Pet canaries eat a base of pellets or a quality canary seed mix, plus fresh leafy greens and vegetables every day, a little fruit now and then, and egg food during breeding and molting. Canaries are seed-eaters by nature, but a seed-only diet is too high in fat and low in vitamins and calcium, so variety matters.
What a Canary’s Daily Diet Looks Like
- Base diet: Many avian vets suggest making formulated pellets the main part of the diet, with seed as a smaller portion. If your bird is on a seed mix now, switch slowly over several weeks by mixing a little pellet into the usual food. See our canary pellet food guide.
- Seed: Canary seed, small amounts of rape, niger and flax, and a bit of millet. Millet is a favorite, so keep it as a treat. More in our plain canary seed guide.
- Fresh greens and vegetables: A small handful most days. Dark leafy greens such as romaine, dandelion leaves and chard are better choices than pale iceberg lettuce. Grated carrot, cucumber and broccoli florets also work.
- Fruit: A small piece two or three times a week, such as apple (no seeds), berries or melon.
- Calcium: A cuttlebone or mineral block should always be in the cage.
- Water: Fresh and changed daily.
Do Canaries Eat Meat or Insects?
Wild canaries mostly eat seeds, buds and green plants, and take some insects while feeding chicks. Pet canaries do not need meat. The extra protein they sometimes need comes from hard-boiled egg or commercial egg food, especially in breeding season and during the molt, when new feathers are growing. Mealworms are sometimes offered by breeders, but many canaries ignore them and they are not necessary. Learn how to make egg food in our homemade egg food for canaries post.
How Much and How Often
Offer the main food every morning and remove fresh food such as greens and egg food after a few hours so it does not spoil. A canary eats only a small amount each day, so measure out a level tablespoon or two of the base diet for a single bird and see how much is left the next day. Clean seed hulls off the top of the dish regularly, because a dish that looks full may contain only empty husks.
Foods to Avoid
- Avocado, which is toxic to birds
- Chocolate, caffeine and alcohol
- Salty, fried or sugary human snacks
- Onion and garlic in large amounts
- Fruit pits and apple seeds
- Anything moldy or spoiled
Special Times: Breeding and Molting
During breeding and the yearly molt, canaries need more protein and calcium. Offer a little egg food a few times a week and keep greens fresh. For chicks, see what to feed canary chicks.
Quick Links
Want a full list of safe foods? See the canary food list, the guide to fruits and vegetables for canaries and our picks for canary treats.
Bottom Line
Feed your canary a pellet or seed base, fresh greens most days, a little fruit, a cuttlebone and clean water, and add egg food when breeding or molting. Skip avocado, chocolate and salty snacks. If your bird stops eating, looks fluffed up or has changes in its droppings, call an avian vet promptly, since small birds can decline quickly.
