[.ca] Canary Handbook, The (ISBN 0764117602)

Most comprehensive canary book.....:
I recently expanded my bird collection to include two canaries and as I knew little about these pet birds, I purchased several books on the subject from Amazon. According to Barron's THE CANARY HANDBOOK which I have found the most useful of the four books I bought, there are three kinds of canaries: "type", "song" or "color". My birds (two bright yellow brothers) are supposed to be song canaries, but according to the breeder, the dominant one will do most of the singing. Apparently, girl canaries don't sing but not all boy canaries can carry a pleasant tune. Barron's handbook is filled with many up-close photos showing the many different kinds of canaries as well as various stages of development including breeding tips. In a charming chapter entitled 'Understanding the Canary' the handbook shares some history of the domesticated bird along with a little bit of information about canaries in the wild. The handbook says the canary has been domesticated for five centuries and breeding and marketing these birds via peddlers once formed the chief industry of the Harz region of German Black Forest. The handbook includes a section on 'Feeding Canaries' and discusses "color" feeding. Beginning in 1870, cayenne pepper was mixed with canary seed to improve the red color of the Norwich and Yorkshire canaries. Later on, breeders and owners discovered sweet red peppers were more effective. The authors of this handbook suggest mixing canthaxanthin in egg yolk. This handbook includes many similar tips for helping your canary obtain the best food and care.