Do I cover him at night? Also, veggie/fruit list?

[4Ellen]

I was wondering if canaries like to be covered at night? All 4 sides, 3, or just the front? Or not at all? He'll be staying in my living room.

Also, can someone tell me or direct me to a list of favorable veggies/fruits that canaries like to eat? I've found a few things online but not much of a variety.

Thanks!

[Sadie]

Hi 4Ellen
I cover my canary at night (all 4 sides). He is in our kitchen/family room and we usually have the lights and TV on until late, so I cover him when it gets dark outside. He usually shuts down at sunset anyway (stops eating, goes to an upper perch). If your living room gets dark after sunset and you are not in there with him, you could not bother covering if you'd like. Of course I take my cover off early in the morning when I get up.
I have read that it is important for them to have night and day as the earth provides naturally in order for their internal clocks to promote healthy molting and healthy bodies So try to simulate the length of their days as they are in nature. Dark when it gets dark/Light when it gets light (or soon after if you are not an early riser, hehe)
My canary loves broccoli, romaine lettuce, apple, it's really just something you will have to experiment with. Mine won't touch millet sprays, which is something they are supposed to go crazy for. I use a vege clip and try different things like squash, sweet potato, corn, whatever we have on hand. Don't give up, keep offering even if he doesn't seem to be eating it. Once in a while he may take a bite of something different and go for it.
I mix two good quality canary seed mixes with a smaller amount of canary pellets, and a 1/2 cup of dried egg mix which I purchase from a good bird store. Don't forget to provide cuttlebone, and a gravel & grit mix with crushed shells (calcium)(most grits come with it already in there).
I also put a drop of Ecotrition Vita Sol in his water every day which I hope is providing vitamins he is not getting enough of from his food.
Have fun

[4Ellen]

Thanks so much Sadie!

It looks like I won't be buying the canary from the breeder tomorrow. I'll keep trying to find one though.

[lovezebs]

4Ellen
Too bad about the Canary . Hopefully you will find another one. Are you still going to get the Societies?

[jonvill]

I cover my birds at night too. Sadie's earlier post covers just about everything! I also feed kale to my birds.

[4Ellen]

The breeder isn't really a great communicator. It took 3 days by email to get back to me. When she did, yesterday, she still wouldn't give me her address and phone number and wanted a different time to meet tomorrow. That email came in around 1pm. I replied back with "what time works well with you?" but I haven't heard from her and it's almost 9:30am Saturday. It takes me a couple of hours to get to her town.

I don't get why some breeders won't stay in touch with me when I try to make it as easy as possible to meet? I ask questions, etc. It is frustrating!

[Sheather]

4Ellen

Canaries can be covered at night and should be if they cannot be in a room that is dark all night. My male canary lives in my 'aviary' room with the various other finches and budgies. He doesn't have a cage, and he just finds a spot to sleep when it gets dark. That room is not disturbed past sunset.

My female canary lives in my bedroom. She flies loose through the apartment all day, and in the evenings she goes back to her cage and I cover her at 6 PM and leave her covered until 7:30 in the morning, when she promptly calls to be let out again. I cover her because my room is light for several hours past sunset, and because she needs to have the long nights or she is a chronic egg layer (in the bird room where artificial light resulted in 12 hour day all the time, she never stopped trying to nest).

My canaries eat absolutely anything green or leafy and also love apples and grapes. They also like cantaloupe.

[4Ellen]

Thanks Sheather! I appreciate your info!

[MiaCarter]

I have a printable with finch-safe foods.
It's also accurate for canaries and other birds too.

http://www.petfinchfacts.com/wp-content ... ods-V2.pdf

[4Ellen]

Thanks MiaCarter! I appreciate the list as it will come in handy.

[lovezebs]

4Ellen
Did you ever get a Canary, or any Finches, after the fiasco with that breeder?

~Elana~

[4Ellen]

I did actually! I was going to post the announcement when I take the pics and download them. He's sooo cute!

[delray]

4Ellen so glad you got birds!!!! Can't wait for the formal announcement that's great