Canaries are among the most popular songbirds among bird enthusiasts. Originally from the Canary Islands, Spain, they are appreciated for their melodious songs and vibrant feathers.
Canary breeding has become increasingly attractive due to its promising business potential, with birds priced from IDR 150,000 to millions of rupiah, and its relatively simple breeding process.
Canaries need minimal space and can thrive in a cage measuring 40×40 cm, needing less maintenance than other songbirds like the white-rumped shama or magpie robin.
Driven by a desire to assist the residents of Sindon Hamlet, Kalasan District, the Department of Pathology at UGM’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH UGM) initiated a community service program focused on developing canary breeding as an additional source of income.
Dr. Sitarina Widyarini, Chair of the Department of Pathology, emphasized that breeding is a key pillar in canary farming because it ensures the supply of quality stock.
“If high-quality canary stock is available in sufficient quantities, canary breeding can continue sustainably,” Dr. Widyarini stated in a press release on Saturday (Sep. 14).
The community service initiative involved several lecturers, staff, clinical students, and five representatives from Sindon Hamlet.
Funded by a departmental development grant, the program included training on canary breeding and the distribution of 12 canaries—male and female canaries along with cages and feed.
Haryanto, a resident of Sindon Hamlet, expressed his gratitude for the breeding package and hopes the canaries will thrive.
“I hope there will be more programs like this in the future, helping more residents,” he said.
According to various sources, there are four types of canaries: posture, color, song, and hybrid. Posture canaries are valued for their long, slender, and round body shape, often a criterion in bird contests.
Color canaries, or color-bred canaries, are genetically engineered for unique and attractive feather colors.
Song canaries are renowned for their ability to sing with unique tones and rhythms, similar to parrots. Lastly, hybrid canaries are bred from different types of canaries to produce offspring with desirable traits chosen by breeders.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afif