1st egg help

[mryl]

My bird laid her first egg. It fell out of the nest box and broke.(My fault, no front on the box.I was not ready.) I put on a front and she laid the second egg today, but doesn't seem to be sitting on it much. I put a soft cloth under the egg. Shouldn't one of them be sitting on the egg!!!

[Feefo]

I don't think first time parents get it right automatically.

If I was you I would let them sit on dummy eggs first time round, then they can sort out things like schedules, nest building etc out and get it right second time around.

Cynthia

[BillC]

Don't worry about it the egg. You'll discover that birds, pigeons, are born with a natural instinct about parenting. Leave it all up to the Pij. You can keep the soft cloth under it, it's ok. Move the bird and cage away from to much people traffic. After the baby is born do nothing, let mom and dad Pij handle everything. You can look after the baby squab just to see how it's doing when it hatches. If you see anything unusual, like a lump in it's throat or the baby appears to be not breathing right, then take action and take it to a vet. Sometimes the first babies don't make it. I've been lucky with mine and yes I had to take the first ones to the vet. Today they are very healthly. Also, don't be surprised if within 4 weeks of the birth of the first egg she lays two more. They will be even healthier and more robust than the first. Lay a cloth over the cage to give them a sense of security, it really helps. After the baby is born it will grow quickly right before your eye's. You will have to change the cloth in the nest daily because it will get soggy. Think of it as changing the baby's diaper. Also, yes get wooden eggs because sometimes pigeons breed like rabbits. Good Luck to you and the Pijies..

[Jesse]

don't worry about sitting. some birds don't sit on them until second or thrid days. you just have to wait till they are ready. the egg will be fine without parents sitting on them for the first few days. you just have to make sure one of the parents sit on eggs once they started sitting until they hatch.

and yes they do breed like rabbits and will not stop if you allow them to breed. they will start laying after the chicks are 3 weeks old. so watch out.

[mryl]

My bird, Snow, is apparently not ready to be a mom. This egg ended up on the floor too, even with the front on the box! She must have thrown it out? The broken egg is farther away from the box than I would expect though. Do a lot of birds do this? Do you think she will continue to throw out the eggs??
Thanks everyone for your help.

[BillC]

Sorry you lost the eggs. I suggest that you get yourself a bowl, the kind you use to feed pet dogs or cats. It makes a great nest. Of course you'll have to put a soft cloth in it, unless you can get some real nesting material. Wait a few weeks until you think she's ready to lay an egg again or shortly after you see them mating. Good luck.