canary behavior

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:14 am

Hi,
Nigel is doing these things, are they strange or normal for canaries?
1) Wipes his beak on his perch
2) Stands on one leg, always the right one
3) Opens and moves his mouth like he is singing, but no sound comes out

He does stand and hop around ok on both alot, too and he does sing and chirp ok alot.

Boothcreek · Post by **Boothcreek** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:03 am

The wipping of the beak is for cleaning purposes, usually after a meal to get any debrit off of it.

I think the opening and moving his mouth is sorta like yawning, I see that in my finches from time to time too. Maybe he is bored..... I know my finches were when I first got them(thats when I observed the "yawning" the most) cause I had them in a lil cage with no opportunities to exercise.

I would think he stands on one leg to sleep, but I am not sure on that.

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:17 am

All normal!

Beak wiping probably has more meanings than we're aware of...but it certainly does 2 things...cleans food off th beak, and keeps the beak trim.

The yawning may be just yawning, or it may be a stress response - either way, it's normal.

Healthy birds tuck one leg up to sleep...if you never see your bird on one leg it's cause for concern...unless of course your bird has foot issues...I'm watching my canary to see what he does, because of his bad foot he might need both to sleep on too...

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:08 am

beak wiping, at least in larger birds like parrots can also be a big time sign of aggression or nervousness. My friends' African grey hates me and when I get too close to her cage (they have to cage her when I'm there or else she attacks me) she'll look at me, pin her eyes then wipe her beak furiously against whatever is closest. Evil bird

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:14 pm

He wipes his beak alot, I thought I'd seen something about it being a courting behavior, so I was wondering since there are no girl canaries around.

It doesn't really look like yawning 'cause opens and closes his mouth like he is singing.

He stand on the one leg alot, not just when he is sleeping. One of his toes curls back a little, and pet shop guy trimmed his toes, so maybe it just a little sore

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:42 pm

He does stand on the other leg some, one book that they stand on one a leg a lot, and that if they stand on both all the time it is a sign of illness,

. When he sleeps he settles way down on the perch so it's hard to tell if he's on one or both legs. My husband says he looks like a small tennis ball on a stick. (except for the tail of course).
I suppose he's an American singer, I don't think he's frosted. I think I may try some canary song recordings to see is they either teach him new patterns or simply entertain him. Maybe so much beak wiping is boredom?

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:44 pm

try giving him a toy if you think he's bored. They have lots of different sorts of toys out there for birds and the nice thing is, the small toys don't cost an arm and a leg

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:11 pm

Ah, what sorts do canaries like? My zebras love their pacifier.

plantsandbirds · Post by **plantsandbirds** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:13 am

I have my canary Legolas Greenleaf close to where he can see me working in the kitchen. He seems a lot more curious and friendly than the finches.

He has two natural wood perches in the cage and he likes to pick at those and I've also noticed the beak wiping.

He LOVES fresh greens and will pick and nibble at the fresh lettuce from my garden and he also likes grass that has gone to seed and clover. I've put a little string toy in his cage for him to pull at. If he has something to pick at it makes ME feel better.

Aren't they a joy to have?

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:06 am

I'm hooked for sure!