Why Has My Canary Bird Stopped Singing?

Canaries are awesome singers. While these lovely birds sing a lot, there are some rare cases when they can stop singing. Singing shows that a canary is healthy and happy.

You should start giving your bird serious attention if it isn’t singing as usual. Moreover, you should understand why it has stopped singing. Here is why your canary has stopped singing and what you should do to keep it vocal.

Your Canary is Molting

Canaries may stop singing when they start molting. Canary molting is the process whereby a canary loses its old feathers and then grows new ones. Canary molting isn’t an illness. Instead, it is a normal process that occurs annually. Ideally, canary molting takes place in early fall or late summer.

Canary molting takes anywhere between 6 to 12 weeks. Your bird’s feathers will become loose during the molting season.  Your canary will also become restless and less active during this time. Male canaries usually stop singing at the onset of the molting season.

While molting isn’t an illness, off-season molting is however a problem that bird pet owners have to deal with. Off-season molting can affect your bird’s health. Your canary may molt abnormally if it is exposed to excess light.

Diet plays an integral role during molting. Your canary will need more fat and protein to grow new feathers quickly. You have to change your canary’s diet once it starts molting. Some great diet options for your bird include mealworms, flax, and other oil-rich seeds. Once molting is over, it will start singing as usual.

Your Canary Is Sick

Canaries are susceptible to many conditions that can suddenly make them stop singing. Thus, it helps to understand when your bird is sick. Fortunately, there are a couple of signs you can watch to tell when your bird is sick. The first sign is a decrease in activity level.

Your canary should be active throughout if it is healthy. It should fly around its cage while flapping wings. If your canary isn’t flying around, as usual, chances are it is sick. Moreover, your canary could be sick if it spends hours on its perch.

Listen to the sounds that your canary makes. Healthy canaries normally chirp or sing. Your bird could be sick if it becomes quiet. Wheezing, clicking, and sneezing are also signs of canary sickness.

Lastly, check your canary’s eating and drinking behavior. Ideally, healthy canaries should eat at least twice a day. They should also drink water regularly throughout the day.

Your bird may be ill if there are changes in its appetite. A common symptom of canary illness is loss of appetite. Moreover, sick canaries usually drink water a lot due to dehydration.

Call a vet to check your pet bird. The vet will administer medications to help bring your bird’s health back on track. After treatment, your canary will start singing as it used to when you first brought it home.

You Have a Female Canary

Female canaries usually don’t sing like their male counterparts. A female canary will sing in rare instances. Its singing isn’t pleasant and clear as a male’s singing.

Don’t panic if your female canary has stopped singing. It is very normal. Check with a bird expert if you aren’t sure of your canary’s sex.

Your Canary Is Getting Old

Canaries sing a lot in their early years. But with time, these birds sing less frequently. Your bird will be singing less frequently once it reaches maturity.

Also, the singing won’t be pleasant as it was in its youthful days. If you have kept your canaries for years, it is apparent the bird is getting old and hence it may stop singing.

Keeping Your Canary Vocal

Canaries are lovely bird pets when they are singing. However, they can be boring once they stop singing. Luckily, you can keep your canary vocal. Here are some worthy insights into how to keep your canary vocal.

– Food and Diet

Canaries need a healthy diet to feel happy and healthy. A happy canary will sing a lot to express its happiness. Hence, a healthy diet will keep your canary vocal in the long-run. A proper canary diet should consist of a wide array of fruits and vegetables.

Some of the best fruits and vegetables to give your bird a nutritional boost include broccoli, bananas, oranges, and apples. Canaries also enjoy seed-based diets since they keep them energized enough to fly and flap their wings. Therefore try giving your bird a variety of tastier seed-based diets.

– Out of Cage Time

Keeping your canary active will encourage it to sing more frequently. Hence, give it time to exercise out of its cage as you monitor it.

Your canary will appreciate the taste of freedom after being out of the cage for some time. It will sing more as an appreciation for the cherished freedom.

– Enough Sleep

Canaries also need enough sleep as other creatures. Sleep-deprived canaries are usually unhappy. They also appear uncheerful and inactive. Besides, they are unlikely to fly and flap their wings as usual. For that reason, their owners can’t expect them to sing regularly.

Ensure your canary gets enough sleep. First, get a comfortable nest where it can take a rest after hours of flapping wings. Secondly, keep its cage in areas that aren’t prone to noise during nighttime. Consider shifting the cage to an indoor space where it can take naps without getting scared by noises.

– Health Checkups

Establishing a routine checkup for your canary is paramount to keeping a healthy bird. Unhealthy canaries are inactive and less likely to sing. Have your canary examined by a vet at least monthly.

Also, don’t hesitate to call a vet once you notice any signs of sickness in your bird. It helps to call a vet in advance so the vet can diagnose any underlying illnesses that can become severe in the long-run.

Conclusion

Canaries are cute but more charming when singing. Their lovely singing will make even the most bored person cheerful.

Thus, give serious attention to your bird if it has suddenly stopped singing.