Canary help?

[leschornmom]

Hi. Most of you know that I took in two macaws last week. Well, I got a call this morning from my vet (who I have worked for/with for 15+ yrs) He wanted to know if I'd be interested in taking his niece's cockatiel. How do you say no to a man that has helped you out with wild animal rehab, horse rescues, bird rescues, and cut you deals because of the work you do?
Any way, we ended up bringing home not only the cockatiel but his little canary friend too. So my question is... what the heck do a do with it? I don't have any experience with song birds and this guy was really loved by his previous mommy. I don't want to do anything to stress it out or make it sick.
Would it be wise to get it a little friend? Or should I just let it chill for a while? Can they be hand tamed like parakeets? Or are these guys better left alone? He's very cute.
All thoughts are welcome! Thanks!

 

[GaryBV]

OMG I love canaries. Do you know if it's a male or female? I have found canaries very easy to take care of. I don't think you need to get another for company if you give it attention. I don't see where you are located at, but I think Roudybush crumbles would be perfect for him, along with some seed, and mine always loved fresh fruits and vegetables. As far as training it, mine were never very comfortable being handled, so I would keep them company by talking softly to them all the time, and having his cage near my lovebird so that they coudn't get to each other (I was certainly more concerned the lovebird would bite) but that way did have some interaction and company. Basically a canary is a finch.

 

[crimson]

canaries are very easy to take care of, I breed them.
It's best to find out what sex it is first, then you can think of getting it a friend.
hopefully it's a female...you can house 2 females together but NOT 2 males, they will fight

if your lovebird is out flying around, I would make sure the doors are protected on the canary cage with clips to prevent the lovebird from entering his cage.(at all times)

make sure you keep the canaries perches REALLY CLEAN, and also their water, they are very messy birds.

 

[leschornmom]

I am finding the mess worse than my big Macaws' LOL! However, I am amaized at how alert and aware of everything it seems to be!... He responds and talks back when he's whistled to! My son held a 10 minute "conversation" with him/her today.
Speaking of, is there a way other than DNA to discover sex? I can't imagine a vet probing him. He's tiny.
Thank you for your advise!

 

[MrsKay]

what happened?