Anyone who knows about the canaries loves them. They're great birds to keep around. You feel a special type of love and warmth when you have a canary in your home. The best thing about canary birds is that they don't need a lot of care. One of the little things you have to do is provide a proper canary cage that suits them.
From our own experience, we know that the right shape and size of a canary bird cage is an important part of keeping a pet canary.
How Big Does a Canary Cage Need to Be?
Many misinformed people, including storekeepers, think that a small bird like a canary only needs a small bird cage for canaries. That assumption is very wrong. As a matter of fact, size is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a canary cage. A canary is an active bird that loves to fly around, exercise, and explore its surroundings. This little bird can’t do that if you keep it in a tiny canary cage. That’s not how you keep a canary happy and healthy.
So, what dimensions do you need to look for to make sure your canary is comfortable in its cage? It’s simple – you just need to ensure the cage has a minimum size of 24 by 18 by 18 inches. You can settle for anywhere between ¼ and ½ inches for the canary cage bar spacing. This prevents your canary from sticking its head in the wire spaces or getting through the spacing and flying away.
Also, a bigger cage keeps your canary active – flapping around and exploring its habitat. You also get a large view of what’s happening inside the cage. It can be fun watching a canary act out and sing. The bigger the canary cage, the better the view you get.
How to Set Up a Canary Cage
When you buy a canary cage, you might have to carry it to your location in its disassembled state. That means you must re-assemble it so you can place it at the spot of choice. Setting up a canary cage is simple. You just have to re-attach the detachable pieces to the main structure to complete the outer design.
Next, you set the perches. Ensure the perches are at different heights in the cage to allow the canary various flight paths. There should be a variety of perches with different widths.
What is the best place to keep a canary cage? A heavy traffic area within your home, house, or whatever environment you choose. If it’s inside the house, choose somewhere like the living room, next to the kitchen, or the family room. You want your people to have fun watching the canary do its antics every chance they get.
However, keep the cage away from areas prone to fumes or strong scents. Keep in mind that items like irons, toasters, and non-stick cookware produce fumes.
What Do Canaries Need in Their Cage?
Canaries are just like any other pet you keep. They need some specific things or items in their cages. Here are some basic things a pet canary should have in their cage.
Food Bowls and Enough Water
Someone has to feed you if you’re kept in a cage and can’t get out to look for food. Canaries in cages are the same. You must make sure that they get enough food. However, “enough” food doesn’t mean just any food. You should give your canary nutritious food that keeps them strong and healthy. Recommended canary nutrition includes seeds, pelleted foods, millet, egg-based foods, mineral block or cuttlefish, and vitamin supplements. You can get most of these foods at the local store.
Water, too. Don’t forget to keep a bowl of water inside the cage. Canaries get thirsty just as you do. Besides drinking the water, they also bathe with it and stay clean.
Perches for Jumping Around
Birds like to perch on something when they aren’t busy flying and exploring around. That’s why you should have perches in your canary cage. Canaries feel good when they’re jumping around between perches in the cage. Give them that.
Toys
Get a few toys for your canary to play around with in the cage. You can get strings clumped on blocks to give the canary a chance to get curious about it. The canaries also love to play with knobs fixed onto plastics. You can also get a bell. Besides singing, canaries love to make a bell ring.
Do canaries Like Mirrors in Their Cage?
Yes, they do. Most canaries like mirrors in their bird cages since they see the reflection as another friendly bird. They will then spend all day conversing with the other canary in their presence.
Canaries also love to hear themselves singing, especially in front of other birds, and a mirror can keep them entertained for hours. However, there are a few stories of male canaries not liking mirrors, but only in isolated cases.
What Is the Best Cage for a Canary?
If you want your pet canary to be happy and comfortable, choose a high-quality canary cage with the most appropriate shape, size, and design. There are several cages for canaries – you just need to find what’s right for your bird.
1. Round Bird Cage
The round birdcage is a great choice if you have a small bird. Besides its sizable space of 13 inches in diameter and 24 inches in height, this cage is coated with a bird-safe finish that prevents your canary from being troubled by strong or strange scents (canaries don’t like strong scents). The detachable tray and metal plate make cleaning quick and easy. It also comes with two feeder dishes. When assembling the cage, you should start by fixing the centerpiece first. It makes the rest easy.
However, there’s a bit of a caveat on this cage as far as canaries are concerned. Unlike other small birds like cockatiels, finch, or parakeets, canaries like to hop and flap around instead of climbing. That makes the size and shape of this cage a little troublesome for a medium-sized canary.
2. Hendryx Square Roof Canary Cage
The Hendryx Square Roof Canary Cage is 25 inches by 21 inches by 29.5 inches, making it pretty spacious and comfortable for a canary. It boasts a powder-coated steel wire structure that enhances its durability. You don’t have to keep buying new canary cages every short while. It also comes with three well-fixed perches, a detachable bottom grille, two plastic cups, and a tray. In simple terms, this cage comes with everything in one package.
3. Petco Scallop Top Cage
This is a perfect choice if you have two birds. It’s big enough to accommodate them. The Petco Scallop Top Cage come with three access doors, two feeder dishes, two wooden perches, a detachable grate, and a tray that makes for easy cleaning. The cage bars are strong for durability.
4. Hagen Vision Bird Cage
This one is easy to clean, making it attractive to beginners and veteran bird keepers. It boasts great aesthetics (nice colors) that blend well with the environment. The average-size Hagen Vision Bird Cage is big enough for canaries to live in, and the two ½ inch wooden perches give them nice spots to rest.
The best part about the Hagen Vision Bird Cage is that its durable metal design can last 20 years without the need for replacement. By any account, this cage looks like a great choice for any bird keeper.
5. Super Deal Rolling Bird Cage Large Wrought Iron Cage
The name says it all – the Super Deal Rolling Bird Cage Large Wrought Iron Cage is huge–it stands 16.9 inches by 51.2 inches by 23.6 inches in size and has a 1/2-inch bar spacing. It’s made of powder-coated wrought iron with high durability. The lead-free and non-toxic paint makes sure your bird is safe.
Despite its size, this cage is easy to assemble (as our team found out). It has four doors with locks, four feeder cups, and a removable tray. If you want to move your canary around the environment while it is inside, this allows that because it has wheels. You just have to push or pull it around.
6. Mcage Large Wrought Iron Flight Canary Cage with Removable Stand
As the name suggests, a Mcage Large Wrought Iron Flight Canary Cage with a Removable Stand is designed to give your canary enough room for flight and comfort. It is 32 inches by 18 inches by 64 inches in size. The wire spacing is only ½ inch, meaning your curious canary won’t find its neck stuck to the outside.
The cage also comes with multiple perches, feeder cups, shelves, and a ladder to ensure the canary inside enjoy itself to the fullest. While canaries love to fly horizontally as opposed to upwards, the 32-inch horizontal length of the cage accommodates that.
Things to Consider When Buying a Canary Bird Cage
When you want to buy a canary cage, you don’t just walk out there and buy any canary cage you see. There are some things you need to keep in mind. These things affect you just as much as they affect your bird.
The Cage Bars
The cage bars’ spacing should be well-placed so the canary cannot get its head stuck if it gets curious to look out. The appropriate cage bar spacing is ¼ inch to ½ inch.
Easy to Clean
A proper cage for canaries should be designed in a way that makes it super easy for you to get rid of dirt during your cleaning routines. You don’t want a canary cage that gets the dirt too deep in the edge and makes it hard for you to clean. That kind of cage wouldn’t be a fit or healthy environment for a canary.
Suitable Canary Cage Shape
Another factor to consider when buying a canary bird cage is its shape. You must decide what shape of canary cage works best for the environment where you plan to keep your bird. A good shape should allow the bird to hide within the cage when not in the mood for activity. A canary cage can be rectangular, rounded, or even square. Make sure you pick the best canary cage shape suitable for your bird’s environment. Since canaries like to flap around horizontally, it’s clear that a rectangular cage is the coolest choice.
Final Word
As explained, the trick to keeping your canary in good health and happy is to provide an exciting environment that keeps the bird engaged. A good canary birdcage goes a long way in ensuring that. According to research, the average life expectancy of a canary is 7 to 8 years, so you need to give your bird the best life possible. That starts with a good canary cage.
We are lovers of pet birds and especially canaries and would love to hear from you if you keep a canary. Contact us and let us hear about your experience with your bird and the type of canary cage you use.
While we are experienced pet bird owners just like many of our readers, it is important to note that the information in this article is a guide from one pet owner to another. We share tips and advice based on personal knowledge and experience. We recommend contacting a veterinarian for any medical or behavioural advice relating to your pet.
