Anyone have canaries?

[pringle]

Im going to a swap soon and I found out people are selling canries there!I use to have finches, are canaries like finches?I still have the cage and its big enough for them but ill put a waterbowl on the bottim so they can play in it.Sould I get a pair or a lone one?Is it ok if I have a pair of button quail on the bottom to clean up waste seed?They need cuttle bones right?Can you tame them to come to you?And how much money would you think they are at a swap?

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Canaries are finches...but not all finches are canaries. Chances are, you will not be able to handle them..their little legs look like toothpicks. If you want a singer, get a male and keep him by himself. He sings because he's looking for a mate. If you want to watch interaction and maybe raise them you'll of course be getting a pair. I don't know about the price. I would imagine you could buy one for maybe $20 to $40 if it was a young sexed singing male? Not sure, maybe females would be less.

 

[pringle]

Lol I didnt know that would it be ok to button quail on the bottom of the pen though?

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

How big is the cage? I used to have a business that supplied bird units in rest homes. The living area was about 8.5 feet left to right and 3 feet deep about 5' 9" tall with lights at the top. One little button would do fine. Sometimes, we tried a pair.

 

[storminstaffs]

I have a pair of canaries my male sings when i play music lol

They are really easy to look after and not as noisy as finches (well i can only state that from owning zebra finches)

Don't know about having quails in with them, they do need cuttle bone, i put a sand bath in for mine that also contains grit

 

[Bluemoon420]

We raised Gloster Canaries growing up. One male in particular, we named him Ollie, sang Beethoven Symphony number 5, and Fur Elise. He was a great bird

We had him for many years, and everyone came over to listen to him sing. He even made the birds outside be quiet and listen. I'm not sure about the button quail. They do need a cuttle bone, we had sand/grit, and you can tame them. Ours taught himself to sing beethoven.

I don't remember what our canaries cost, but I think it depends on what type. Our glosters were expensive, and were rare back then. Now I'm not sure.

Bluemoon

 

[Skyesrocket]

I keep a pair of button quail in my finch cage. I have a seperate food/water dish in the bottom for them and a hide area for the hen to lay her eggs in. For the most part they ignore each other. Once in a while a finch will fly down and watch them.
I would think that they would do the same with canaries. But have no personal experience with canaries.

 

[Woods_Woman]

Canaries are such wonderful little birds and indeed a finch. Not sure if you care but their are different types of canaries, some are bred for Body type, others for color, and yet others for song. All the males will sing, but you will get a different song with the song canaries, my preference are for the song canaries. Here is a pretty good link that explain the difference, I also believe you can click on the different song's in the song canary section. My favorite canary I've kept has been the waterslager song canary. Good luck you wont be disappointed in a canary. http://www.canaryadvisor.com/canary-types.html

 

[Terri O]

I have found canaries to be more sensitive than finches. I have had finches for many years and they seem to last a long time but my canaries only seem to last for 2-3 years! I have decided not to get any more because I am always so sad when they die. I dont know what I do wrong either; I guess that is the most frustrating part for me. Terri O

 

[keesmom]

Hi Pringle! I hope you can find what you're looking for on Sunday.

I have a Spanish Timbrado male and an American singer female, each in his/her own separate cage. I'm not interested in breeding. While they can do just fine alone I think they do enjoy the company of another of their kind and it's nice to hear them talking to each other. I also have 2 kids (son and daughter) so it helps to have one of each!

I got mine from a show breeder in Marlboro so mine were rather expensive. However my male is an excellent singer, and so is my female! She sings every bit as well as he does except when she's trying to set up a nest (like now). Also, they will not come to you like the parrots or budgies will. I have to chase mine all over the cage trying to catch them just to trim nails.

There are different colors, and different songs, so you'll have to find one you like. I haven't asked how much they are at Westford. I already have 2 and that's enough!