How to Hand Tame a Canary Bird? 5 Easy Steps
Most bird owners keep canaries as caged songbirds. After all, canaries are known for their cheerful singing. Nonetheless, the great news is that you can hand-tame your canary and make him interact with you effectively.
A hand-tamed canary bird can become your best companion over time. Here are some insights into how you can hand-tame your canary bird if you think of hand-taming your bird.
Get Your Canary Used to You
Canary birds are one of the most nervous bird species on the globe. These birds are highly alert to even the slightest threat, and they can take off as soon as they sense danger.
Their nervousness is a natural response to marauding predators. Thus, you should know that you are a stranger to your canary if you just got your bird recently.
You have to give your canary time to get him used to you even before thinking of how you can hand-tame your canary bird. You can do simple things such as whistling or singing to make your canary bird get used to you.
Apart from getting your bird used to you, it would be best to make the bird get used to his surroundings. Canary birds are prone to nervousness. Thus it would be best if you were patient and allow your bird to familiarize himself with the area around his cage.
Please refrain from making loud noises and sudden movements when you get close to the bird’s cage, lest you frighten your bird.
Spend time with your canary for the first couple of days before you embark on hand-taming your bird. The more you spend time with your canary, the more your bird will get used to you as its owner.
Start at Early Age
It is easier to hand-tame a baby canary bird than hand-taming an adult canary. Hence, start hand-taming your canary at an early age.
Your bird will respond positively to your taming sessions in its formative years. If you have a baby canary, start hand-taming him immediately rather than waiting for the bird to reach maturity.
Call Your Canary
By now, your canary bird is comfortable with you and ready for hand-taming. It is now time to call your bird out of the cage to your hand. The best way to call your bird out of his cage is by using treats to lure him to come out of his cage.
Keep holding the treat once your bird is out of his cage. Create a perch between your fingers and encourage the bird to perch on your fingers. Reward your bird with a treat once he lands on your fingers.
Over time, you can practice calling your bird from his cage without using a treat. Your bird will learn to perch on your fingers with enough practice. Continue encouraging him to perch on any part of your body, including your head and shoulders.
Try holding your canary bird and talk to him gently once he is comfortable perching on your hand. At this point, you have become friends with your bird, and he is ready to accept your hand-taming efforts. Remember that canaries can be docile bird species despite them being nervous. Eventually, your bird will learn to get out of the cage each time you call him.
However, it would help if you sealed your home such that the canary doesn’t fly away once he is out of his cage. Ensure no pets such as dogs or cats around before calling your canary out of his cage. The presence of a cat or a dog can frighten your bird, making him fly away from your home.
Hand Feed Your Bird
Hand feeding a canary bird is an essential step in hand-taming the canary bird. Nonetheless, hand-taming a canary bird is a lengthy process that requires plenty of time and patience. The result of hand-feeding is a happy canary bird used to be around you and his surroundings.
To start the process of hand feeding your canary bird, choose the right foods that will motivate your bird to feed on your hand. Consider giving your canary bird seeds since seeds are some of the favorite food options for canaries. You can also combine seeds with vegetables and fruits.
Since it is impossible to get wild seeds for your canary, consider buying seed mixes from pet stores. Alternatively, you can consider getting millet for your bird. Canaries love millet, and they won’t hesitate to eat millet from your hand.
Whatever food you place on your hand, make sure it’s your bird’s favorite food. Moreover, put a small amount of food on your hand and encourage your bird to come out of the cage and feed on your hand. Train your bird that your hand is the only feeding point.
Thus, your bird will have no option but to feed on your hand, especially when hungry. However, make sure your canary is comfortable feeding from your hand.
Be Patient
Hand-taming a canary isn’t a straightforward process, especially if you are trying to hand-tame a wild canary used to be free most of the time. You will have to be patient throughout the process; else your efforts won’t be fruitful.
It can take months to hand-tame a canary bird. For instance, your new canary bird won’t be comfortable getting out of the cage and perching on your hand. Again, you must practice patience before your bird gets used to you, especially if you just brought him home.
Never force a canary bird to come out of the cage and land on your hand, if at all he isn’t comfortable perching on your hand. Being forceful can end up inducing pain to your bird.
Furthermore, this can make your bird nervous and unlikely to respond positively to your hand-taming efforts. Therefore, understand that canaries aren’t humans, and hence they can’t be hand-tamed overnight.
Wrap Up
Canaries make excellent bird pets. Again, these birds can be easy to hand-tame as long as you are patient enough and know how to train a canary bird effectively. Fortunately, you can hand-tame your canary bird and make him do things that you could never think he would do.