Just found a canary, how do I know if it's a he or a she? what do canaries eat?

Question

This tiny little bird literally knocked on my door this morning. It was really cold outside and the poor thing was freezing. I fed it bread, warm milk and now I put it in a birdcage. But, How can I know if it is a he or a she?
I used to have budgies and fed them canary grass. Do I give canary grass to the Canary too? Do they eat anything else?

Further information on Canaries, please, send it to me.

Well, I fed it bread because I found it at 6.30am. I already bought canary grass seeds and other Canary food. It seems to be ok, and started to shrill, it's not a proper singing.
I thought about naming it "Sunday", for obvious reasons - found on Sunday. Or "Tweety" because it's a canary and reminded me of the cartoon. Ideas?

Answer 1

Canary Diet
http://www.petcraft.com/docs/canaryfaq.shtml#DIET

Canary Care and Info...very good
http://www.elmersaquarium.com/63canary.htm

Sexing your Canary
http://www.avianweb.com/sexingcanaries.html

Sexing your new canary might be a bit hard.
Hope this helps sweety : )

Answer 2

Canaries need seed as their basic diet. Canary grass seed is their favorite. They don't usually eat millet seed like budgies do, so if I were you I would buy it a seed mixture for finches not for budgies. Canaries will also eat thoroughly washed greens (lettuce, dandelion) and you should also give it sliced apple at least once a week. Fresh water should be available all the time (water fountain/bottle) and a separate dish for it to have an occasional bath at its leisure.

As for sexing it, it is impossible to tell canaries apart just by looking at them. If it is a male it will eventually sing once it has settled down and restores his health. If it is a young male, it will take him a bit longer to sing (weeks if not months), BUT until he acquires his full song he will begin practicing his song soon enough (be aware that young females may also do this occasionally). Females will very rarely sing (I have an old female that has produced several babies....this year she started singing a weaker version of the male's song!) - confused yet? well I don't blame you if you are! During my several years of keeping canaries it is not the first time that I am tricked in thinking that I have a male and the bird turns out to be a female (egg laying is a definite confirmation of this). In older canaries my (not 100% guaranteed) method of sexing them is by blowing their feathers on their vent area...the males usually have feathers along the cloaca that look like a small artists' paintbrush. Females usually don't have this.

I think the best thing you should do is buy the finch seed mix as soon as you can....small birds like canaries have a very fast metabolism and it may die of hunger...bread is no good for finches and canaries. You should be more concerned about getting his right food straight away and worry about sexing it later. Good luck! I'm sure he or she has found a great new home.

Answer 3

most birds, including canaries, dont have any difinative characteristics to tell their sex without a blood test from the vet, which can be very expensive. but you can make an educated guess, generally only male canaries will sing, but if its that young it may take a while. canaries eat finch/dove seed (because of their beak shape) and fresh fruits/veggies every so often as a treat, as long as theyre cut up small enough.

Answer 4

males sing, females don't. Music generally makes them burst into song if it is a male. Canaries eat canary food. Buy it at wal mart or a pet store. It will starve to death on just bread.

Answer 5

Ok yes males sing and females don't in general. As far as food goes get a species specific diet. As in Canary food. You can get that at any pet store or (man I hate to say this) Walmart.

Answer 6

You can give it canary seed and give it fruit and green stuff (lettuce ). My dad used to have canaries and he told me that the males make good singers and the females just make a peepin sound .

Answer 7

Ciao Maria, I suggest that first thing in the morning pay a visit to a vet, have the bird examined (you said it was cold outside) and you can get all the scientific information you need... Good luck to you and your new pet...

P.S. What about naming it after me? He/she came to your house as an angel..

Answer 8

sorry,don't know!!i'd take it to a vet!!plus you have to give it bird seed not bread......ask your vet what the best food is for it!!
congrats on your new pet!!:)

Answer 9

phone a pet shop!!