A flamingo chick will leave the nest after four to seven days, when it is strong enough to stand and walk. Parents keep a close, protective watch on their chick as it explores its habitat. Parents are able to locate their own chicks in the creche at feeding time. Adults feed their chicks a secretion of the upper digestive tract referred to as milk. Milk secretion is caused by the hormone prolactin, which both the male and female flamingo produce.
Milk is red in color due to the pigment canthaxanthin.
Chicks store this pigment in the liver, to be utilized when adult feathers are grown. G. Chick development. Flamingo chicks are able to swim before they are typically old enough to permanently leave the nest. Young chicks have been seen imitating feeding methods while standing in shallow water. Chicks begin to grow their flight feathers after 11 weeks.