A pet bird requires a specific balance of nutrients in its diet to stay healthy. These needs can also vary amongst different species of birds. Many owners of canaries fail to ensure this, resulting in sickness and death. Feeding them the right canary food will ultimately keep the bird living longer, and happier, so it will sing more as well.
The key to formulating a balanced diet is to basically replicate what the bird would be eating in the wild. Although seeds of seasonal availability are the largest part of the bird's diet, it will also eat insects, fruits, berries, and other vegetation. Offering it a variety of sustenance provides a wider range of nutrients.
Many prepared seed mixes designed for canaries, consist of 2 - 5 types of loose seeds. One problem which may occur when giving this kind of food to the bird is that it may start to prefer some types of seeds over others and only those, leading to an unbalanced diet and illness. Seeds are certainly an important part of the canary's menu, but must be supplemented with other nourishment.
An effective way to provide a nutritionally complete diet to a canary is to feed it specially formulated pellets. These are made from a combination of crushed seeds and are a great single source of many essential nutrients. It is recommended that pellets make up about 75-80% of the bird's diet. Some of these are specially blended for a certain stage in life or condition. Feeding pellets from early on is best as it may be hard to get an older bird to switch over from seeds.
Canary food should be placed in a shallow dish, one for each bird in the cage. They should not be given more than they will eat in 24 hours. Usually about1-2 teaspoons of seed will be enough. There must always be fresh water available for the bird to drink. Canaries need to drink frequently because of their fast metabolism and are prone to dehydration.
About 1/4 of the diet should consist of fruits and vegetables. Popular choices include lettuce, spinach, watercress, apples, grapes, and kernels of corn. Avocado is toxic to canaries and should never be given. These provide an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. All produce must first be washed thoroughly and then cut into manageable pieces the bird can peck at.
Birds enjoy the occasional treat. Healthy food eaten by humans such as meats, cheeses, and hard-boiled eggs are usually popular with canaries. When breeding them, a special blend of eggs and biscuits is recommended. There are also special bird snacks such as millet sprays or honey sticks which can be given as a special treat.
Most canaries will not require a supplement, especially if they are on a canary food pellet diet, but sometimes it is beneficial if there is a noted deficiency or when they are laying eggs, which calls for extra calcium. These preparations are usually powders that are mixed with the bird's food or water. Grit may also be given, to help with digestion, but many birds can easily get by without it.
The key to formulating a balanced diet is to basically replicate what the bird would be eating in the wild. Although seeds of seasonal availability are the largest part of the bird's diet, it will also eat insects, fruits, berries, and other vegetation. Offering it a variety of sustenance provides a wider range of nutrients.
Many prepared seed mixes designed for canaries, consist of 2 - 5 types of loose seeds. One problem which may occur when giving this kind of food to the bird is that it may start to prefer some types of seeds over others and only those, leading to an unbalanced diet and illness. Seeds are certainly an important part of the canary's menu, but must be supplemented with other nourishment.
An effective way to provide a nutritionally complete diet to a canary is to feed it specially formulated pellets. These are made from a combination of crushed seeds and are a great single source of many essential nutrients. It is recommended that pellets make up about 75-80% of the bird's diet. Some of these are specially blended for a certain stage in life or condition. Feeding pellets from early on is best as it may be hard to get an older bird to switch over from seeds.
Canary food should be placed in a shallow dish, one for each bird in the cage. They should not be given more than they will eat in 24 hours. Usually about1-2 teaspoons of seed will be enough. There must always be fresh water available for the bird to drink. Canaries need to drink frequently because of their fast metabolism and are prone to dehydration.
About 1/4 of the diet should consist of fruits and vegetables. Popular choices include lettuce, spinach, watercress, apples, grapes, and kernels of corn. Avocado is toxic to canaries and should never be given. These provide an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. All produce must first be washed thoroughly and then cut into manageable pieces the bird can peck at.
Birds enjoy the occasional treat. Healthy food eaten by humans such as meats, cheeses, and hard-boiled eggs are usually popular with canaries. When breeding them, a special blend of eggs and biscuits is recommended. There are also special bird snacks such as millet sprays or honey sticks which can be given as a special treat.
Most canaries will not require a supplement, especially if they are on a canary food pellet diet, but sometimes it is beneficial if there is a noted deficiency or when they are laying eggs, which calls for extra calcium. These preparations are usually powders that are mixed with the bird's food or water. Grit may also be given, to help with digestion, but many birds can easily get by without it.
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