How to House a Canary

Canaries are sweet little singers who need big homes to make sure that they get enough exercise. If you’re getting a canary, make sure that their home is a good one by giving them a roomy cage filled with food, perches, and toys. Weekly cleaning and care will ensure that your canary loves their home as much as they love you.

EditSteps

EditChoosing the Right Cage

1. Get a large cage. Canaries love to fly, and they need a cage big enough to keep them active and happy. A canary cage should be at least tall and wide. Ideally, however, you should buy the largest cage that you have room for.^[1]
   
   • For canaries, the distance between bars should be no more than wide. This will prevent them from getting their heads stuck.^[2]
2. Pick a metal cage. A cage made out of iron or powder-coated steel provides a secure home for your canary. Do not choose a wooden or plastic cage, as the bird may chew through these.^[3]
   
3. Select a cage that is wide rather than tall. When canaries fly, they prefer long flight paths over height. This means that you should choose a wide, horizontal cage, not a tall and skinny cage.^[4]
   
   • Good cages should be rectangular in shape, not round. Round cages prevent perches from hanging properly and reduce the amount of flying space.^[5]
4. Check that the cage is safe. Inspect the cage to make sure that the bird cannot injure themselves. A well-made cage should have no sharp or jutting points on it. Test the lock on the door to make sure it is sturdy.^[6]
   
5. Buy separate cages for each canary. Canaries can become territorial over small spaces like cages. If kept together, they may fight or injure one another. If you are planning on having more than one canary, you should keep a separate cage for each.^[7]
   
   • While you may be able to keep a male and female pair together during the breeding season, they will still need to be separated throughout the rest of the year.

EditSetting up the Cage

1. Set the cage high above the ground. The cage should be elevated so that it is at your eye level. You can set the cage on a stand or a piece of furniture. Alternatively, you can try hanging the cage off the ground using a wall bracket.^[8]
   
2. Place the cage in an active part of the household. A living room or home office is a great place for a canary cage. These rooms give the canary things to watch and look at during the day.^[9]
   
   • There should be plenty of light in this room, but avoid putting the cage in direct sunlight.
   • Do not put the cage in the kitchen. Fumes from cooking can upset the canary’s delicate lungs.
3. Put it against the wall. Your canary will feel more secure if they have at least one wall against their cage. Placing the cage in a corner may help the canary feel even more safe. Do not set the cage out in the open or in the middle of a room.^[10]
   
4. Spread newspaper on the bottom of the cage. The bottom of the cage should be lined so that you can easily clean it. Newspaper works best since it is cheap and readily available. Avoid using cat litter or wood shavings on the floor, as these can give the canary breathing problems.^[11]
   
   • You will need to replace the newspaper daily.
5. Adjust the temperature. The temperature of the room should be between , although temperatures can be as low as at night. Place the cage away from windows, doors, or vents where drafts can come in, and avoid placing the cage in direct sunlight.^[12]
   

EditProviding the Necessities

1. Make food and water available. Put separate dishes in the cage for food and water. Avoid putting these under perches to prevent the bird from defecating in them. Your canary will need to have their food and water replaced every day. alternative to food bowls, you can put feeders that hang from the top of the cage for birds to perch on whilst they eat.

^[13]

1. • Canaries need a varied diet of pellets, fresh fruit, and leafy vegetables.^[14]
2. Give them two or three perches. Canaries need lots of room to fly, and perches let them zoom between two points in their cage. You should have at least two or three perches placed at different ends of the cage.^[15]
   
   • Perches should be between and in diameter. Vary the diameter used for each perch.
   • Try to keep around between perches so that the canary has plenty of room to fly between them.^[16]
3. Put in a few toys. Canaries don’t need many toys to stay entertained, but they do appreciate two or three items that they can poke, pull, or play with. Good canary toys include:^[17]
   
   • Plastic balls.
   • Swings.
   • Branches from outside.
   • Bells.
   • Vine balls.
4. Set a bird bath inside. Canaries love to splash and bathe. You can buy a bird bath that attaches to the bars of their cage, or you can simply place a bowl of cold water inside of the cage. The water should be replaced every few days or whenever it becomes cloudy.^[18]
   

EditMaintaining the Cage

1. Clean the cage weekly. Place the canary in a bird carrier while you scrub down the cage. Throw away any old liner. Use warm, soapy water to wash the cage, food and water dishes, bath, and perches. Let the cage dry completely before replacing the liner, and move your bird back into their cage.^[19]
   
2. Don't use strong scents near the cage. Canaries have very delicate respiratory tracts. Air fresheners, scented candles, aerosol sprays, and cigarette smoke can all make the canary sick. Keep these out of the room with the cage.^[20]
   
3. Cover the cage at night. At sunset, place a blanket or covering over the cage so that any artificial light from the room is blocked out. This will help the bird sleep at night and ensure that they get plenty of rest.^[21]
   

EditSources and Citations

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