Canary

Scientific Name: Serinus canaria

Origin: Canary Islands

This popular song bird can be obtained in a great variety of forms and colours. The wild canary was a green colour. One of the most popular varieties is known as the Border Fancy. This is described here.

Description:

Size: 14 cm (51/2 in)

COCK:

Available in a wide range of colours including yellow (buff), white, green, cinnamon. Beak: small and conical. Eyes:bold and dark. Chest: well rounded, tapering towards underparts. The stance of a good show specimen should give an angle of 60 degrees when perching. It should appear alert and lively.

HEN:

Similar, but she is usually lighter or duller in colour. The most reliable indication as to sex is the song of the cock bird. The hen merely chirps.

Diet: (Seedeater)

Proprietary brand canary mixture contains a blended mix of all the necessary seeds. Some groats and niger seed may be added in cold weather. Greenfood should be supplied on a regular basis. Grit and cuttlefish: one must always be available.

Canary Breeding:

It is most important to make sure that cock and hen are both in breeding condition. If either partner is not ready, any attempt at mating will prove unsuccessful.

Canary nest pans, easily purchased from pet stores, should be provided.

These are lined with felt nest liners orother soft material. Canaries also nest in square wooden nest boxes fitted with perforated zinc bases which allow plentyof cool air to circulate.

Four to five eggs are laid on consecutive days. The eggs should be removed one by one and stored, marked in number order, in a felt-lined box. Artificial eggs, purchased from pet stores, must be placed under the hen until the evening ofthe fourth day, when they should be removed and the real eggs replaced so she may start incubation. The incubation period is 13 to 14 days.

If the hen is reluctant to bathe, eggs should be moistened with warm water while she is off the nest feeding. Proprietary brand canary rearing food is available from pet stores and wholemeal bread andmilk may be offered. Chickweed is eager-ly consumed by breeding birds.

Canary chicks grow very quickly so the rearing food must he regularly increased in quantity. Within 16 to 20 days, chicks are ready to leave the nest. They are dependent on their parents for food for a further ten days. By the time the brood is fully independent, the hen is usually ready to lay again.

Canaries are often cross-bred with certain British finches to produce attractive hybrids known as 'mules'.