How to Choose a Canary Cage, and Where to Find One

Canaries are wonderful little birds, especially for first time bird owners. In general, canaries do not enjoy being handled. They will spend most of their lives living in a cage so they need the right cage to make sure that they get enough exercise and live happily and safely.

Birds get exercise from flying on a horizontal plane, not up and down, so it is more important for your bird to live in a long cage than a tall one. Canaries prefer cages with square corners, as round corners can disorient them. It is essential that a small bird such as a canary is kept in a cage with a maximum of one-half inch spacing between the bars for maximum safety.

For ease of cleaning, the canary cage should be made out of metal, not wood. There should be a tray at the bottom of the cage made of metal or plastic which can be easily removed for cleaning.

There are a lot of cages for sale out there, and a lot of them are not acceptable housing for the animals they are advertised for. This is usually because the cages are too small, or the wrong shape. You should look for a rectangular-shaped cage that has a length of at least 18 inches.

Don't be tempted to opt for the wrong cage because it is cheaper or looks pretty. The Doctors Foster and Smith website offers several options for good sized cages that are also attractive and are under $60. Search their website by price, and then check the cage specifications against those required for canaries. Often, cages listed as breeder cages are cheap and still meet the needed parameters.

Another source of good cages is WorldOfBirds.com. Search under their "small cages" to find several acceptable cages made of different materials. Their cages run more between $80 and $100. However, they do offer some slightly cheaper options if you look carefully, and keep an eye out for sales. Although they offer a good sized cage, the information along with the cage is definitely wrong. The suggestions of which birds and how many you can house in the set-up are entirely inaccurate.

Before bringing your canary home, make sure you have the perfect cage to keep them in, along with the correct materials to line the bottom of their cage. Research canary food and care to keep your pet healthy and happy.