Pet Forum / Birds / Birds / December 2003

Tony, Don't despair.  I have seven male canaries and four females.  
They
have been in my household now for over three years.  During the course
of
time, we have had several males that sang all at the same time, and
then all
at once, the house was quite.  Molting season is one the reasons a
canary will stop singing.  Having the house too warm can cause your
canary to molt longer and even more often.  You asked if he's sick.  
Well, is his appetite
different, does he sit on the bottom of the cage, or on his perch all
puffed
up?  These are signs of sickness and you should not wait to take him to
the
vet, because canaries mask illnesses very well, and when we as people
discover they are sick, it's usually in the last stages of the disease
and it's hard to treat.  But, if he is just not singing, don't worry,
he'll start again.  Have you moved his cage to a different place?  That
could do it.  Also, if you do get him a female and put her with him, he
will more than likely not sing.
Male canaries sing to attract females for mating.  If one is right
there and
available, there is no need for him to sing.  Also, they sing to mark
their
territory.  I'm not sure how much you knew about canaries, so I hope I
didn't bore you with unsolicited information.
Good luck

Rachel
rachelle.lalande@monum.fr