colour feeding finches

[AquaEyes]

The short answer to the OP is yes any canary can be colorfed, and a person can do anything they want with a pet canary.

While I myself do not breed yorkshires or Norwich the people I know that do don't colorfeed and do quite well at shows, I have type myself.

Do you breed and show canaries if no then why are you answering a canary question?

I was answering a finch question, and one doesn't have to breed and show them to know how to care for them. I also don't need to breed or show to understand that images of show Norwich and Yorkshire canaries that display shades of orange and red-orange have been color-fed, since they don't have the genes to express those colors without color-feeding. And when show-winning breeders describe how they color-feed in articles on their websites, it is clear even for someone who doesn't breed or show to understand that it is done.

 

[dwhite]

I was answering a finch question, and one doesn't have to breed and show them to know how to care for them. I also don't need to breed or show to understand that images of show Norwich and Yorkshire canaries that display shades of orange and red-orange have been color-fed, since they don't have the genes to express those colors without color-feeding. And when show-winning breeders describe how they color-feed in articles on their websites, it is clear even for someone who doesn't breed or show to understand that it is done.

I contact a couple people that do work with Norwich, it appears there is a split in those that breed them, some do not colorfeed and some do, it is evidently more popular with those that have varigated, so it is done by some and not done by some and people

 

[FireTigeris]

Why the hot replies? Is color feeding dangerous? (do to overdosing on particular vitamins or becoming deficient in others because of a 'block' or interference?)

Does it change the behavior of a previously happy flock? (do to the different color)

looks like color feeding is extra carotene (carrot coloring) not harmful to humans even in OD situations... (never let a 5 year old 'eat carrots till he pukes' he will not puke, but he will turn slightly orange...)

 

[AquaEyes]

Some people are against the idea of using canthaxanthin, which is a synthetic substance that is fed for the most intense red-orange shades. There is debate as to whether there are long-term health problems resulting in feeding this, because excess is stored in the liver (and possibly other areas in the body). But this isn't the only substance used in color-feeding -- there are natural food-derivatives as well, such as paprika (for red-orange shades) and turmeric (for deep yellow shades). Color-feeding is used to intensify feather coloration in varieties exhibiting these shades, but as far as showing goes, there are rules about which breeds allow it and which don't.

As far as why this became a hot topic -- I don't know. Someone asserted that a pet owner can't feed their fife canaries color food because it's not allowed for type-canaries, and I replied that that isn't entirely true, and named three breeds whose show rules allow it for some color varieties. And in any case, those are show rules -- it's not illegal to give it to pet birds. And since canaries entered into a show generally must be done so by the breeder, not merely someone who bought the bird as a pet, I didn't know why this applied to the OP. I posted links from breeders and breed-societies that discussed color feeding the three type-breeds I mentioned, but for some reason, that promoted a heated debate. I don't understand why, myself.

 

[dwhite]

Some people are against the idea of using canthaxanthin, which is a synthetic substance that is fed for the most intense red-orange shades. There is debate as to whether there are long-term health problems resulting in feeding this, because excess is stored in the liver (and possibly other areas in the body). But this isn't the only substance used in color-feeding -- there are natural food-derivatives as well, such as paprika (for red-orange shades) and turmeric (for deep yellow shades). Color-feeding is used to intensify feather coloration in varieties exhibiting these shades, but as far as showing goes, there are rules about which breeds allow it and which don't.

As far as why this became a hot topic -- I don't know. Someone asserted that a pet owner can't feed their fife canaries color food because it's not allowed for type-canaries, and I replied that that isn't entirely true, and named three breeds whose show rules allow it for some color varieties. And in any case, those are show rules -- it's not illegal to give it to pet birds. And since canaries entered into a show generally must be done so by the breeder, not merely someone who bought the bird as a pet, I didn't know why this applied to the OP. I posted links from breeders and breed-societies that discussed color feeding the three type-breeds I mentioned, but for some reason, that promoted a heated debate. I don't understand why, myself.

Maybe that is the issue with some breeders that canthaxanthin can cause issues, I will have to ask next time I talk to some colorbred breeders.

FYI the OP never mentioned pet finches, or pet canaries in the post, while some may assume they are talking about pet birds I can't tell you the number of times people have arrived to show birds at a show and had to scramble to fix what was told was ok from someone on the internet.

 

[AquaEyes]

There are other color foods that don't contain canthaxanthin, though the deepest red-orange shades are possible only when this substance is used. For deep yellow shades, I don't know of a synthetic alternative.

In any case, the practice of color feeding began before the use of canthaxanthin, so if a person is shaking some paprika on his canaries' soft food to intensify their coloring, that counts as color feeding. For that reason, I can understand when a breeder says he's against using canthaxanthin, but I can't understand a breeder who says he's against color feeding in any form, and how you draw the line between "color feeding" and simply supplementing the diet with vegetables.

My amazon's diet includes a sprouted grain and legume mix (China Prairie) every morning, on which some green supplement powder is sprinkled and mixed. The powder contains: Spirulina Blue-Green Algae, Barley Grass, Alfalfa leaf, Montmorillonite clay, Capsicum pepper, Garlic, Ginger, Psillium Kelp, Bifidbacterium bifidum, Streptococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Calcium ascorbate, Peanut oil, Sea salt.

The spirulina, barley grass, alfalfa, capsicum and kelp all are rich in various carotenoids. If I fed this to canaries as part of their regular diet, their colors will likely be brighter than if I fed them a more standard "canary diet." Does this count as "color feeding?" I don't understand the subtleties of the "show rules" but if a ban on "color feeding" includes natural food sources, then if I was interested in breeding and showing canaries, I guess I couldn't feed them any of the food I give to Sammy.

 

[AquaEyes]

Maybe that is the issue with some breeders that canthaxanthin can cause issues, I will have to ask next time I talk to some colorbred breeders.

FYI the OP never mentioned pet finches, or pet canaries in the post, while some may assume they are talking about pet birds I can't tell you the number of times people have arrived to show birds at a show and had to scramble to fix what was told was ok from someone on the internet.

The OP didn't specifically say "pet" canaries, but I was led to assume that's what they are, based on the mentioning of them being caged together with finches, and saying that canaries and finches are all new to her, having previously only ever had quail. This led me to believe that the OP was not a breeder for show purposes, even though that was not explicitly stated. I thought that was a reasonable assumption based on the information provided.

 

[camchick]

Sorry been a while since I checked in. Wow theres some debate. They are just my own birds and I dont show them. Thanx for the responses guys

 

[mehdimehdi]

Can i color feed a cardluelis cardluelis (eauropian goldfinch) if yes how and what result do i get and what colors i can have ??? Thanxx

 

[mehdimehdi]

Can i color feed a cardluelis cardluelis (eauropian goldfinch) if yes how and what result do i get and what colors i can have ??? Thanxx