Sunday, November 18, 2007
NUTRITION
Canaries are seed eating birds. Most people know this, but far fewer people appreciate just how important other foods are to these birds. Breeding birds need a very wide ranging diet to produce chicks as well as to rear healthy youngsters. We can therefore look at nutrition in two parts: the seed diet and the non - seed diet. First we will look at nutrition with respect to feeder dishes and general husbandry terms.
FEEDING UTENSILS
A wide variety of feeding utensils exists from which you can choose. Automatic dispenser are available in various sizes and model. Such dispensers are advantageous because much time is saved which would otherwise be devoted to checking and filling open dishes. These also keep the seed free of dust and spilled water. On the other hand, the very fact that you do not spend time watching the birds feeding may mean you do not notice the first sign of ill health, one of which is when a bird loses its interest in its food.For breeders, automatic dispensers are now the most popular means of containing seeds. Choose one with good sized opening to the tray and this greatly reduces the risks of the seeds clogging the outlet hole. As a further precaution you should tap the dispensers several times each day to be sure that the seed is falling into the tray. Water can be supplied via such dispenser as well. Be sure to clean these thoroughly on a regular basis. Water should be replaced daily.Open feeder pots are still preferred by some breeders. These can either be of the type which hook onto the cage bars, or crock dishes placed on the cage floor. They must be blown over daily in order to remove the husks which can make it appear as though there are plenty of seeds when there are actually only empty shells.All birds tend to be wasteful feeders, throwing out seeds not wanted initially in order to get to their favorites. Such waste will not really be too costly tor the pet bird owner, but can add up to quite an item for the breeder. With this in mind it is often best for the breeders to supply differing seeds in separate containers. You do not have to apply this to every seed type, but feed the main seed, canary seed, in its own separate dispenser, and maybe use one at most two open pots in which to supply the seeds fed in much smaller quantities.
FEEDING HUSBANDRY
The first thing that you should be said about feeding your canaries is that the seed must be available to them at all times – as must water and grit. They cannot store qualities of food in their digestive system as we can, so are continually feeding during the daylight hours. If you have only a few canaries, your pet shop can supply packaged, mixed canary seed, or sell you a mixed seed by weight. If you have a collection of canaries, you will find it more economical to purchase your seed from the pet shop. The seed should be dry and free from dust, and have no musty smell to it.Like any other food, seed is perishable and will quickly lose its value unless stored correctly. A dry container should be used. Do not be tempted to purchase too much seed at a time, it is better that you have a steady supply of fresh seed than that which has been in your birdroom for months. Seed, even of the same variety, varies considerably in its quality depending on many factors. These includes its country of origin. The soil it was grown in, when it was harvested and how long it has been stored.Softfood and plant matter has a very short life. As a general rule, feed only what the birds will consume in about two hours. Wash all plant matter before feeding in order to remove any residual pesticides or other potential toxins that may be coating the plants. For aviary birds, softfood and plants are best supplied in the early morning or later afternoon. Thus they are not subjected to the heat and rays of the midday sun which quickly reduces their value, especially that of the vitamin content.
THE SEED PART OF THE DIET
The basic seed in the canary diet is that of the bird's name, canary seed. This elliptical shaped seed will provide anything from 50-80% of the seed ration, depending on the breeder's view. The other seed which are popular with canary breeders are black and red rape seed, niger seed, linseed and the oat growth. The potential range of seeds is unlimited when you take into consideration not only cultivate seeds, but also those of wild plants.While canary and rape seed will be readily acceptable, birds differ considerably where other seeds are concerned. Much will depend on what the birds are accustomed to before you acquired them. During the breeding season a bird will proved more willing to accept foods that might ordinarily be passed over.You will no doubt hear or read in the course of time that this or that seed is superior to others, or is of no value, or is disliked by canaries. These are the honest opinion of experienced breeders, but always remember that canaries are individuals, and that all edible seeds contain constituents of value to your birds. It is the ration of one constituent to the other that changes both its taste and its value.The value of a seed differs depending on what it is expected to achieve. If you want good growth in a youngster, it will need good protein seeds.During the cold weather a bird needs insulation in its skin, which can be provided by the fat rich seeds. Non-breeding birds in good health need only minimal protein and fat seeds, their metabolic needs being mainly that the food provides energy, which is derived from carbohydrate rich seed. To this, foods that will provide the proteins and fats that are conducive to replacing tissue worn away by muscular activity are needed, as well as other vital ingredients that will maintain good health.The dietary needs of an active aviary bird will clearly be different than those of a pet which is confined for long periods in a cage that is invariably too small for it to exercise in. Given these various facts you will appreciate that it is not possible to categorically state a canary needs this or that ration of one seed to another. As a basic guide, I would supply a seed mix based on 45% canary seed, 20% rape seed and 35% covering a mixture of other seeds which are rich in protein. This can then be adjusted up or down based on how the canaries look, and on which of the other seeds supplied the canary obviously enjoys. The wider the range of seeds that your birds will accept, the lower the risk that any one ingredient is missing.
NON-SEED FOODS
In the wild, canaries eat various foods as they come into season. These include fruits, some vegetable matter and any insect and their larvae which are available for them. We cannot duplicate the actual items, but we can supply foods that contain much the same constituents. Indeed, commercial canary softfoods save us the time and bother of having to gather, cultivate, or prepare high protein foods, such as insect and mashes, which birdkeepers of not so many years ago had to do. Some breeders still prefer to make up their own softfoods using recipes handed down, or thought up by the individual. By so doing, they hope to keep feeding cost down, but whether this is achieved is very debatable if time and the actual food value is taken into consideration.You can purchase protein foods which may be given straight from the packet or after dampening with water. They come under various names, such as canary rearing food, softbill food, insectivorous food, egg and biscuit meal and so on. Be sure to store the food as recommended by the manufacturer, otherwise its life will be greatly reduced.Greenfoods in the form of fruits and vegetables can be supplied either as a mixed salad or as individual foods on differing days. Either way, chopped them up into small pieces that a canary can cope with and place them in a small pot or shallow container. The range is enormous and includes peas, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, celery oranges and apples.Grain by-products, such as cereal flakes can form part of a feeding regimen. Wholemeal bread soaked with milk is enjoyed by breeding canaries and will help provide some of the essential calcium. Calcium can be provided via powder sprinkled on seed or other food items, or via oyster or egg shell duly crushed into small pieces. Cuttlebone is favored by many breeders as a source of calcium.When you are preparing birds for the breeding period the protein part of the diet should be steadily increased commencing a couple of months before. It is no use to suddenly give the birds a pile of protein foods two weeks before you expect them to go to the nest. This will not achieved the desired results. It takes months for foods to be converted into the correct amount of muscle needed by the breeding birds. High protein foods should be fed throughout the rearing period and then steadily reduced as the season draws to a close. All foods, other than basic seeds should be supplied on a build up and slow down basis, never suddenly in a glut as this can cause problems.
at 4:56 AM 0 comments
at 4:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: has a beautiful appearance and for those who wish to breed it is very prolific., The canary is one of the most popular household pets. It is a magnificent songster
What is a Canary?
The canary is a member of the group of birds known as finches (family fringillidae). This family is one of many found in the order known as Passeriformes or the perching birds. All of these birds have four toes, one of which is directed backwards and works in opposition to the three forward facing toes. This arrangement allows the birds to grasp branches without any effort. This is because the muscles in their "rest" position are closed and the bird has to physically flex its muscles in order to release its hold of the branch or whatever it is clinging to.
The chicks of the paserine birds all have a unique gape by which they elivit food from their parents. The inside of their mouths are often variably colored with beak edge being yellow, so as to be easily seen by the parents. Canaries are also member of the sub-order of birds called Oscines-the songbirds. In these birds, there are special throath muscles which enable them to produce a melodious song. Songs are variable and may simlpy be little "tweet", or trulymagnificent. The canary's closest relative are the serins, siskins, and such species as goldfinches and greenfinches.
at 4:25 AM 0 comments
Canary
HISTORY OF THE CANARY
The origins of the domestic canary can be traced back to the wild canary (serinus canaria). It is native to the islands of Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands for which it is named. These are located in the Atlantic Ocean and were possessions of Portugal until seized by Philip II of Spain in 1580. While the Portuguese no doubt captured and sold many of the little singing finches found on these islands, it was the Spanish who are historically credited with domesticating the canary and exporting it throughout their empire, as well as nearby countires in Europe.
at 3:52 AM 0 comments
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Canaries are seed eating birds. Most people know this, but far fewer people appreciate just how important other foods are to these birds. Breeding birds need a very wide ranging diet to produce chicks as well as to rear healthy youngsters. We can therefore look at nutrition in two parts: the seed diet and the non - seed diet. First we will look at nutrition with respect to feeder dishes and general husbandry terms.
FEEDING UTENSILS
A wide variety of feeding utensils exists from which you can choose. Automatic dispenser are available in various sizes and model. Such dispensers are advantageous because much time is saved which would otherwise be devoted to checking and filling open dishes. These also keep the seed free of dust and spilled water. On the other hand, the very fact that you do not spend time watching the birds feeding may mean you do not notice the first sign of ill health, one of which is when a bird loses its interest in its food.For breeders, automatic dispensers are now the most popular means of containing seeds. Choose one with good sized opening to the tray and this greatly reduces the risks of the seeds clogging the outlet hole. As a further precaution you should tap the dispensers several times each day to be sure that the seed is falling into the tray. Water can be supplied via such dispenser as well. Be sure to clean these thoroughly on a regular basis. Water should be replaced daily.Open feeder pots are still preferred by some breeders. These can either be of the type which hook onto the cage bars, or crock dishes placed on the cage floor. They must be blown over daily in order to remove the husks which can make it appear as though there are plenty of seeds when there are actually only empty shells.All birds tend to be wasteful feeders, throwing out seeds not wanted initially in order to get to their favorites. Such waste will not really be too costly tor the pet bird owner, but can add up to quite an item for the breeder. With this in mind it is often best for the breeders to supply differing seeds in separate containers. You do not have to apply this to every seed type, but feed the main seed, canary seed, in its own separate dispenser, and maybe use one at most two open pots in which to supply the seeds fed in much smaller quantities.
FEEDING HUSBANDRY
The first thing that you should be said about feeding your canaries is that the seed must be available to them at all times – as must water and grit. They cannot store qualities of food in their digestive system as we can, so are continually feeding during the daylight hours. If you have only a few canaries, your pet shop can supply packaged, mixed canary seed, or sell you a mixed seed by weight. If you have a collection of canaries, you will find it more economical to purchase your seed from the pet shop. The seed should be dry and free from dust, and have no musty smell to it.Like any other food, seed is perishable and will quickly lose its value unless stored correctly. A dry container should be used. Do not be tempted to purchase too much seed at a time, it is better that you have a steady supply of fresh seed than that which has been in your birdroom for months. Seed, even of the same variety, varies considerably in its quality depending on many factors. These includes its country of origin. The soil it was grown in, when it was harvested and how long it has been stored.Softfood and plant matter has a very short life. As a general rule, feed only what the birds will consume in about two hours. Wash all plant matter before feeding in order to remove any residual pesticides or other potential toxins that may be coating the plants. For aviary birds, softfood and plants are best supplied in the early morning or later afternoon. Thus they are not subjected to the heat and rays of the midday sun which quickly reduces their value, especially that of the vitamin content.
THE SEED PART OF THE DIET
The basic seed in the canary diet is that of the bird's name, canary seed. This elliptical shaped seed will provide anything from 50-80% of the seed ration, depending on the breeder's view. The other seed which are popular with canary breeders are black and red rape seed, niger seed, linseed and the oat growth. The potential range of seeds is unlimited when you take into consideration not only cultivate seeds, but also those of wild plants.While canary and rape seed will be readily acceptable, birds differ considerably where other seeds are concerned. Much will depend on what the birds are accustomed to before you acquired them. During the breeding season a bird will proved more willing to accept foods that might ordinarily be passed over.You will no doubt hear or read in the course of time that this or that seed is superior to others, or is of no value, or is disliked by canaries. These are the honest opinion of experienced breeders, but always remember that canaries are individuals, and that all edible seeds contain constituents of value to your birds. It is the ration of one constituent to the other that changes both its taste and its value.The value of a seed differs depending on what it is expected to achieve. If you want good growth in a youngster, it will need good protein seeds.During the cold weather a bird needs insulation in its skin, which can be provided by the fat rich seeds. Non-breeding birds in good health need only minimal protein and fat seeds, their metabolic needs being mainly that the food provides energy, which is derived from carbohydrate rich seed. To this, foods that will provide the proteins and fats that are conducive to replacing tissue worn away by muscular activity are needed, as well as other vital ingredients that will maintain good health.The dietary needs of an active aviary bird will clearly be different than those of a pet which is confined for long periods in a cage that is invariably too small for it to exercise in. Given these various facts you will appreciate that it is not possible to categorically state a canary needs this or that ration of one seed to another. As a basic guide, I would supply a seed mix based on 45% canary seed, 20% rape seed and 35% covering a mixture of other seeds which are rich in protein. This can then be adjusted up or down based on how the canaries look, and on which of the other seeds supplied the canary obviously enjoys. The wider the range of seeds that your birds will accept, the lower the risk that any one ingredient is missing.
NON-SEED FOODS
In the wild, canaries eat various foods as they come into season. These include fruits, some vegetable matter and any insect and their larvae which are available for them. We cannot duplicate the actual items, but we can supply foods that contain much the same constituents. Indeed, commercial canary softfoods save us the time and bother of having to gather, cultivate, or prepare high protein foods, such as insect and mashes, which birdkeepers of not so many years ago had to do. Some breeders still prefer to make up their own softfoods using recipes handed down, or thought up by the individual. By so doing, they hope to keep feeding cost down, but whether this is achieved is very debatable if time and the actual food value is taken into consideration.You can purchase protein foods which may be given straight from the packet or after dampening with water. They come under various names, such as canary rearing food, softbill food, insectivorous food, egg and biscuit meal and so on. Be sure to store the food as recommended by the manufacturer, otherwise its life will be greatly reduced.Greenfoods in the form of fruits and vegetables can be supplied either as a mixed salad or as individual foods on differing days. Either way, chopped them up into small pieces that a canary can cope with and place them in a small pot or shallow container. The range is enormous and includes peas, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, celery oranges and apples.Grain by-products, such as cereal flakes can form part of a feeding regimen. Wholemeal bread soaked with milk is enjoyed by breeding canaries and will help provide some of the essential calcium. Calcium can be provided via powder sprinkled on seed or other food items, or via oyster or egg shell duly crushed into small pieces. Cuttlebone is favored by many breeders as a source of calcium.When you are preparing birds for the breeding period the protein part of the diet should be steadily increased commencing a couple of months before. It is no use to suddenly give the birds a pile of protein foods two weeks before you expect them to go to the nest. This will not achieved the desired results. It takes months for foods to be converted into the correct amount of muscle needed by the breeding birds. High protein foods should be fed throughout the rearing period and then steadily reduced as the season draws to a close. All foods, other than basic seeds should be supplied on a build up and slow down basis, never suddenly in a glut as this can cause problems.
at 4:56 AM 0 comments
at 4:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: has a beautiful appearance and for those who wish to breed it is very prolific., The canary is one of the most popular household pets. It is a magnificent songster
What is a Canary?
The canary is a member of the group of birds known as finches (family fringillidae). This family is one of many found in the order known as Passeriformes or the perching birds. All of these birds have four toes, one of which is directed backwards and works in opposition to the three forward facing toes. This arrangement allows the birds to grasp branches without any effort. This is because the muscles in their "rest" position are closed and the bird has to physically flex its muscles in order to release its hold of the branch or whatever it is clinging to.
The chicks of the paserine birds all have a unique gape by which they elivit food from their parents. The inside of their mouths are often variably colored with beak edge being yellow, so as to be easily seen by the parents. Canaries are also member of the sub-order of birds called Oscines-the songbirds. In these birds, there are special throath muscles which enable them to produce a melodious song. Songs are variable and may simlpy be little "tweet", or trulymagnificent. The canary's closest relative are the serins, siskins, and such species as goldfinches and greenfinches.
at 4:25 AM 0 comments
Canary
HISTORY OF THE CANARY
The origins of the domestic canary can be traced back to the wild canary (serinus canaria). It is native to the islands of Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands for which it is named. These are located in the Atlantic Ocean and were possessions of Portugal until seized by Philip II of Spain in 1580. While the Portuguese no doubt captured and sold many of the little singing finches found on these islands, it was the Spanish who are historically credited with domesticating the canary and exporting it throughout their empire, as well as nearby countires in Europe.
at 3:52 AM 0 comments
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