Could get some canaries...but I don't know...

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Tue May 01, 2007 7:29 pm

I've never been particularily fond of canaries...but there are 3 available for adoption...one is a red-factor male with a chronic sinus infection and deformed beak...the other is a red-factor female with a broken foot that never healed up to be fully functional...and the 3rd is a yellow male that also has a chronic foot issue...was quite sick a few month back...gout?

I now have 9 finches - 7 small, 2 larger (Java Rice)...waiting to get the larger flight...

Don't know if I should consider adopting these 3 (or any of them)...wonder if the sinus infection will require vetting...or the other chronic foot issue...

The broken foot that healed bad is a non-issue...but I don't want to run another cage after I get the flight...

...don't know if the canaries would get along with the finches...esp. the Javas...

...any thoughts anyone?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue May 01, 2007 7:49 pm

I have two canary hens and they don't get along in a cage. I now have them in my indoor aviary which measures, 6'L x 4'D x 7'T. They fought a bit at first but have since settled down.

Canaries are not normally kept together in cages as they are not as social as most other finches. Even males and females are kept apart when not in breeding mode. If you have a large aviary then you could probably keep them all together, otherwise you'll probably end up having to separate them.

You might want to choose the best of the lot and let the other two go elsewhere. They are nice additions to the flock as they are wonderful singers.
Luckily for me, one of my hens is a terrific little singer.

The one with the foot ailment could very well have been suffering from gout. One of my hens used to get gout if she ate too much eggfood.

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Tue May 01, 2007 8:06 pm

Thanks...thats's what I was thinking...but needed to have someone confirm...

...I probably should let well enough alone...

I'll let you know if I don't...

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Sun May 13, 2007 8:19 pm

...well...now that's it's been few days since the disaster where my Spice Finch and my B&W Mannikin died unexpectedly...

...so I'm reconsidering the canaries...they're still available...

...the Red-factor male with the sinus issue is my favourite...

...the female is also a very sweet bird...

...as is the yellow male with the foot (gout?)...issue

If I only take one, I suppose it should be the Red-factor male...

However the female is actually the only really 'healthy' one...her leg injury has improved...barely noticable now...

Wonder what would happen if I introduced a female into my male only flock? Given that they're all different species, outside of the 2 Java Rice Sparrows...

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Mon May 14, 2007 6:30 pm

...went to visit them today...

...lol...it didn't help...

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:20 pm

I would try to decide if you're wanting to adopt them b/c you feel bad that they're ill or if you actually want a canary (or three). I got suckered into my first finch b/c he was sick and friends of ours were moving and we were the "only ones" who were willing to take him. Honestly, they probably could have given him back to the uncle who gave them to them in the first place, now that I think about it, but still I'm a sucker for an animal in need and I took him. Now I've had to make the difficult decision of getting out of finches because we're really not set up for them and they're really not suited to our lifestyle right now. Maybe a pro/con list might help?

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:38 pm

Oh! I'd be adopting them because I feel sorry for them and because they need a good home and NO one else is coming forward...

...plus I know them...I've helped treat them...so now it's more about them as individuals instead of 'just' any old canaries!

But then again...if I get one or all of them...I need to commit...I've never given an animal away...they become family members!

A pro/con list is a good idea! Didn't think of doing that! Thanks!