacking birds.

Canaries do not sing the same all year. When they moult, all their energy goes into replacing feathers, leaving little for song. During the breeding season, your canary may sing more than you would like. Will you love your canary as much when it is silent, as when it is trying to drown out your favorite television program?

Your pet canary may disrupt your vacation schedule. Birds should not be left for more than two days without refreshing their food and water, making vacations short. If you're leaving for a longer period of time, can you arrange for care?

Will the canary belong to a child? If so, are you prepared to teach your child about proper care, and act as a back up, if the child doesn't fulfill his or her responsibilities?

The copyright of the article Before Buying a Canary in Small Hookbills is owned by Veronica Armstrong. Permission to republish Before Buying a Canary in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.