A canary needs a cage at least 1 x 1 x 2 ft (30 x 30 x 60 cm), and ideally one big enough to fly in (RVC). It eats 1 to 2 teaspoons of pellets and seed a day, with greens and a cuttlefish bone.
How many canaries?
Cage size
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Cage size
VCA’s minimum for canaries, finches and budgies is 1 x 1 x 2 ft. RVC sets its absolute minimum by the bird: a cage large enough for the canary to stretch its wings in all directions, and ideally large enough to allow flight. RSPCA makes a cage for a bird that spends most of its time inside it at least twice the wingspan in height, width and depth.
The gaps must be too narrow for a canary to fit its head between the bars (RSPCA Australia, VCA). Merck’s bar spacing table doesn’t include canaries, and RSPCA Australia’s smallest listed mesh, 12 x 12 mm, is for birds of 20 to 80 g. More on bird cage bar spacing.
Company
RSPCA names canaries among the birds that can be kept together, and adds 5% to the cage for each bird over two.
Everyday diet
VCA feeds most canaries 1–2 teaspoons per bird per day of pellets with a small amount of seed, with pellets at about 75–80% of the diet. RVC warns that most common seed mixes contain millet, which can be high in fat and low in essential vitamins and minerals.
For greens, RVC gives seeding grasses, dandelions, chickweed and groundsel. VCA adds small pieces of parsley, carrot tops, kale, red leaf lettuce or endive several times a week.
Cuttlefish bone, water and perches
RVC puts a cuttlefish bone in the cage for extra calcium and to let the bird wear down its beak. Fresh water should always be there to drink, with a second shallow dish for bathing (RVC).
Perches should be rough, natural, non-toxic wood in a variety of diameters (RSPCA Australia), thick enough for the canary’s toes to wrap three quarters of the way round (VCA).
What to get
On the list
What fits