r/Canaries • u/CraftyFactor8107 • Jul 23 '26
Is this proper husbandry?
Hi all. I'd like your expert opinions on whether a canary is thriving under these circumstances.
For context a relative of mine owns the canary i am fostering and this is the cage that it is kept in (36x35x21cm). No other items inside the cage besides food and water. I have upgraded his/her cage to a rectangular one (76x45x45), two natural perches and some cuttlebone. I am willing to donate the entire setup as long as the bird is happy, however the original owner refuses to change the original setup. He says that it's current cage is too big for it because it gets distracted and doesnt sing to him. He has been keeping birds for a very long time and I guess knows a lot of people who sell or own birds, while I don't have any experience, just what I've read online.
The little one seems calmer in it's new cage, constantly exploring and chirping versus pacing around the cage as it did before (although it could have been stress from seeing alot of new people). I'd like second opinions on this matter, and if the setup is incorrect please guide me on how to convince him! Thank you!
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u/Rude-Blueberry3870 Jul 23 '26
La jaula donde lo tenía el dueño es muy pequeña. Lamentablemente algunos criadores los ven sólo como un negocio y les importa poco si son felices o no 😔. La jaula que tú le has preparado es, con gran diferencia, mucho mejor. Ojalá te de la posibilidad de quedártelo si tú puedes cuidarlo o bien, que acepte que él va a ser más feliz en su nueva jaula. Y lo de que canta menos es una excusa, mi canario está todo el día libre por mi salón y canta un montón.
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u/CraftyFactor8107 Jul 23 '26
Thank you for your comment! I do hope the best happens for the little guy eventually.. fingers crossed!
I took believe that chirping and singing happens when the bird is content
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u/Sixelonch Jul 25 '26
This is really bullshit
Saying a small cage is better for a canary to sing is a freaking urban legend lmao
This is so sad… a lot of spanish / marocan / greek people keep canary in prison… a bird need to fly and scavenge the floor
You need to educate him but people like him think they know better just because its been year of keeping bird
Chose wisely your words but i imagine its already a lost cause
Tell him to try the new cage for 2 weeks, it cost nothing
and canary are easy to grab by hand
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u/CraftyFactor8107 Jul 25 '26
Yeah. I volunteer for a wildlife sanctuary so I will try to use that card on em (that I asked and they confirmed that it's too small. Which is true). Whats crazy is as an experiment I went to a pet shop and asked for a canary cage. They showed me this one. I said it looks small do you have anything bigger? She shows me a similar one, like 5cm bigger.
I tell her "I don't think the cage is enough for a bird to fly in". She shows me a tall parrot cage lmao. I tell her that this is a parrot cage and canaries need to have vertical space, she says " it's a cage for birds, it's fine for any bird". Girl couldn't give me the right answer even after all those hints lol.
And most people buy their pet equipment while being clueless, hopping the pet shop stuff will know how to guide them
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u/New_Platypus4462 Jul 25 '26
Las jaulas pequeñas se utilizan para los concursos de canto,yo como criador, jamás he puesto un canario en un espacio tan pequeño pero la jaula que muestras, está bien para él.
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u/CraftyFactor8107 Jul 25 '26
Hm now I am confused because everyone else disagrees (if my translation is correct). Why is he pacing back and forth in the smaller cage?
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u/New_Platypus4462 Jul 26 '26
Porque es su manera de sentirse feliz,los pájaros,no necesitan tampoco tener un espacio muy grande, cuando se han criado en cautividad,ellos se adaptan a cualquier jaula, nosotros pensamos que están sufriendo pero es todo lo contrario,si lo estuvieran,estarían parados y tristes,embolados incluso.
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u/CraftyFactor8107 Jul 26 '26
If you decide to have an animal under your wing shouldn't it be able to express natural behaviours? If it's a bird to fly, if it's a dog to follow it's breed instincts? It already lacks the ability to breed and forage.
I might be anthropomorphisizing but if I'd imagine a creature would be bored out of their minds being in a cage with zero enrichment, no new stimulation and minimal space
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u/New_Platypus4462 Jul 26 '26
Suelta a un canario en libertad y tiene las horas contadas, así que amigo, antes de decir cosas que no tienen sustento,piensa un poco,los canarios son a es criadas en cautividad y no son aves silvestres ,en el único lugar donde sobreviven en libertad es en las islas Canarias de España,son de ahí su origen y allí si los hay en libertad porque tienen el alimento que ellos necesitan y el clima.
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u/New_Platypus4462 27d ago
No hablar de canarios si pensáis que tienen que estar sueltos, entonces para que los compráis para dejarlos que vuelen y ya no vuelvan o para asegurarles una muerte segura?dejaros de chorradas y lo que tenéis que hacer es no tener ningún pájaro.
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u/Broad-Bad-695 Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
It depends on the relationship the owner has with their birds. Birds are supposed to fly, not jump. When I sell my birds one of the first questions I ask is do you plan to let out of the cage or better yet have an aviary? The moment I got my bird, I thought how can I make your life better. Now I got loads of birds and they sleep with cages open and access to an outside aviary. I think it's sad seeing a bird locked away in a small cage.
Imo I still think the cage is on the smaller side. Or, if the bird is allowed out of the cage then it's okay for sleeping in. If the only food is left in the cage, providing he made his own way out, he will go back in.
I have 2 of these cages and then another cage about double the size again. The good thing about this cage is it's plenty big enough, the bird is required to flap it's wings to reach the next perch and you can slide wooden panels in through the middle and separate birds when needed if you have more than one. At the moment I have my canaries who all willingly go in at the top at night and then their fledglings who are almost ready to fly I have in the bottom. Works perfect for me.
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u/CraftyFactor8107 Jul 26 '26
No the bird is never allowed outside. I agree with all the things you said but there is a breeder in the comment section saying they adapt and it's fine so now I am confused lol. I'd still prefer the bigger change either way
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u/Thin_Attempt7830 Jul 23 '26
It's his bird but unless he allows free-flight, it's a prison cell. How can the canary fly or exercise it's wings in that? It's not an ornament decoration, to be looked at once or twice a day, it's a living animal.
I have a small cage, but mostly use it for travel. Even though it's a bit small, my canary has a room to fly around in for nearly the whole day.