Canaries

Canaries

Feeding canaries is very much the same as all small seed-eating birds and over generations, the champion breeders and showmen, particularly of the Type Canaries, have developed their own particular bird seed formulas, which they have relied upon to achieve their desired results.

Haith's have produced their well-proven bird seed mixes from the finest quality ingredients based upon these formulas and now offer a good selection of the most popular. However, feeding canaries is no different to any other bird in that they all have their specific nutritional requirements, which may vary throughout the year and depending on their state of health and well-being. So feeding these little birds becomes an art for the specialist and many additives and supplements are on offer to cater for almost any condition.

A basic canary seed diet consists of a mixture of Canary Seed and Millets with other bird seeds introduced to provide variety and a broader spectrum of vitamins and minerals. At certain times of the year and depending upon the way they are housed, their diet must be changed to account for their specific needs. The number of fats, carbohydrates, protein and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus all vary depending on the variety of seed, so we have the flexibility of offering different seed mixtures or seed supplements to help manage the bird's condition.

It should be obvious that birds in heated winter accommodation will require fewer fats than those kept in much colder conditions. And similarly, the demands on birds, which have greater flying space in aviaries, require more carbohydrates than those in cages. These examples illustrate that when canaries are housed in aviaries, they can benefit by the addition of yellow millet to any of Haith's standard canary mixes to satisfy their greater energy demands.

It must always be remembered that variety is essential and most seed-eating birds will consume some insect and greenfood along with the essential Grit and Cuttlefish bone.

Pet Canaries are usually those birds that do not match the standard set by competition judges either because they do not hold their pose correctly or they are adversely marked in some way. They are by no means inferior birds and have exactly the same requirements of care and feeding as their show-bird relatives.

Pet canaries are more usually housed in a conventional open-type wire cage and kept in the home where anyone can enjoy their song or colourful plumage and therefore there is little chance of them enduring cold conditions. For this reason, care must be taken not to allow pet birds to become too fat through incorrect feeding. If you want your bird to sing, make sure it is a male.

Coloured Canaries

Coloured Canary

Coloured Canaries should be fed a similar diet to the Type or Posture Canaries with the addition of 'colour foods' or 'colouring agents' but adding colouring agents can be a risky business as too much will undoubtedly give unwanted colouring effects.

Novices are recommended to use Haith's Ready-mixed Colour Food, as it is time-saving and trouble and risk-free but these are the very reasons why many champions use it as their standard mix.

In the UK it is normal for Coloured Canary breeders to wait until the first moult before commencing colour feeding which results in many unflighted types showing contrasting flight feathers. In Europe, breeders prefer to colour-feed small quantities throughout the year and even to fledging birds, claiming that a more intense plumage colour is achieved. For best results colour feeding should begin before birds start to drop feathers, allowing colour to pass into the bloodstream prior to commencement of new feather growth.

Try these bird seeds:

 

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  • De Luxe Canary Seed™

    From £8.99
    £8.99 From £8.99
    Haith's De Luxe Canary Seed Mix is amongst the best of all Canary bird diets. Tested by time, tested by bird-keeping experts.Canary fed with De Luxe Canary Seed™

  • Plain Canary Seed

    From £4.99
    From £4.99
    Plain Canary is Haith's plain Canary Seed of choice. It's superclean and super fine and represents high quality at an affordable price.

  • Condition Seed™ for Canaries, Hybrids and British Birds

    From £5.99
    From £5.99
    Haith's Condition Seed with Rape Seed (glossed in Aniseed Oil) is high in fat as well as essential vitamins and minerals and is most suitable for aviary-housed birds.

  • Condition Seed - No Rape

    From £6.50
    From £6.50
    To keep Cage & Aviary birds in top condition birds need Haith's condition seed No Rape it's essential for successful breeding of Canaries, Hybrids and British Birds.

  • Kraker Tonic Grains™

    From £6.50
    From £6.50
    Kraker Tonic Grains™Kraker Tonic Grains™

  • Easisoak Seed™ for cage birds

    From £5.99
    From £5.99
    During the breeding season (and the moult) Haith's Easisoak is an invaluable bird diet for Canaries, British Birds and Hybrids. Easisoak seeds are selected for their germinating ability and suitability for soaking.

  • Aviary Mix

    From £7.85
    £7.85 From £7.85
    Aviary Mix is suitable for a variety of small bird species in one avairy and the most common are finches, canaries, budgerigars and british birds.

  • Red Factor™ Canary Food

    From £4.20
    From £4.20
    Haith's Red Factor Canary Food is a specially formulated mixture to be fed during the moult for bringing out more intense plumage pigmentation in Red Factor Canaries.

  • Ready Mixed Colour Food™

    From £4.40
    From £4.40
    Ready Mixed Colour Food is the safe and easy way to colour feed. It conditions while it colours!

  • Rearing & Conditioning Food™

    From £6.99
    From £6.99
    Haith's Rearing & Conditioning Food will help Canaries, Budgies, Hybrids and British Birds. It promotes fertility, improves egg production and reduces both egg binding and dead-in-shell.

  • Cede Canary Eggfood

    £9.99
    £9.99
    CeDe Eggfood is an essential supplement to the daily ration. It is necessary because it supplies nutrients not (or not sufficiently present) in some regular bird foods.

  • Linseed (Flax) for cage birds

    From £6.95
    From £6.95
    Linseed is a beneficial oil-seed for all seed-eating birds - especially during the moult.

  • Carophyll Orange

    £21.99
    £21.99
    The most effective time to introduce Carophyll Orange is during the moult when blood-flow to the feathers is at its greatest.

  • Carophyll Red

    From £21.99
    From £21.99
    Carophyll* colouring agents aid plumage pigmentation in birds, particularly canaries, via canthaxanthin.

  • Carophyll Yellow

    £21.99
    £21.99
    The most effective time to introduce Carophyll Yellow is during the moult when blood-flow to the feathers is at its greatest.Carophyll* colouring agents aid plumage pigmentation in birds, particularly canaries, via canthaxanthin.

  • Softbill Food™

    From £5.59
    From £5.59
    A special Softbill Food is as near to the softbill’s natural food as it is possible to get. Containing a variety of ingredients; blended with special oils and Baker's Honey, it provides vitamins and minerals.

  • Robin Red® (HB) Colour Food

    From £12.54
    From £12.54
    Leading exhibitors achieve red hot colour with Haith's Robin Red. It's THE concentrated colour food for Canaries, British Finches and Hybrids.

  • Hemp Seed - Whole for cage birds

    From £7.99
    From £7.99
    Hemp Seed is loved by most seed-eating cage and aviary birds, but it should be fed sparingly. Crushed Hemp Seed can be fed on its own or mixed sparingly with soft food.

  • Niger Seed for cage birds

    From £2.99
    From £2.99
    Niger Seed has fantastic tonic properties to keep birds in top condition. Bird-breeders use its high-oil and tonic properties before the breeding season in the belief that it prevents egg binding.

  • Black Rapeseed for cage birds

    From £3.99
    From £3.99
    Haith's Black Rapeseed provides bird keepers with a highly nutritious seed which contains high levels of valuable oils.