Thirst

[Fisherman]

Hello, I just stumbled on your website tonight.
I could do with some advice.

I have a canary of 10 years old, non aviary. There are two questions, is this a "great age for a canary?"

He has a bad thirst. We have assumed that as long as he is not in discomfort, continue.
It could be diabetes or age maybe, but feedback is welcome. Should I ":? " (worry)?

Fisherman

[chris]

Hi Fisherman,

you've done well to keep a canary for 10 years, well done! they are know to live longer, some upto 20 years even but this tends to be the extreme. i don't know exactly what could be causing the thrist but there are a whole range of possibilities including kidney problems/failure, old age, diabetes as you've already suggested, or more likely if it's only recently it could just be down to the hot weather we've had recently.

Chris

[Waxbillman]

welcome to the site fisherman,

chris is probabily rite, it has been very hot, in fact just reading your posts make be thirsty.
:)

matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Fisherman,

First of all welcome to the Forum.:grin:

I have to agree with Chris's theories on what could be the cause of the problem with your Canary, ten years is a great age for a Canary, I congratulate you on your care for this Bird.

In all Animals, including Humans as we grow older we are prone to various illnesses, but if you feel it is necessary you could get the Bird checked out by your Vet, this may be possible by a faeces examination (but ask your Vet first to see if it is possible).

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

Paul.:grin:

[Fisherman]

Thanks folks, for your info.
I have a beautiful male canary (of course I do, it sings)!!!!

It is 10 years but the suggestion that it could be "down to the heat" whilst a sensible one, is not true in this instance, as he has been getting wetter for a year. His droppings are almost water, he squirts it everywhere (sorry for anyone having lunch).

We clean him daily, and sometimes twice (so that he can get to the grit on the floor). He's happy. I'm told he has made a friend with a chaffinch in the garden. The Chaffinch mimics part of his songsheet. He loves the sun, and watching the other birds in the garden, and there are plenty of them.

He has biscuit occasionally (as it is reccommended to help "dry" him). Cucumber, lettuce, apple, and he loves a banana and grape.

Whilst he appears happy, I don't think a vet is necessary.
I think I must be doing most things right.

[laurab]

Hello Fisherman, welcome to Feathered-Friends


you say that your canaries droppings are watery, is it a particular colour?

What food does your canary eat most of and have you provided sufficient minerals, vitamins and gritl?

It might be a good idea to provide grated brocolli in place of the lettuce. The brocolli is full of vitamins where the lettuce is full of water. Cucumber, whilst refreshing in this heat, is also full of water and lacks any goodness.

Have you tried chick-weed or dandelion leaves? Wild seeding grasses are plentiful at the moment and during the winter months you could treat the little fella to some spinach leaves :grin:
Hope this helps ;-)

[Fisherman]

What a wonderful Idea (Broccoli). We do try other and new fruits. He can be a bit "nervous" to new input.
I have to go to the petshop this weekend, i'll try to get some of the suggested.
Broccoli...., why didn't I think of that. U R A genius....
Had various birds for over 10 years, and it never crossed my mind.

We try to give him something unusual (Ie:- the fruit) but not too often (say weekly) as this will make the problem worse.

I'll take all your suggestions, thank you all.

One other small problem, where the heck is the remote control? His voice is so powerful he can be heard two doors away....
Keep smiling, back soon

Sea fisherman

[laurab]

Glad I could be of some help :grin:

I always hated throwing away the brocolli stalk, then I had the idea of grating it. It is very moist so provides a drink as well as the vitamins :razz:

Only draw back is, when grated is smells like a thousand farts :oops:

You probably already know this but cuttlefish is a good source of calcium:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello Fisherman,

Your Canaries problem is becoming more obvious with the more posts you make, I would strongly recommend you decrease the amount of Greens you feed your Canary in particular Lettuce and Cucumber, which as Laura has already stated are very high in water content.
Apple is great if your Bird is happy to eat it, Cress is another good Greenfood, Spinach and Brocolli, but please limit this to once or twice a week.

Paul.:wink:

[Fisherman]

Hi all

The greens are only given once/twice a week at most; and also "sparingly". cucumber is rarely given.
His faeces is green (oh! oh!). It is possible that my wife slightly over-treats, as she is the one that cares for him in the day-time.

It's the stalk of brocoli that we use, is it?(& spinach). Not the floret.

Fisherman

[laurab]

Hiya


the floret can be given as is, I only grate the stem as it seems a waste just to throw it away. ;-)

[bigal47]

Hi one and all
No you can give him all the broccli, may be you should lay off the treats for a while and if a biscuit is given a digestive with out the chocolate . By the way broclli is best bought at the super market not the pet shop much fresher there. Also canarys should be kept on a balanced SEED DIET with green stuf as treats a few times a week , Banana and grapes are not usually on the canary food list but, who to say ,as your bird has lasted 10 years . Do you have to use reinforced perches in his cage?
Allan

[kenny]

hi fisherman,

if you are going to give your bird biscuit to dry him up,might i suggest an old remedy my father in law used to use arrowroot biscuits are supposed to be ideal for birds with loose droppings,welcome to the site also and i hope your little feller gets better,and your canary

ken:grin: :grin: :grin:

[Fisherman]

If i may be permitted "Gosh there's some saucy "B*****'s" (there's a double G in there somehere), on this site.:razz:

The canary's the only thing that's small in my house.....:cool:

F

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Fisherman,

Due to the fact I sometimes read things too fast I was quite shocked at your last post for a second:? , my heart rate lowered when I read that there are a couple of G's in the censored word:lol:.

Paul.:grin:

[kenny]

only joking fisherman:grin: :grin:

ken

[bigal47]

Hi one and all
Hi Kenny, No I think that Fisherman was having a GO at me not you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No worries !!!! have a broad back from helping to carry lots of people in the past years. !!!
Fisherman SORRY if I said any thing that you don't think was rite. BUT
you were the one going to the PETSHOP for broclli thats a veg usually fresher from a supermaket. The comment about perches was a "JOKE" as canary's are normally a seed eater and the types of extras you are feeding your are usually given to a bird that is consapated and needs a loosening up ie .grape and cucumber will clean a bird out very fast and with no side effects AS SOME DRUGS DO.
The idea of a free speech FORUM is to get lots of other peoples ideas and to sift through them and take out what you need ,not BLAST some one who doe's not agree with you. SORRY AGAIN that you differ with my opion but thats life some of use will TELL IT AS IT IS and to H... with the out come.
Allan
still talking at you
No not a cat fight but an honest oppion

[laurab]

Hi guys

if you take another look at Fishermans reply you will note it contained 'smilies', that would indicate to me that he was also joining in with your 'light-hearted' banter and was not meant to be taken in anyother way.

Please remember the 'smilies' are there to let people know whether you are angry :mad: , happy :p or sad :( .

I am sure no one here would like to upset anyone un-intentionally, so please use and take note of the 'smilies'.

There, lecture over :p

[Fisherman]

Oh dear, my light-hearted comments with a little tease, upset the applecart (or rather Brocolli supermarket shelf).

Yes, all my comments were in fun. I seriously cannot find anything offensive in what anyone said. My apologies to Laura/ the controller.

[Fisherman]

Thirst quenched. Seemed to be related to the heat.

Droppings wet, but more satifactory, and no treats had for a fortnight.
Broc today.

All the best
Fishmn:razz:

[laurab]

Great news!