With good management, pet canaries will thrive when provided with constant conditions throughout the year, however canaries kept for breeding and exhibition purposes require more specialised attention at different times of the year.

In the United Kingdom, the period between January and March signals the end of the canary exhibition season, and the preparation period for the breeding season.

This guide provides information on basic care and management, to help maintain a healthy stud of canaries, and in particular, to help prepare those birds for breeding.

The Canary Council for Great Britain and Ireland, (a branch of the National Council for Avicuture), produce an excellent guide (Canary Basics) to help owners meet their duty of care in tending to their canaries.

Caring for canaries Week 1

Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 1
Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5
Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Once a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Weekly
Specialist Tasks	Mite Treatment	Birds	Dust with mite powder and repeat in five days
	Mite Treatment	Cages	Wash and treat with antimite preparation
	Claws and Beaks	Trim to comfortable length
	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 40-45 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Maintain 11 hours natural daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 2
Week 1	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5
Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Once a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Weekly
Specialist Tasks	Cages	Repair and paint breeding cages
	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 40-45 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 11 hours 15 minutes daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 3
Week 1	Week 2	Week 4	Week 5
Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Once a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Weekly
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 40-45 degrees farenheit
Specialist Tasks	Lighting	Increase to 11 hours 30 minutes daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 4
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 5
Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Once a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Weekly
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 40-45 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 11 hours 45 minutes daylight.
	Breeding Equipment	Purchase equipment, accessories, nest felts, specialist soaked seeds etc.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 5
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Twice a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Mite Treatment	Birds	Dust with mite powder and repeat in five days
	Mite Treatment	Cages	Wash and treat with antimite preparation
	Claws and Beaks	Trim to comfortable length
	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 45-50 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 12 hours daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 6
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Twice a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 45-50 degrees farenheit
Specialist Tasks	Lighting	Increase to 12 hours 15 minutes daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 7
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 8	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Twice a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 45-50 degrees farenheit
Specialist Tasks	Lighting	Increase to 12 hours 30 minutes daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 8
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 9
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Twice a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 45-50 degrees farenheit
Specialist Tasks	Lighting	Increase to 12 hours 45 minutes daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 9
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Week 10	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Three times a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Mite Treatment	Birds	Dust with mite powder and repeat in five days
	Mite Treatment	Cages	Wash and treat with antimite preparation
	Claws and Beaks	Trim to comfortable length
	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 50-55 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 13 hours daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 10
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Week 9	Week 11	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Three times a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Small groups in flight cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 50-55 degrees farenheit
Specialist Tasks	Lighting	Increase to 13 hours 15 minutes daylight.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 11
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Week 9	Week 10	Week 12	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Three times a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Single bird per cage
	Housing	Hens	Place hens into individual breeding cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 50-55 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 13 hours 30 minutes daylight.
	Breeding cages	Provide string, nesting material for hen to play with
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 12
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Week 9	Week 10	Week 11	Week 13
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
		Mixed Canary Seed
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Three times a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Reposition cocks alongside intended partners cage
		Hens	Place hens into individual breeding cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 50-55 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 13 hours 45 minutes daylight.
	Breeding cages	Introduce nest pans to hens cages
		Withdraw cage slide slightly to allow cocks and hens to become acquainted.
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Caring for Canaries: January to March			Week 13
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8
Week 9	Week 10	Week 11	Week 12
Diet	Staple food	Fresh Water	Daily
	Staple food	Mixed Canary Seed	Daily
	Added extras	Condition Seed	Three times a week
		Softfood
		Greenfoods
		Fruits
	Minerals	Mineral Grit Oystershell Grit Charcoal Cuttlefish	Always available Refresh weekly
	Supplements	Feed as recommended by manufacturer
General Management	Housing	Cocks	Introduce cocks to hens breeding cages
	Housing	Hens	Place hens into individual breeding cages
	Cleaning	Cages	Weekly / as required
		Perches	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Utensils	Daily / Weekly / as required
		Bathing	Twice a week
Specialist Tasks	Heating	Maintain constant temperature of 50-55 degrees farenheit
	Lighting	Increase to 14 hours daylight.
	Nests	Provide adequate nesting material to allow nest building to commence in earnest.
	Observation	Monitor birds to ensure fighting does not take place. Remove cock birds if necessary.
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The Yorkshire Canary Club Canary Care Jan-March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March

Caring for Canaries: January to March