New Canary

[Ginene]

Thanks, Guys. He's singing a bit more each day. He and Gretel spotted one another yesterday and were singing to each other. It was very cute .
30 Seconds to Bob
Thanks for your input Bob . Very cool that he's similar to those in the canary islands. And Green happens to me my favorite color ...

[Crowley]

He's yellow ground. No bronze in there.

[Ginene]

Crowley
Thanks . I will google Yellow Ground, as I am a canary newbie. He actually looks a lot like my green singers...

[Crowley]

Hi Ginene,

Yellow ground just means that he is yellow or green coloured not red or bronze (red ground) or "blue" or white (white ground). Ground is shorthand for saying ground colour or base colour.

[Musetta]

I know nothing about canaries, but yours is beautiful! I was eyeing them at Petsmart the other day and briefly considered getting one or two...but the Petsmart employee actually talked me out of it! I don't know whether or to what extent any of this is true, but she said they generally don't play well with others (including other canaries), and the male rarely sings except when he is defending his territory or courting a female, and that they are generally rather contrary birds! I knew I didn't have the space or the expertise to take on a canary, regardless, so I regretfully walked away. When I saw some red factors (I think?) in another pet store today, I was again envious. But sadly, with my latest adoptions, there is officially no room at the inn (Er, nest?). It will take me months to do another "round" of convincing on my husband! Anyway. Thanks for posting pics of your Handsome Hansel, and congrats! I'll put canaries on my wish list!

[30 Seconds to Bob]

but the Petsmart employee actually talked me out of it! I don't know whether or to what extent any of this is true, but she said they generally don't play well with others (including other canaries), and the male rarely sings except when he is defending his territory or courting a female, and that they are generally rather contrary birds!

Well surprisingly enough, the Petsmart employee got part of it right, anyway. They generally DON'T play well with others including other canaries - but that is because they are SOLITARY birds in nature. They don't live in flocks and they don't even associate with the opposite sex outside of the breeding season. Male canaries should ALWAYS be housed individually, but never in the tiny cages you often see marketed for small birds. Females can usually be housed together sucessfully (provided that the cage is big enough), but do expect some bickering amongst them.
As far as singing - I've never had a healthy male canary NOT sing, provided that the basic needs of diet, season and cage placement are met. Some canaries will go through a period of a few weeks during a moult when they won't sing, but true song canaries will usually sing regardless. If you wan't a canary, do yourself a favor and get one from a reliable source and you won't be disappointed. Bob

[Musetta]

30 Seconds to Bob thanks! Good to have some reliable info, just in case...;)