First time canary carer!

[Amber]

Hi everyone,
So pleased to have found a forum for canaries!

I have never looked after anything smaller than a chicken and chicks before but rescued an injured canary found in a park 5 months ago (UK based so it was fairly chilly in November).

He was quite thin with a lot of damage to his feet, looked like he had been attacked or trapped in something.

He recovered brilliantly with pain relief meds and I keep him in a cage indoors but with lots of free flight time.

I did notice little wheezing sounds after a month or so and then heard a few episodes of coughing, initially gave him a parasite treatment but when it didn’t improve had a couple of trips to the vet and a course of antibiotics and anti inflammatories.

The wheezing went but he had also started moulting, I think out of season as started in Feb, however a week after stopping the meds I’ve heard the squeaky wheeze again once. It’s not all the time and not for long, am I over thinking it or is there a sneaky respiratory issue coming back?

He eats well -seeds, Harrison’s super fine, apples, broccoli, shell, boiled egg and some nuts as treats. He’s holding a steady weight of 20grams.

Bathing at least every other day, chirping, interested but less active and no singing ( he used to be very noisy!).

Apologies for the essay, the nuances of his care are very new to me and really grateful for any experience and advice you guys may have.

Amber

 

[Finchbreed]

Sounds like he may have had airsac mites - these cause wheezing in canaries.
The infestation may be bad enough for him to need a 2nd treatment OR he may have some permanent damage if it was prolonged.
Green seeding grasses are good during moulting as is egg shell.
Singing is the male canaries mating call and will happen for approx 1/4 - 1/3 of the year when he is in breeding condition.
What colour/markings does he have?

 

[Amber]

Sounds like he may have had airsac mites - these cause wheezing in canaries.
The infestation may be bad enough for him to need a 2nd treatment OR he may have some permanent damage if it was prolonged.
Green seeding grasses are good during moulting as is egg shell.
Singing is the male canaries mating call and will happen for approx 1/4 - 1/3 of the year when he is in breeding condition.
What colour/markings does he have?

Ah, thank you. I have oyster shell for him and cuttlefish bone but interested in getting him some grasses also to keep his brain busy.
Do you have any recommendations?

I’ll look at getting him a second round of parasite treatment too.

One vet recommended getting him a nebuliser or even just taking him into the bathroom with the shower on!

You’ve put my mind at rest a bit with the singing, he’s still chatty, but I thought if he wasn’t singing all year he was either unwell, unhappy or both!

He’s pale yellow with one tiny patch of black on his back above his right wing.

 

[Finchbreed]

I plant some of my birdseed in the garden - this can also be done in pots. Do at weekly intervals over a month. (Dandelion plants are good straight from the garden too.)
Once the green seed appears, pick and feed. Be prepared to be nagged for this every day. Though to be fair my girl is a much bigger nag than my boy.
In the mean time broccoli flowers are good, as is cucumber.

 

[KiMa27]

Welcome, Amber!

 

[Amber]

I plant some of my birdseed in the garden - this can also be done in pots. Do at weekly intervals over a month. (Dandelion plants are good straight from the garden too.)
Once the green seed appears, pick and feed. Be prepared to be nagged for this every day. Though to be fair my girl is a much bigger nag than my boy.
In the mean time broccoli flowers are good, as is cucumber.

Thank you, I’ll give the birdseed a go.
He definitely knows how to nag to be let out so I’m already getting used to it but I really enjoy that interaction with him. Especially his little shrieks of excitement when he “forages”, snacks and treats I’ve hidden

 

[Amber]

Welcome, Amber!

Thank you, pleased to be here!

 

[Sparkles99]

How is the canary doing now?

 

[Amber]

How is the canary doing now?

Thank you, and thanks for asking.

He’s been pretty good, good appetite, still moulting but new feathers coming through. Holding his weight, getting much friendlier again (he seems to need to treat me with extra caution for weeks after every vet trip), so I’m pleased to back in his good books!
Still not sure there isn’t something going on with his respiratory system. Just some very subtle symptoms unless I’m over thinking it , keeping a very close eye, which he probably finds fairly annoying!