Brian's Yorkshire Canary Page
Keenan's Canary Clinic - Season 1 - Buying and selling
Canaries breed during the spring and summer, then undergo their annual moult. It follows therefore, that most breeders will have birds for disposal after the moult is over, from the end of September onwards.
People new to birdkeeping will either already know a bird breeder, or obtain their initial stock from a local pet store.
Sound stock only
As with all forms of livestock, ensure you only obtain sound, healthy stock. Birds which sit hunched up and rarely move, with eyes closed or which wheeze, or those with scaly legs, over long toes or deformed feet, are to be avoided at all costs. Birds with tails which pump up and down when at rest, and those with watery droppings are also best left alone – they are unhealthy. It is unlikely that you will be able to handle stock in a pet store, but ask the proprietor to hold the bird, and gently blow the feathering around its chest. You are looking for a round, healthy pink flesh colour, with no signs of sharpness along the breast bone. Another give away is the bird which is continually scratching, which can be an indicator of feather mite. Hold the bird in your hand for a couple of minutes, and the mite will appear in the plumage – or run onto your hand. Blow gently at the root of the tail as this is the main resting place for mite, and if you see a number of black or grey dots, treatment is called for.Having outlined some of the more obvious pitfalls, you are looking for a sprightly bird, alert, youthful, lively and inquisitive. A bird which preens rather than scratches. If buying from a store, make a few trips before buying. You can get an idea of the stock turnover, and at the very least, can check the condition of your intended purchases on a couple of occasions before you buy. Livestock rarely carries more than a few days guarantee – but always ask!
Opportunites to buy
There are other opportunities to purchase stock. Auctions may interest you, or sale days, such as those run by the Parrot Society. These events may host hundreds of private sales tables, where breeders offer their stock at attractive prices. Talking to the breeder is by far the best way to assure yourself of the validity of your purchase, and provides a reference point for the future. Do not be afraid to ask the vendor for his advice in finding a suitable partner bird if you are intending to breed from your purchase. Local bird club meetings offer another avenue worth exploring.From time to time organised trips abroad to bird dealer establishments enable buyers to import stock under the DEFRA pet licence scheme, which may interest some purchasers.
Those intending to produce exhibition quality stock should seek out established breeders who often advertise their surplus stock either in this magazine, or through show catalogues or club handbooks. Getting to know them at club meetings or shows, then visiting their birdroom is the best way forward, as it offers choice and provides an insight into the care and feeding regime used. Successful exhibitors have often spent years developing their stock and may have an order book awaiting their surplus. Be patient but continue to remind your intended supplier that you are awaiting his help – and be prepared to pay a fair price for stock of sufficient quality to see you on your way.