Why has my canary stopped singing?

The annual moult is the usual reason, and song generally returns once the new feathers are through. If the bird is otherwise bright, eating and active, it is normally nothing to worry about.

What is egg food and does my canary need it?

It is a soft, protein-rich supplementary food. It is not needed year round, but it is genuinely useful during the moult and when birds are rearing young, because both make heavy demands on protein.

Can canaries eat fruit?

Small amounts of apple, pear or berries are fine as an occasional extra. Greens are the better regular choice, and anything fresh should be removed the same day.

Do canaries need grit?

Canaries husk their seed, so they do not need grit for grinding. A cuttlebone or mineral block covers the calcium side, which is the part that actually matters.

What do canaries eat?

A canary is fed principally on a canary seed mix, with fresh greens offered regularly and a cuttlebone permanently available. The one thing canary keepers watch for that other bird keepers often do not is the annual moult, when the bird needs noticeably more protein than usual.

The seed base

Canary mixes are built around canary seed and rapeseed, usually with smaller amounts of linseed, niger and hemp. A teaspoon or two a day suits most single birds, though this varies with the individual and with the time of year.

As with any seed mix, the husks stay in the bowl after the seed has gone, so checking underneath rather than at the surface is the only reliable way to know whether a canary has eaten.

Greens and fresh food

Watercress, rocket, kale, broccoli, grated carrot and small amounts of apple are all commonly offered. Fresh food is best given in the morning and taken out later the same day.

A cuttlebone supplies calcium and helps keep the beak in order, and it should be there all the time rather than offered occasionally.

Feeding through the moult

Canaries moult once a year, usually in late summer, and growing a full set of new feathers is demanding. Many keepers offer egg food during this period, which is a soft protein-rich food sold for exactly this purpose, alongside the usual mix.

A canary in moult often goes quiet and stops singing. That is normal and not a sign of illness on its own, though a bird that is also fluffed up, inactive or off its food should be seen by a vet.

Common questions

Why has my canary stopped singing?: The annual moult is the usual reason, and song generally returns once the new feathers are through. If the bird is otherwise bright, eating and active, it is normally nothing to worry about.
What is egg food and does my canary need it?: It is a soft, protein-rich supplementary food. It is not needed year round, but it is genuinely useful during the moult and when birds are rearing young, because both make heavy demands on protein.
Can canaries eat fruit?: Small amounts of apple, pear or berries are fine as an occasional extra. Greens are the better regular choice, and anything fresh should be removed the same day.
Do canaries need grit?: Canaries husk their seed, so they do not need grit for grinding. A cuttlebone or mineral block covers the calcium side, which is the part that actually matters.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.