Canary birds for sale are tempting, but if what you really want to buy a canary for is it’s song, make sure you buy a male – females cannot sing. Even male canaries sometimes need to be taught to sing, so follow the subsequent steps to get them to do so.
Don’t worry if your young canary won’t sing – most don’t start till they are around 6 months old. If the bird is new to the environment, it might take it a couple weeks to be comfortable enough to sing. Many birds will also stop singing when they get to be 10 years or older.Canary birds are more likely to sing when kept in an individual cage alone, giving them more space. When kept in an individual cage some will sing almost continuously.
Canaries moult once a year, usually in the summer. The male canary will stop singing when moulting and won't begin again until all its feathers have been replaced --- usually after about two months. Moulting is triggered by heat and longer periods of daylight. Some birds will moult more often and out of season. This is usually caused by heat and artificial light. Keep the canary in a cool room and cover its cage at sunset, especially in the winter, to prevent excessive moulting.
You can often stimulate reluctant canaries to sing by playing them tapes of other canaries singing. If you can’t get hold of any canary tapes, try classical music.
Make sure your canary gets a healthy and protein-rich diet to keep it the right weight to be able to sing. Egg biscuits, which you can buy at pet shops, can support the canary through the moulting process by supplying him with extra protein.
Check the bird's toenails. Canaries' toenails can grow too long, making it painful for them to perch. An avian vet can trim the nails to make the bird more comfortable.