FINCHforum

I have a mixed aviary, mainly finches and some canaries and I’m still very new to all of this. For my finch chicks, I moved them from their parents to the juvie aviary when they where approx 6/7 weeks old. I waited to make sure that they are eating well by themselves and the parents were no longer interested in feeding them. I feed the exact same diet in both the main and juvie aviary (seed, fresh veg/fruit, egg food etc)

Now I have canary chicks on the way for the first time. From lots of googling, it I have read that canaries should be weaned at approx 28 days. Let’s call it a full 4 weeks to make sure that the chicks are eating well and the parents are no longer feeding them. They will then be moved to the juvie aviary.

I now read that canary chicks cannot crack seed open until 6 weeks or older and should continue to have soft food available at all times such as egg food or cooked carrot/vegetables, cooked couscous. Is this true? If so, I can provide this no problem. I plan to treat the canary weanlings the same why as the finch weanlings, just with additional soft food until they are eating seed properly. I’m sure the finches in the juvie flight will be glad of the additional soft food munchies, lol.

This brought me to wondering at what age are finch chicks able to crack seed? I have searched but can’t seem to find anywhere that could give me a decent answer.

Also, any other tips or observations for weaning canaries and what they should be fed will be appreciated!! I’m “counting my chicks before they hatch” but will rather be fully prepared

Thanks as always!

Never had a problem weaning the baby canaries. I did however provide daily soaked seed, millet sprays and multigrain bread until they were AT LEAST 6 weeks old. Corn on the cob was also a huge favorite for the fledgling chicks. Bob

I give all my juvie babies softfood and millet and seed. That gives them the opportunity to try the seed, but they can still eat the other foods until their beaks are strong enough. I'd watch canaries just like finches and make sure they are eating millet and eggfood on their own and you observe them drinking water independently too. Then, they're ready to be moved. I continue to feed the juveniles a variety of textures and types of seed, millet, eggfood, veggies, freeze dried bloodworms, etc. to help them be open to new foods and a variety and I also keep that up for the first 3-4 months. Then, I start sexing them to separate singers/males from hens, so we don't have "incest babies." Good Luck.

Awesome, thanks so much guys!!!

All this advice and support is so appreciated