Tips on Raising the Red Factor Canary
The sweet warbling of a songbird is a joy for most anyone, but especially so when it reflects brilliant color and beauty as well such as the red factor canary. There are a few tricks of the trade to know when raising these birds, however, in order to help them retain their lovely plumage.
Canaries
One of the most carefree of pets is the canary. Originating from the Canary Islands, the birds are small in stature; generally reaching sizes of only about 5 inches in length. Their weight is inconsequently. In the wild, males of the species are usually more brightly colored than their female counterparts, with most of them appearing greenish. Birds bred in captivity have developed more variety in color, to include yellow, blue, bright green, white, orange, red and a combination of colors. Their lovely colors, diminutive size and beautiful trilling voices have made them extremely popular with humans. The interaction between humans and canaries can vary, depending mostly on the specific characteristics of the bird and the persistence of its human. They can become quite fond of their owners, even to the point of consenting to be finger trained in some cases.
As pets
Many people feel that their lives are much too busy and hectic for the inclusion of a pet in their lives; often facing stress and tension as they focus mainly on responsibilities and tasks before them. Yet these same individuals could relieve their stress and anxiety by adding a pet canary to their home without incurring too much of an imposition on their time constraints. Canaries take up little space, require an adequately sized cage along with a few accessories, to be supplied with food and water once each day and to have a clean environment.
While all canaries can make great pets, the red factor canary can be an exceptional one. Not only does their singing soothe and calm, but their extraordinary beauty makes them a delight to view as well. They are known to be colorbred; specifically designed to exhibit their lovely coloration but with no concentration on their singing ability. The red was developed in the early 1900’s when breeding of two separate varieties was performed; the black hooded red siskin and a yellow canary.
The red coloration is a deliberate one through the foods eaten by the canary. In the wild, the red siskin developed their brilliant color by eating foods that are high in carotenoids. The same process can be obtained for birds in captivity to keep the brightness of the red plumage through the feedings of red pepper, sweet potatoes, beets, tomatoes, cherries, berries and more. Supplements of beta carotenes can be used, but should be used very sparingly if at all in order to preserve your bird’s good health. Natural foods to obtain the color are always the best choice.
Some canary owners use chemicals to adapt specific colors for their bird. The red factor canary will develop varying shades of red when fed Canthaxanthin, Beta Carotene and orange carotenoids. Careful measurements of these are added to the water of the canary for ease in consumption. Uneven amounts could result in dull red, fire engine red or variations of red.
Canary characteristics
Canaries are social birds, but prefer small groups of their own kind. They are amazing additions to an aviary. Because their natural instinct is for the open grassy fields of their origin, providing them with ample space in their cage is vital.
Anyone who enjoys music and melody will find having a red factor canary as a pet to be a wonderful addition to the family.
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