A small songbird loved for its singing; canary eggs hatch in just 13–14 days, one of the shortest incubations.
Canary is a cage bird species, and its eggs hatch in about 14 days (normal window days 13-14). In cage birds, incubation is usually natural: the hen — in most parrots the pair together — sits on the eggs herself. The values below are a reference both for following the natural process and for artificial incubation if needed.
For natural incubation, a calm, draught-free room at 18-24 °C and a suitable nest box are enough; the parent provides the heat. If you must incubate artificially, hold the machine at 37.3-37.6 °C and 40-55% humidity — small eggs are very sensitive to temperature and humidity swings.
The parent turns the eggs regularly herself; just observe without disturbing the nest. In an incubator, turn 5 times a day (an odd number). You can candle on days 4, 8, 11 to check development; handle the thin-shelled eggs very gently.
A few days before hatch (around day 12), stop turning in the incubator and raise humidity to 60-70%. With natural incubation, avoid opening the nest; a disturbed pair may abandon the eggs. Hatching is expected on days 13-14.
Newly hatched chicks are featherless with closed eyes and depend entirely on the parent at first, fed on crop milk or softened food. If the parents don't feed them, you must hand-feed a rearing formula every 2-3 hours in a warm (~35 °C) brooder. Keep the environment warm, quiet and clean until they feather and start eating on their own.
Canary eggs usually hatch in 14 days, with a normal window of days 13-14.
In a forced-air incubator, 37.3-37.6 °C and 40-55% humidity are recommended; during lockdown humidity is raised to 60-70%.
Recommended candling days: 4, 8, 11. Remove any clear or non-developing eggs at these checks.
