Do Canaries Need Grit or Gravel?
As long as they are receiving an adequate supply of minerals in their diet, canaries do just fine without grit. What it comes down to is, pigeons, chickens, and other such birds do need grit in order to digest their food – but canaries and most hookbills or waxbills don’t. What they do need is adequate minerals in their diet to remain healthy – but there’s safer ways to see they get it, than offering grit. I myself know people who have successfully raised and kept breeding pairs of canaries, ‘tiels, conures or Amazons for up to 20 years on a gravel-free diet, so I know it can be done!