Caring for Your canary
A balanced diet is important for your bird. Bird crumble should be available at all times. If your bird is on a seed diet it should not eat only one type of seed.
- Ideally, each day your bird should be supplied a balanced selection of fresh vegetables such as spinach, beans, parsley, broccoli, carrots, silverbeet, etc.
- Grass should be provided daily.
- Other foods you can serve include pasta, rice, toast, eggs, and mashed potato.
- Fruit may be also offered including apples, bananas and oranges.
- Do not give your bird chocolate, coffee or avocado – these are toxic to birds.
Worm every 3-6 months and have a crop tube worming at least once yearly.
Spray for mites every 6-12 weeks.
Book a yearly check-up to detect general health problems, chlamydia and parasite infestations.
Test or treat for chlamydia annually. Chlamydia is important as it is very common in parrots and can spread to humans. Birds may show signs such as sneezing, weight loss and/or green watery droppings, or no signs at all.
Remember – Birds often mask the signs of illness and may only show signs of being unwell when they are very sick.
Heavy metal poisoning is extremely common. Lead, zinc and copper are the metals involved and are found in galvanised wire, paint, copper wires, metal ties, rusty metal toys, costume jewellery, solder, etc.
Cages and aviaries should be stainless steel, powder baked or the new BHP polymer covered wire. Scrubbing galvanised wire with vinegar and a wire brush and then rinsing off and then repeating will minimise the zinc toxicity but not eliminate it.
Aerosol (airborne) toxins are extremely important canaries. Do not smoke near the bird be cautious with any aerosol sprays.
Do not put sandpaper on perches or on the floor.
Perches should be made of natural wood.
Place food and water bowls so that your bird does not defecate in them.
Avoid using metal objects such as toys, food bowls or plastic-coated bag ties in the cage.
Add fresh greenery to the cage regularly (eg gum leaves and grasses).
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