Color Feeding Canarys using Cantax

[Finchman1]

Hi All,
I'd like to ask the experts for some advise about Color Feeding Canarys using Cantax/ Cantaxaline.

1. what is the safest way to apply this color enhancer to your Canary birds?

2. What is the frequency?

3. for how long shall i be using this color enhancer that will be safe enough for my birds?

4. i was told by some friends that excessive use of this chemical can damage the birds liver

I would appreciate alot on your suggestions and answers to my questions...
ty

[Cath1068]

I chose to color my red factors the natural way with carrots and such. However I found a great write up about it so here it is.....

http://www.petcraft.com/docs/redcan.shtml
http://www.thecanarysnest.com/color/

[Finchman1]

thanks Cath for the links shared... just want to learn more about color feeding so that i will have less mistakes by following success stories from fellow hobbiest... thanks a lot!

[The canary man]

Hello my friend i would like to get your attention that i have posted some info regarding the canthaxanthin . Click please on breeding page then follow up the comments . i hope you will find what you need to know.

Dean K.

[CandoAviary]

This is the link for Dean's special color food without chemicals nor harsh peppers.
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 0&start=30

[coopers]

Start feeding when the birds moult after breeding and once through the moult you can stop giving canthaxathin. You can mix it in with egg food or put it in drinking water.

[The canary man]

Hello friends...
Canthaxanthin made by different Co. most of it contain red hot pepper, red hot pepper will help increase the red color in canaries but also will be harmful for them, when canthaxanthin contain red hot pepper provided to canaries will effect their liver, kidney and the digestive system .
So do you know if the Canthaxanthin that you are providing your canaries with now, contain red hot pepper ?

Before i made my own red color which is i call it (Magic red) i used to provide my canaries with Cantha and i used to taste it and smell it to make sure that it does not contain the red hot pepper, but one of the reasons that made me stop using it and create my own is that i could not find it around with out containing hot red pepper, which is most Co. add it to the other ingredients to add weight to save money, Plus it did effect my canaries health negatively .

Through my experience using Canthaxanthin i found out that it will work successfully only on red factor canaries to keep them red or darker red, but in most cases will not give a successful result when it fed to yellow or orange canary .
Yellow canary will become orange when it fed cantha color .
Orange canary will become darker orange when it fed cantha color .

I advice not to provide your canaries with Canthaxanthin that contain red hot pepper.

It does not mater what kind of red color that you would like to use for your canaries just make sure not to mix it with water , because canaries will not drink the water as normal to avoid it taste and that can cause them a lot of health problems.

To prove me right provide your canaries with two different drinking water sources.. one of them mixed with color and the other with out, you will notice that your canaries will be drinking most of the time from the pure water.

Food Coloring for canaries must be mixed with dry food, it will give a better result than mixing it with water and plus less mess except if you like to decorate your home walls with splashed red color .

Good luck.
Dean K.

[ac12]

Dean
My wife's red factor does NOT like anything red.
I tired putting chopped up red bell pepper into his veggie dish, and he avoided the dish like it was contaminated.
I put "Bogena Intensief" into his drinking water at recommended dosage and it was RED RED RED, and he avoided that water. Now I use a much smaller dosage to not have the water so RED, and he drinks it.

He molts in June, so I plan on starting up the Bogena in April and gradually increasing the dosage, but keeping it below the dosage on the jar.

Does that sound OK?

I've had trouble in the past because I think I never caught the start of his molt. So by the time I am giving him color food and suppliment it is too late. His wing leading feathers and his tail is white/light orange, whereas the rest of him is orange.

[coopers]

While canaries are suspicious of new or oddly colored objects, food, water (as all birds are for survival reasons) not all canaries refuse to drink red water. I know of several people that color their birds this way. I use Quiko red intensive and Quiko special red egg food. Most of my canaries do not like red water.

It is debatable how bad canthaxathin is for the birds. Good conversation, lets keep it going.

[The canary man]

Hello Gary...
Does canaries have sense of smell and sense of taste ?
Through my experience with canaries i believe that :
1) Canaries do not have sense of smell, thats why they drink from the bath water before they bath, they use their sense of taste to check out the water .
2) Canaries do not see colors as the way we see it , i believe they see dark or darker colors and light and lighter colors .
3) Canaries do not like the taste of color mixed with their drinking water and they will not drink it as normal .
4) I believe that your canary refused to eat the red pepper you provided him with because he compared it color to the color that was added in his drinking water, which is reminded him of the ugly taste of his red water . even if you wear not the first person that added the red color in his drinking water , that could be done by his first owner which is caused him mental problem against that color .
5) I have American singer canaries darker than the inside of watermelon and i like to tell you that i never put the red color in their drinking water, What i do is i use red natural color made by me as i mentioned in my above comment, and i always mixed it with dry food made also by me, made of hard wheat yellow color and i believe its the best food for canaries especially during the breeding season, Canaries love it and eat much of it .

Check out the color info that posted at my web site/ products and toys page. you do not have to buy it i just like you to see the result of the red color on my american singer canaries.

I will never mix color with my canaries drinking water .
Good luck to you all .
Dean K

[Finchman1]

Hello my friend i would like to get your attention that i have posted some info regarding the canthaxanthin . Click please on breeding page then follow up the comments . i hope you will find what you need to know.

Dean K.

hi Canaryman, can you guide me where i can find out the " breeding page" so that i can follow your advise from there? im very much interested to know more about color feeding and breeding as well. i enjoy breeding my birds and sharing some to my friends who are also enthusiasts on bird keeping... im barely 2 years on this hobby and have gone through a roller coaster ride also...just want to get guidance from the experts on this field. wish to share also my personal experience to other hobbiest like me...

[purplejasminevn]

Hello my friend i would like to get your attention that i have posted some info regarding the canthaxanthin . Click please on breeding page then follow up the comments . i hope you will find what you need to know.

Dean K.

hi Canaryman, can you guide me where i can find out the " breeding page" so that i can follow your advise from there? im very much interested to know more about color feeding and breeding as well. i enjoy breeding my birds and sharing some to my friends who are also enthusiasts on bird keeping... im barely 2 years on this hobby and have gone through a roller coaster ride also...just want to get guidance from the experts on this field. wish to share also my personal experience to other hobbiest like me...

if you have any further questions - I would suggest to email him. He is very details in answering the questions.