can 2 canaries live together

[Mommabird]

I've been wanting or atleast thinking about getting a canary, but can 2 canaries live together peacefully? Or would it be best to only have 1.

 

[expressmailtome]

Do you mean in the same cage, or in the same room?

 

[finchly]

Yes, either 2 hens or a male/female pair would be ok together. If you want 2 males — separate cages only.

 

[Mommabird]

Do you mean in the same cage, or in the same room?

Same cage.

 

[Clairecanary15]

Hi

If you are a beginner I would suggest 2 hens together. If you get a pair you are then setting them up for the next breeding season. Research would be needed for the breeding such as feather type when pairing, food requirements etc.

As finchly said for a cage only 1 male. I have an aviary with 3 males happily living together with the hens. I also do put several males together in a large flight cage at times and they do get on. For simplicity stick to one male.

Are you looking to breed? Will these be your first canaries? Canaries are very sociable mine move around as a flock.

 

[Serin]

I don't recommend two hens at all. All times I have tried, one will very aggressively attack the other.

 

[Clairecanary15]

Isnt that strange @Serin my hens do get on. But I will say I do select the calm ones to live together which does relate to your post. Some hens are loners..it depends on their personality.

 

[finchly]

I have cages with 2-4 hens and have never, ever had a problem. Perhaps cage size is the issue? I use flight cages

 

[Clairecanary15]

Same here @finchly..flight cages .not heard of hens not getting along before. Some can be more feisty. The norm is 3 hens to one cockbird too. I have 9 hens together in the aviary. .I agree, your definitely on to something about the space.

 

[Serin]

My issue was with two hens sharing a 10 x 12 room. It was chaos. One was just intent on killing the other. Its not all canaries but even numbers of the same sex is risky. Now when I had six hens there are no issues.... Aggression was diffused. But with two one can totally dominate.

It may have been one extra nasty hen... But one I had years ago, though not as bad would also aggressively chase the other I had at the time when I only had the two.

Canaries except one male female pair always had to have single cages here outside nesting time.

 

[finchly]

Poor things! Mine love being in community.

 

[Clairecanary15]

@Serin..I think this should be a fresh post "canary behaviour" so we can continue to work out why your canaries dont get along. .very puzzling...