Canaries are adorable little birds that make great pets. In order for him to live a long and healthy life, you have to give him healthy and proper food. However, the type of food chosen must be appropriate and given to the bird in an appropriate manner. This way, your canary can get all the nutrients it needs.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Type of Food
Step 1. Give him the seeds
The canary diet usually includes whole grains combined with a variety of fruits and vegetables. There are many different types of grain mix products available to feed canaries and typically, these contain 2-5 different types of seeds. However, most products are rich in millet which canaries usually love.
It is important that you make whole grains a part of your canary's diet. Since canaries usually only eat millet on mixed grain products, they can experience nutritional problems if you feed them only grains
Step 2. Prepare fruits and vegetables
About 20% of the diet for your canary is fruits and vegetables. Wash all fruits and vegetables before giving them to birds. While he prefers pale greens like iceberg lettuce, these vegetables provide very little nutrition. Instead, try giving the following fruits or vegetables:
- Apple slices
- Cherries (remove stems)
- Peas
- Cucumber
- Pumpkin
- Curly cabbage (kale)
- Dark green leafy lettuce
- Bit
- Spinach
- Sweet potato
- Carrot
- Cabbage
Step 3. Try changing the type of food to a formulated food product
Some canary owners prefer to feed their pets a formulated type of food, and this type of food includes pellets that have been formulated to meet the canaries' nutritional needs. Changes in the type of food into pellets should be done gradually by reducing the dose of grains. Provide fresh pellets at all times, but only provide grains for a limited period of time each day. Over the course of a few weeks, gradually reduce the amount of grain you give them until the canary only eats pellets.
- If you stop giving the grain right away, the canaries won't eat the pellet right away.
- If you feed him a mixture of grains and pellets, there's a good chance the canary will only eat the seeds.
- To give pellets to a canary that loves grains, change its feeding pattern in 4-8 weeks. Changes should be gradual and may take the same length of time.
Part 2 of 3: Feeding Canaries Properly
Step 1. Feed him on a regular schedule
You have to feed him at certain times of the day. A regular feeding schedule can make him feel safe and calm.
- The best time to feed him is right after you open the cage cover in the morning. This way, you can establish a clear feeding schedule for the bird.
- Often times, birds will leave seeds or pellets in their cages every day. However, you should pick up these leftover grains and pellets in the morning to be able to clean his food bowl every day.
- Leftover fruits and vegetables should be discarded one hour after feeding.
Step 2. Offer fresh fruits and vegetables every day
It is important for canaries to eat fruits and vegetables every day. Do not leave leftover fruits and vegetables in the cage. Throw away the leftovers after one hour. Give more fruits and vegetables at the next feeding schedule so that the available food is always fresh and interesting.
Try giving his favorite fruits and vegetables directly (by hand). In addition to giving him the nutrition he needs, this type of feeding technique can build your relationship with him
Step 3. Give him the right amount of food
In general, a canary should consume about a teaspoon of seeds daily. If he consumes pellets, read the appropriate dosage information on the product packaging.
You also need to give him enough fruits and vegetables that cover about 20% of his dietary needs. Usually, you only need to give him one or two small pieces of fruit and vegetables each day
Part 3 of 3: Supplementing Canaries' Food Needs
Step 1. Give him a dietary supplement
Talk to your vet about supplements that help improve the canary's overall health. If he eats pellets, there's a good chance he won't need any other supplements. However, canaries that eat only seeds can benefit from the additional nutrients.
- This is important to remember, especially when your canary goes through certain changes (eg when it is laying eggs). When laying eggs, he needs calcium supplements to avoid calcium deficiency.
- Most supplement products can be given to birds through their diet (eg fruit).
- If you mix supplements with his drinking water, there is a good chance he will be reluctant to drink the water.
Step 2. Provide new types of fruits and vegetables regularly
To keep him cheerful and interested in his food, change the types of fruits and vegetables he is given. Choose a new type of fruit or vegetable to give him every week and see if he likes that type of fruit or vegetable. Some types of fruit or vegetables will attract him, while other types are less desirable. But at least it's fun to find out what kind of food he likes.
If the canary doesn't like the fruit or vegetables you're given, don't immediately assume that you don't need to serve it again. Keep giving him a variety of fruits and vegetables, even if he has refused them before
Step 3. Try giving him some fine gravel
The idea that fine gravel can help canaries digest their food is still debated. Some people consider fine pebbles an important medium in digestion, while others feel that giving stones actually triggers more health problems, instead of improving digestion. If you want to give him fine gravel, try to choose gravel that is soluble or digestible. Usually, this material contains cuttlefish bones, oyster shells, and limestone. Gravel like this can be crushed or crushed by the bird's stomach acid.
