GregH
__________________________
A Guide for the
Keeping & Caring
Canaries
in the
Philippines
Keeping & Caring
Canaries
in the
Philippines
CANARIES & THEIR ALLIES
Canaries belong to the old-world finches - the Frigillidae which includes sparrows, weavers, green & goldfinches, bramblings, siskins, linnets and chaffinches. There are 37 canary species within the genus Serinus, found throughout Europe, Africa and western Asia. The domesticated canary is descended from Serinus canarius a species from islands off the Iberian coast known as the Canary Islands after which the birds are called!
The original wild-type canary has sparrow-like coloration and is a long way from the modern canary-yellow and red-factor birds however it was chosen not it’s plumage but it’s voice. Males famously broadcast their songs as a form of dominance and so are best kept separated but within ear-shot of one another to encourage singing. Externally females are almost indistinguishable from a male but they never sing. Males cohabitating with a female won’t sing as loud or as often as a lone male. Experienced breeders can sex nestlings by the shape of the birds vent.
HOUSING
AVIARIES – a large free flight cage housing many birds. Since canaries are not colony breeders only a single male and 1-2 females can be kept in an aviary if this is also the breeding facility. A large flight or aviary is a good place to keep young and condition birds prior to breeding as exercise is an essential requirement.
CAGES & CABINETS – these are the standard for breeding canaries. A wooden box (cabinet) with a wire front is preferable to the traditional wire on all sides as the birds will feel more secure and can withdraw when threatened. Each pair should be given at least 0.8 X 0.4 X 0.4m3.
Males conditioned for singing will be OK in <½ this space.
BIRD ROOMS – a dedicated screened room that houses many smaller breeding cages or flights. Bird rooms are common in the Philippines as they are secure, allow intensive utilization of space, can be climate and photo period controlled, they isolate birds from any pathogens carried by other birds in the facility or from wild birds and are easily cleaned.
CONDITIONING & FEEDING
Unlike Estrillids; canaries lifecycles are regulated by day length and this must be simulated in the tropics if breeding or singing are your goals. To ensure birds come into breeding condition day length must be altered by ~15min/week to change the local 11-12h day to 14-16h and visa versa as indicated in the chart above. During breeding copious supplies of sprouted grain and soft-food should be supplied. After breeding the sexes should be separated and the sprouted seed withdrawn to force moulting – which should occur in the hottest part of the year to avoid heat stress. A suitable seed mix would be 4:1:1; Canary, White Millet and Yellow Millet or Japanese Millet. When feeding young seed soaked overnight should be offered at the rate of ½tsp/bird/day. During “Winter” oily seeds such as rape, niger and hemp are essential and a half measure should be added to the mix.
SEEDING GRASSES & SPROUTED SEED – these are rich in vitamins and proteins not found in the dormant seed. To sprout seed, place paper toweling on the bottom of as sealable plastic container and wet it.
Sprinkle a single layer of seed over it. There should be just enough excess water that the seed moves. To inhibit mould Virkon-S can be used in the water. It is important to pretest germination rates of a range of seed as much of the seed sold is dead.
GREENS – leafy vegetables such as lettuce, Baguio spinach, mustard-greens, petchay are rich sources of vitamins and minerals.
Lettuce plants that has gone to seed are a favorite treat for of canaries as they provide both greens and essential oily seeds for the birds GRIT – Grit has two important functions for finches. I assists in the grinding of the food in the gizzard and it provides a source of calcium – essential for good health, egg and bone formation. Suitable grits are sand of various grades, clean soil, fine shell-grit, crushed egg-shell and cuttle-bone. Some aviculturists like to include charcoal in a grit mix as it absorbs any toxins taken orally.
SOFT-FOODS – Commercial egg’n’biscuit mixes combined with mashed hardboiled egg (shell included) and a few drops of water to make a crumbly consistency must be fed regularly throughout the breeding season. Vitamin & mineral supplement can also be added to the mixture.
Do not feed more than can be consumed in 3-4h so its best fed in smaller quantities 2-3 times a day WATER Clean fresh water should always be on hand. Don’t place the dish under perches or roosting area. A shallow dish for bathing should be provided especially during the summer moulting. If there’s no time to remove and clean dishes daily it is recommended to use the poultry disinfectant Virkon-S in the water.
HEALTH MANAGEMENT & DISEASE CONTROL
Canaries are subject to similar diseases to other finches but are particularly subject to air-sac mite, coccidia and worms. Ask your local vet for advice and symptoms of infection. Always quarantine and observe new birds for sickness for a minimum of a month before introducing them to your flock.
BREEDING MANAGEMENT
Always select healthy stock, in good condition (refer to figure). The breastbone of a bird in poor condition will be sharp to the touch.
Whenever possible pair birds of the same age and try to ensure that they are as distantly related as possible. Do not let pairs raise more than 3 nests a year as it can cause undue stress on birds- particularly the female.
Breastbone of the bird
Good Condition Poor Condition
NESTING – Most canaries will choose an elevated platform to construct a nest on. Usually they are provided with dish-shaped receptacles such as the ones shown below.
Construction material must be provided. Many breeders use coir (coconut husk fiber) or 50mm lengths of teased hessian bag fibers. Soft lining materials like kapok and feathers should also be supplied.
Most canaries will tolerate nest inspections but prefer the privacy of a screen on the cage directly in front of the nest. To reduce aggression and to increase the chances of breeding remove young from your breeding cage as soon as they are independent – normally 3 weeks after fledging.
Footnote:
All birds with the exception of poultry are required to be registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Birds held or traded since 2004 should be registered stock or their progeny.
For information regarding registration, transportation, importation & other legal matters seek advice from a local bird-club or contact the DENR.
