Eggs already ? ? ?

[BillC]

MY adult pidges have to 4 week old squabs. The female this weekend laid two more eggs. Is this natural and are the eggs fertile? They also stopped feeding the two squabs. The squabs are at least trying to feed themselves. The dad pidge however, picks on them now. I will separate the squabs today, but i'm a little surprised that the female laid eggs so soon without them fully raising their first babies. Can anyone shed some light on this subject ?

[Trees Gray]

Yes, at 4 weeks old the pair would have another clutch (usually when the first set are 14 days old) It is possible they are fertile. This is perfectly normal.

The 4 week old babies should be eating well by themselves. Make sure they have a pen of their own where they can eat and drink as they please,and practicing their flying skills, and carry on their daily activities. They will love to splash around in water, if it is warm enough.

They should be starting a prevention regimine and need their innoculations, depending on where you live, also.

Treesa

[maryco]

Hello,

As Treesa said they usually lay even earlier (2 weeks after the first clutch hatched)

It's very normal, just make sure that they have enough space as the older babies would like to move around and the father will keep an eye on them (he will be incharge of them at this stage).
Some mothers still look after the older ones as well in the day time but some don't and act as if those are not her babies and pick on them.. Are you sure it's not the mother who is pecking at them?

Mary

[BillC]

HI Mary,
Yes Mary it's the dad. IT picks more on the male. The male looks for protection by the mother. Anyway now they are both protected by the grandpa "That would be me".I have separated them and they have enough space to stretch and fly. I just never knew that they can lay eggs so soon. I guess I'll have to prepare for two more new arrivals on or about the 25 of February. shortly thereafter I'll have to separate the male. No more babies for now. Thanks.

[Trees Gray]

Hi Bill,

Your baby pigeons are 4 weeks old, so they are now out of the nest and even though they are not grown up, they are considered adult by the parents, and will be pecked.

Glad you found them a seperate place.

You don't have to seperate the female from the male if you use the "dummy" eggs. Just be sure to replace the real eggs with the dummy eggs, as soon as they are layed. I am replacing eggs everyday, in my flock.

Treesa

[Feefo]

Hi Bill,

Rather than separate the male for birth control I would replace the eggs as soon as they are layed with plastic ones. Then the pigeons are still happy and busy but there are no hatchlings to worry about.

Cynthia

[DPyra]

What about switching out the eggs? My male gets extremely stressed when he's separated from his lady. She's not that stressed about it, but he goes nuts. I will be switching out the eggs. They seem healthier if I let them be together. They're much quieter, too.

[BillC]

Thanks for your replies, I tried to get fake eggs, but no one in Miami has them. Does anyone know where I can order some? Thanks again.

BillC

[TerriB]

Most of the pigeon supply places carry them - here are two: http://www.globalpigeon.com/main.html and search for eggs http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/misc_loft_equip/#Nest Eggs.

An arts and crafts store might have wooden eggs that you could paint white. I've been told that in a pinch, you can use golf balls. :-)

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Terri B

[This message has been edited by TerriB (edited February 11, 2004).]

[Trees Gray]

Hi Bill,

You could try Globals pigeon supplies, as they are the closest supply house to us here in Florida.

I also use a smaller place called USA ALL AMERICAN PET, FEEDS, and supplies, out of Hudson, Florida. The owner has pigeons himself, and he sells lots of pijjie stuff. 800- 856-3949.

He sells Baytril by the tablet! .95 Treesa

[DPyra]

I made fake eggs that my hen accepted out of white craft clay that you bake. They look almost real and they were very easy and inexpensive to do. One block does two eggs with tin foil centers. I got the clay at a craft store. So if you don't find the wooden eggs, look for the clay. I used Tory's first egg as a model and just kept messing with the clay until it looked like the egg. Good luck!

[TerriB]

Hi DPyra,

Can you give more details on the eggs that you made? Are the tin foil centers about the size of a normal yolk? Thanks!

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Terri B

[DPyra]

The instructions for the clay I used says to use foil to fill the center of any structure that is thicker than 1/2 inch. So I rolled a bit of foil in the shape of an egg that is a bit bigger than a regular marble and covered it with a layer of clay. I think the foil is there so the structure bakes through and has less of a chance of collapsing before and/or after it's done. I haven't broken a pigeon egg yet to see what size the yoke is, so I don't really know, but I'm guessing my foils are larger. I may be making another set, as Tory's eggs are coming out a bit more rounded than the first egg she laid. My first pair of clay eggs have a more pronounced taper than her real ones. The weight seems to be about right though.

[TerriB]

Thanks, DPyra. I may try that just to have a spare egg or two!

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Terri B