Your first week with a canary or finch
Set up before the bird comes home, then keep the first days quiet.
Before the bird arrives
- A cage that is longer than it is tall. Canaries and finches fly from side to side, not up and down.
- Perches of a few different thicknesses, placed so droppings do not land in food or water.
- The same seed and soft food the bird is used to. Ask the breeder before changing anything.
- A spot away from draughts, direct sun, the kitchen and smoke.
The first few days
Let the bird settle for a few days before you move the cage around or handle it much. Change food and water daily, and check that it is eating and drinking. A healthy bird is active and bright-eyed, with smooth, tight feathers. A bird that sits fluffed up with its eyes half closed for long periods needs a vet.
One important warning
Non-stick pans and other PTFE-coated surfaces give off fumes when overheated that can kill a small bird quickly. Keep birds well away from the kitchen, and from self-cleaning ovens, aerosol sprays and scented candles.
If you already keep birds
Keep new birds in a separate room for about thirty days before they meet the rest of your flock. It is the simplest way to avoid bringing illness home. And find an avian vet before you need one.
