After expending much effort to crack through their shells, the first day of life for canary chicks is reserved for rest. Their tiny bodies are limp and featherless except for a few tufts of fluff. Their eyes are closed. Their mother will sit tight but not feed them. That's fine because hatchlings come into the world with food reserves to carry them for a day.
Day 2
Feelings of hunger and the movement of their mother cause their little heads to rise and their red mouths to open. This is a signal for their mother to begin feeding.
Days 3 to 4
Their growth rate is amazing. They are easily twice their Day 1 size. Well fed chicks have their crops bulging with food.
Days 5 to 7
This is a good time to see if their leg bands fit. Any sooner and the bands may fall off. Any later, and they may not go on. The chicks' eyes start to open.
Days 8 to 9
Pin feathers appear on their wings and back. The chicks are strong enough rise up and excrete over the edge of their nest. Their mother may now vacate the nest for long periods during the day and may not return at night. Their father starts feeding the chicks directly. Prior to that he fed the mother.
Days 10 to 14
Fast growth and feathering continue. Adult feather colors and patterns become apparent.
Days 15 to 16
The chicks become restless in the nest but generally stay there all day. Their mother becomes interested in making a second nest. Make sure she has plenty of nesting material available to preclude her from plucking feathers from her chicks.
Days 17 to 20
The chicks make their first trips from their nest to nearby perches. They usually return to the nest at night. Their parents continue to feed them on the perches.
Days 21 to 28
The chicks infrequently visit their nest and may be ready for weaning. Their mother may be preoccupied with her next nest. This is a good time to move them to a weaning cage with soft food (egg food, couscous, frozen peas, shredded carrots, etc.) in a saucer on the cage floor. Make sure the perch is low to the floor. If the chicks refuse to eat and peep a lot, allow their father to visit periodically. He will feed them. Soon they will catch on and begin to feed themselves.
