What canaries can be kept with finches?

[G8love4finches]

Like I need more birds???....Anyway, I heard a wonderful song of a canary in the pet store the other day and really enjoyed the variations in the song.....I keep a large indoor aviary, which I plan to fill with my "boys" once the breeding season is over, that I thought might work for a canary....I know members keep them but are they in with your finches or in separate cages?....I have a Green Singer that sings beautifully!....What type of canaries do you recommend, both for song, and compatiblity?....Thanks for your help

[BigBear0007]

Waterslagger are nice variety, gentle and a beautiful song.

Jerry

[annague]

I will tell you that I have 2 male canaries and one is more laid back than the other but neither of them care(d) for my green singer when I had one...

Also, being a little bratty, canaries can stress smaller finches by doing ornery things like pulling out small feathers when the finches are trying to sleep (Yes, one of mine did this until I removed him -- bad bird)

I love canaries and their antics are very entertaining, plus they are super-smart but you have to really watch them -- they are nosy and curious and tend to find ways to get in trouble and cause havoc with smaller nesting finches.

You might be able to put them with larger finches and have no problems or pick a very calm canary.

[kenny]

hi
i am sorry to disagree but i kept canaries with finches and there wasnt any more fighting with them than any of my other birds,maybe i was just lucky but i believe if they have enough space you shouldnt get any arguing at all

ken

[annague]

I don't know why you're sorry to disagree, you just have a different experience than I have had... we are both sharing our experiences and neither one of us has any reason to be sorry! Facts are not emotional, they just are.

[kenny]

hi
i really dont like ,disagreeing with other posters,but as you say,other people have different experiences ,i didnt want it to sound like .i am right because i have had them longer than other people....as i have said before i started in 1973,but i have still learnt stuff myself whilst being on this site....omg i hate confrontations i would hate to think people where saying here comes that bighead again


ken

[colorin]

Waterslagger song is beautiful and soft. Unlike other canaries, you can keep them in your living room without going deaf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HG-SZID ... 53ED7BA123

[annague]

I'd love to hear a waterslagger! It sounds lovely!!

Kenny, it's ok! I don't think you have a big head. I might even admit that you have more experience with canaries than I do -- okay, you DO have more experience than I do.

[kenny]

hi
i think the waterslaggers are taught by.another birds song to keep it the same way....are those the ones that are kept in closed cages at shows and when they open the doors they have to perform the song...or am i thinking of another foreign breed of canary


ken

[colorin]

"singing" canaries, like the Mallinois Waterslager, the Roller or the "Timbrado" are usually "tutored" by what breeders call a "teacher" or "master", that is supposed to be a good singer with no "flaws".
Canaries are born with the ability of performing certain sounds. A Waterslager inherits the capacity of performing those peculiar "water sounds" that i.e. a Timbrado canary will never be able to sing.
With these "masters" you improve the singing genetic qualities.

And yes, when tutored, the canaries are kept in small cages in semi-darkness, same cages they use at shows.

A spanish "timbrado" singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BquGs7cGyGo
another one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LdjAKmA ... re=related

[annague]

That is amazing. I know some about the American Singers but it is interesting how each type of canary has it's own history, ability and training method.

I've never heard timbrados before -- very lovely.

[kenny]

hi
i thought about the cages they where kept in because it seemed a little cruel to me,but i dont suppose they are kept like that all the time

ken

[colorin]

no, those are just "learning" and show cages.

This is "Paquito", my Waterslager. He's quite old but still sings beautifully:


and this is "Plácido", my timbrado:

[annague]

Lovely birds, Colorin! You take very nice photographs!

[colorin]

by the way, G8love.. if the aviary is large enough I don't think you will have any problems adding a canary (as long as there is just one. Males will fight. and they will also fight with goldfinches or hybrids (canary/goldfinch)
If you have problems, you can always place the canary in a separate cage. Being on its own he will be singing all day long! (make sure it's a cock, as hens don't sing)