Canary-solitary or with mate?

[Trisha]

For those of you with canaries, do they prefer to be alone like everything I have read? or do they prefer to have a mate?

[Dayna]

Most everyone will tell you to keep males alone when breeding season is over but I have seen it both ways. I know a very reputable breeder that keeps all his males together in one enclosure and all his females in another. I think it depends on the bird too. I had a breeding pair that I kept together all year round with no problems but they were also together from the tim they were both 3 months old so that could be a factor. All my other males I had to keep singly in individual cages because they would constantly fight.

[kheather]

I too know people who keep their pairs together year round although I do think they prefer their own space. My males are all individually housed, and want it that way. My hens I keep together in a large flight when not breeding. I do find they enjoy each others company and function as a flock even though they arent in same cage if that makes sense....eat together..sleep same time, sing same times etc. I do think them living together happily year round just depends...on the individual birds and if they have a strong bond. could go either way really, I would lean to the side of prefers to be alone. Males will sing more also if housed alone!

[Dayna]

Males will sing more also if housed alone!

That's really funny because my male that's in with the female sings constantly. Drives my husband nuts

[kheather]

see there....it always depends! Funny how all are different, and there are often more than one way to do things, just have to try and see what works for you! I know at least four other canary breeders and not a one of us does things the same way! Yet we all seem to do just fine! The beauty of it all!!

[coopers]

After the breeding season ends all my males are in one flight and all my females are in another. Maybe if you don't have a lot of canaries keeping them together year round is fine, but it's more effective for me to house them in the two groups so I can do an end of the year cleaning of all my breeder cages and equipment.

But as stated, try one way and see how it works.

[Trisha]

Thank you all for your advice...I appreciate your expertise!

[finchandlovebird]

I just have one pair & they are together in a flight with RCCB & OCWB. The male canary sings all the time; all day long. Love him!