A diet of simply seed and water for your canary is like feeding a child bread and water only. It will survive but not thrive. A canary really needs extra fruits and vegetables. Many people don't feed their birds any extra food because they simply don't know what to feed them. Certain foods are bad for canaries such as avacado. Here's a list of recommended foods that are safe for canaries. I usually stick with apples, oranges and hard boiled eggs. Aviod feeding a lot of lettuce as your birds can get the runs. Also be cautious of sprouting your own seeds as this can invite unwanted bacterial growth and make your birds sick. Be sure to clean their dishes every day. Experiment with different foods. Sometimes they won't eat a certain food until after you offer it to them several times. Make sure you always offer fresh seed to your canary in addition to the foods listed on this page. Treat your canaries to different foods and you will see they will sing more, will have brighter, tighter feathers and if you breed they will raise more young. Treat your birds and they will thank you!