FINCHforum

Just have a couple of questions about canary behavior and housing. Recently I bought a yellow female canary to keep my green male company. But they do not seem compatible, as the male is always bothering the female and she is always running away from him. I am not necessarily looking to breed the two, but I was hoping they would be friends. Should I put them in separate cages? Should I get another female? Not sure how to balance out the situation.

I used to have canaries and I always kept them in 2 separate cages althought they were allowed to fly around the house for the whole day. I only had one canary girl whom the male could not stand and kept on pecking at her. Sometimes they don't like each other.
I would suggest separating them and letting them fly out together, maybe they get used to each other.

Canaries for the most part are solitary birds outside of the breeding season. The closer the variety is to the wild type, the more likely it is to behave like the wild canary and not really appreciate the company of another. They do not live in flocks or even in pairs.
Males should never be housed together in small cages. Females can often be housed together, but they will still quarrel amongst themselves. Male and female will probably be ok together, but just keep an eye on them. Don't expect them to be all friendly and cuddly, except from early spring to mid summer when they would be naturally inclined to mate and start a family. Bob

Just think of us humans, boy chase girl
lou

I have an 11 yr old canary, Kevin, who has had the company of many birds over the years. including canaries. I have always kept him separate as he's strongly territorial, and will attempt to proposition any type of bird during spring! (currently I have star finches as well!).

Diana wrote: I used to have canaries and I always kept them in 2 separate cages althought they were allowed to fly around the house for the whole day. I only had one canary girl whom the male could not stand and kept on pecking at her. Sometimes they don't like each other.
I would suggest separating them and letting them fly out together, maybe they get used to each other.

Thank-you for your helpful suggestions. The canaries are now separated. Do you think they would like finch cage mates?

I wouldn't include finches within the same cages as the canaries, whether male or female, as they are likely to pick on them. The size differential is too great.

I have a male fife canary in a mixed aviary with Gouldians, Cordon Bleu's, and a pair of blue faced parrot finches. They all get along fine. I got the canary for the beautiful singing so I refuse to get him a mate. He loves my yellow back gouldian..I think he thinks she's a canary..lol.. He doesn't care for the blue faced parrot finches but they don't really fight. Good luck with your guys..