I just got a beautiful red factor canary for Christmas, and he started singing on the first day (he's not shy!)
I've noticed that when he's not singing or eating, he pretty constantly chirps or makes 1 second trills (sometimes over and over). I've never had a canary before, and I'm wondering if this is normal. The sound is pleasant enough. Is it just his personality, do most canaries do this, or is something bothering him?
Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
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CaliKiwi
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lovezebs
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
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CaliKiwi
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
lovezebs
Thank you for your reply! That's good to hear. I asked the same question on a general bird forum, and people (including a certified avian specialist) told me he might be calling for flock mates and that they do better with at least one other canary.
But I had read that canary males are solitary and territorial. Not sure what to believe. I don't want to be depriving him of companionship!
Thank you for your reply! That's good to hear. I asked the same question on a general bird forum, and people (including a certified avian specialist) told me he might be calling for flock mates and that they do better with at least one other canary.
But I had read that canary males are solitary and territorial. Not sure what to believe. I don't want to be depriving him of companionship!
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Dave
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
Canaries in the wild form 'loose flocks' in the winter, but are considered solitary during the breeding season. (at least, that is what I've read).
When I've housed canaries together, they seem to do their best to keep themselves separated. My own opinion is that Canaries would rather be alone.
One of the challenges with being an avian specialist is that you have to be a specialist for each species. There aren't all that many rules that apply to ALL birds.
IF you get another canary, keep it in a separate cage. If you get a male, the two will fight. If you get a female and keep the male and female together, the male will mostly stop singing.
When I've housed canaries together, they seem to do their best to keep themselves separated. My own opinion is that Canaries would rather be alone.
One of the challenges with being an avian specialist is that you have to be a specialist for each species. There aren't all that many rules that apply to ALL birds.
IF you get another canary, keep it in a separate cage. If you get a male, the two will fight. If you get a female and keep the male and female together, the male will mostly stop singing.
Dave
Campbellsville, Kentucky, USA
Canaries
Campbellsville, Kentucky, USA
Canaries
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lovezebs
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
CaliKiwi
Canary males, tend to be more solitary than other birds. They are not what you would call "flocking birds".
In fact, if you place males together, they will bicker continuously, and during breeding season they will fight sometimes with sad consequences (even when there are no females around). Some males, will even beat up on females, when not in breeding mode.
That said, if you have a large enough flight, they can be kept with other species. My Canaries, live peacefully with Gouldian Finches, and in the past I have housed them with Society Finches, and even tiny Waxbills. I would not however house them with Zebra Finches.
Canary males, tend to be more solitary than other birds. They are not what you would call "flocking birds".
In fact, if you place males together, they will bicker continuously, and during breeding season they will fight sometimes with sad consequences (even when there are no females around). Some males, will even beat up on females, when not in breeding mode.
That said, if you have a large enough flight, they can be kept with other species. My Canaries, live peacefully with Gouldian Finches, and in the past I have housed them with Society Finches, and even tiny Waxbills. I would not however house them with Zebra Finches.
~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
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Suz
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
I keep a flock of canaries in a large walk in aviary ( 9 hens 3 males) There is a little disturbance with the boys but not enough to cause any harm --
The males will have "sing offs" trying to compete for the ladies, it is rather nice to sit out with coffee in the morning and listen to them. But it is a large area and allows enough space for everyone (25'L 8'W 10'T) The canaries are in with owls and parrot finch and every one is sitting on eggs. They all use a different type nest to keep the competition over nesting sites down.
The males will have "sing offs" trying to compete for the ladies, it is rather nice to sit out with coffee in the morning and listen to them. But it is a large area and allows enough space for everyone (25'L 8'W 10'T) The canaries are in with owls and parrot finch and every one is sitting on eggs. They all use a different type nest to keep the competition over nesting sites down.
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w.l.
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
Shannylee also keeps many canaries together in an aviary.
Sufficient space seems to be the key.
In a cage, a single bird or a pair would be safer, with an eye on them if it's a pair.
Sufficient space seems to be the key.
In a cage, a single bird or a pair would be safer, with an eye on them if it's a pair.
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Shannylee
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
Space is definitely the key with housing canaries together. My hens are either sitting on chicks/eggs or in breeding condition and the boys are fighting over the ladies. In my experience (walk-in aviary), they are not vicious fighters like mannikins or whydahs but they have bumped into the roof of the aviary during mid-air squabbles a time or two. No feathers flying and no blood.
My boys used to have sing-offs but when the hens went into breeding condition, the singing came to a screeching halt. Singing seems to be a challenge to the rest of the males and the chasing/fighting ensues if some guy decides to bust out in song.
When they roost at night, the canaries do NOT cuddle up with each other. I have a gouldian, that is oddly touchy-feely, and she wants to sit right next to one particular canary hen. The canary looks at her like "OMG...GET LOST!" and flies away every time. Hilarious.
Personally, I would not put 2 canaries in a cage together unless you intend to breed and the hen is in breeding condition. You can put her in a cage right next to his with a nest in her cage. When she is ready, she will start looking at him with hearts in her eyes and fussing over the nest. He will feed her between the bars.
Sweet birds! Good luck.
My boys used to have sing-offs but when the hens went into breeding condition, the singing came to a screeching halt. Singing seems to be a challenge to the rest of the males and the chasing/fighting ensues if some guy decides to bust out in song.
When they roost at night, the canaries do NOT cuddle up with each other. I have a gouldian, that is oddly touchy-feely, and she wants to sit right next to one particular canary hen. The canary looks at her like "OMG...GET LOST!" and flies away every time. Hilarious.
Personally, I would not put 2 canaries in a cage together unless you intend to breed and the hen is in breeding condition. You can put her in a cage right next to his with a nest in her cage. When she is ready, she will start looking at him with hearts in her eyes and fussing over the nest. He will feed her between the bars.
Sweet birds! Good luck.
~Sharon
Orange Cheeked Waxbills, Gold-breasted Waxbills, Societies, Gouldians, Bronze Winged Mannikins, Spices, Canaries, Javas, Pin Tailed Whydahs, too many Koi to count, a husband, and a rescue puppy!
Orange Cheeked Waxbills, Gold-breasted Waxbills, Societies, Gouldians, Bronze Winged Mannikins, Spices, Canaries, Javas, Pin Tailed Whydahs, too many Koi to count, a husband, and a rescue puppy!
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artgecko
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Re: Male canary constantly chirping/trilling between songs
I have a male, housed separately and a group of 4 hens that are in a large cage together. The hens will "fuss" at one another over a prize perching spot or food, but I haven't seen any actual scuffles and I made sure that there were more than enough perches, water options and food bowls. The male is across the room from the ladies and he will sing to them a lot, with the females singing back sometimes. I would say having the other canaries to interact with (from across the room) is of benefit to him (at least mental stimulation), but I can see where two males would fight if kept together.