Rescued a canary today!

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Discussion

Japveesix

Original Poster:

4,482 posts

169 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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Hi folks.

I was out and about on a nature reserve today cutting things down and making a mess and a bright yellow bird flew past and landed in the bush next to me. After a friend's failed attempt to catch it the bird (clearly a canary) eventually flapped down and crashed in some long wet grass looking pretty sorry for itself.

I waited a few minutes to make sure he had truely given up then snuck over and chucked a coat over him. Reached under and grabbed him and he settled down pretty quickly (probably enjoying the warm/dry hand).

Walked him to the local corner shop to get a box and have now finally got him back home and modified an old cat crate to house him for the time being.

He's called Roy (after the place he was found) and seems chirpy enough smile Ate a few seeds, bit of apple and some water.

As yet undecided on keeping him, does anyone here keep them (I always assumed only OAPs and miners owned canaries) and have any useful advice/tips on food, housing etc for me?

Meet Roy -

jagracer

8,248 posts

237 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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My wife has a few in our aviary. Keep it in as big a cage you can get and you can buy canary mix bird seed from decent pet shops, my wife also chucks a complete lettuce head in there every week which they all seem to love. If you decide to keep it you might want to get it a friend, if you want to get rid of it any pet shop that sells birds will probably buy it from you

Japveesix

Original Poster:

4,482 posts

169 months

Friday 17th August 2012
quotequote all
Yeah, not decided yet. Would quite like to keep it purely because I found him in the wild and feel some sense of responsibility to it.

On the otherhand I can't really be bothered and don't really agree with keeping birds in cages.

As the current cage door isn't very suitable he already managed to get out and zoom around the kitchen. He then chilled on the toaster for a bit until I caught him in a fishing net smile



Don't like the idea of a lonely bird so if I do keep it i'll egt another smile

MrB1obby

771 posts

151 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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You what?

I'm pretty crappy with general knowledge but I never knew if you saw a bird in the wild that you liked the look of, you could just catch it, take it home, put it in a cage and keep it...?

This seems absolutely ridiculous to me considering it's essentially a wild animal.

Japveesix

Original Poster:

4,482 posts

169 months

Friday 17th August 2012
quotequote all
MrB1obby said:
You what?

I'm pretty crappy with general knowledge but I never knew if you saw a bird in the wild that you liked the look of, you could just catch it, take it home, put it in a cage and keep it...?

This seems absolutely ridiculous to me considering it's essentially a wild animal.
Do you have any idea what a canary is or know anything at all about wild birds in this country?

jagracer

8,248 posts

237 months

Friday 17th August 2012
quotequote all
MrB1obby said:
You what?

I'm pretty crappy with general knowledge but I never knew if you saw a bird in the wild that you liked the look of, you could just catch it, take it home, put it in a cage and keep it...?

This seems absolutely ridiculous to me considering it's essentially a wild animal.
They are not native to the UK so this is probably a domestic one that has escaped and may not survive in the wild.
OP this might help http://www.petcaregt.com/birdcare/Wild-Canary.html

Edited: why do I now a get a link to mature dating on that website, earlier it was gas bbqs laugh

Mobile Chicane

20,845 posts

213 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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If the bird allowed itself to be caught, I think it's fair to assume it was struggling to survive in the wild.

Well done, OP for rescuing it smile

Japveesix

Original Poster:

4,482 posts

169 months

Friday 17th August 2012
quotequote all
Mobile Chicane said:
If the bird allowed itself to be caught, I think it's fair to assume it was struggling to survive in the wild.
It had crashed in long wet grass and seemed pretty much incapable of moving. Reasonably sure it would have died overnight.

Was going to take it to the cats/dogs home tomorrow (they do take birds apparently) but already getting quite attached to the little beggar. Annoyingly though it ony seems to sing when i'm in a different room frown (however much I whistle and coo at at smile )

MrB1obby

771 posts

151 months

Friday 17th August 2012
quotequote all
Japveesix said:
Do you have any idea what a canary is or know anything at all about wild birds in this country?
None at all. I've heard of the name canary before and I can tell the difference between a crow and a magpie boxedinlaugh

The link gave a bit more insight. Are you 'allowed' to keep it as a pet purely because the UK's not it's natural environment so would be better off this way?

jagracer

8,248 posts

237 months

Friday 17th August 2012
quotequote all
Japveesix said:
It had crashed in long wet grass and seemed pretty much incapable of moving. Reasonably sure it would have died overnight.

Was going to take it to the cats/dogs home tomorrow (they do take birds apparently) but already getting quite attached to the little beggar. Annoyingly though it ony seems to sing when i'm in a different room frown (however much I whistle and coo at at smile )
Where abouts in the UK are you?

HerrSchnell

2,343 posts

200 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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MrB1obby said:
You what?

I'm pretty crappy with general knowledge but I never knew if you saw a bird in the wild that you liked the look of, you could just catch it, take it home, put it in a cage and keep it...?

This seems absolutely ridiculous to me considering it's essentially a wild animal.
At least the OP just flung a coat when the wild canary appeared.

In Japan they would set one of their previously captured animals on it to beat it into a stupor before stuffing it in their pocket.

The wild canary would then be trained for combat and forced to do battle against other animals captured by pre pubescent sadists. It would be subjected to electric shocks, waterboarding and pounding with rocks.

Terrible business.

condor

8,837 posts

249 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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Most likely an escaped pet. I'd keep a look-out for any lost posters/ads in the local paper from the owners.

Well done for rescuing it thumbup


muppets_mate

771 posts

217 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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HerrSchnell said:
At least the OP just flung a coat when the wild canary appeared.

In Japan they would set one of their previously captured animals on it to beat it into a stupor before stuffing it in their pocket.

The wild canary would then be trained for combat and forced to do battle against other animals captured by pre pubescent sadists. It would be subjected to electric shocks, waterboarding and pounding with rocks.

Terrible business.
You canary be serious?



<groan>



Sorry.



HerrSchnell

2,343 posts

200 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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muppets_mate said:
You canary be serious?

SmokinV8

786 posts

212 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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Depending on where abouts you live (Im in Swindon) I can either supply you with a canary (and sex yours)or purchase yours off you. Well done on catching it anyhow, it wouldnt of survived in the wild.

Neil

TwigtheWonderkid

43,417 posts

151 months

Friday 17th August 2012
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MrB1obby said:
None at all. I've heard of the name canary before
Let me enlighten you. A canary is a small bird with a brain slightly larger than yours.

OP, well done for saving it. You can chuck away your carbon monoxide detector now. hehe

Japveesix

Original Poster:

4,482 posts

169 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
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SmokinV8 said:
Depending on where abouts you live (Im in Swindon) I can either supply you with a canary (and sex yours)or purchase yours off you. Well done on catching it anyhow, it wouldnt of survived in the wild.

Neil
Hmm. My sister lives in Swindon, if the little chap is still alive and I've still got it in a couple of weeks I may take you up on one or other parts of that.

jagracer - I'm in Bristol btw.

Ps. thinking it might be female as it doesn't make very much noise at all, though i realise that's not conclusive smile

Edited by Japveesix on Saturday 18th August 13:29

muppets_mate

771 posts

217 months

Sunday 19th August 2012
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HerrSchnell said:
muppets_mate said:
You canary be serious?
Shouldn't that be a whoosh canary? wink

Anyway, irrespective of species, I think it's heading your way for missing the pun. Next time I'll put a smilie next to it make sure it's obvious.

Apols for derailing your thread OP, you did the right thing to help the canary. thumbup