She's a Girl!

[Wild Dove]

Hi All!

There has been some debate as to whether Noodle is male or female...but tonight confirmed it...she laid her very first egg!

She has been getting very chummy with Bailey over the last couple of weeks, (although I strongly suspect that Bailey is also female), and has been rejecting my husband's skitches in favour of Bailey's preening.

As for the egg...everything went normally, thank goodness! We watched the whole process with baited breath I can tell you.

One question...Noodle is only 4 and a half months old...is this an unusual age to start laying?
Wild Dove

[AZWhitefeather]

Good evening Wild Dove.
Congratulations !!!
Well... Noodle certainly ended that debate abruptly, didn't SHE? That is great. So glad to hear things are going well.
Keep us posted. Cindy

[TAWhatley]

Wild Dove,

Well, I guess the suspense is over .. better get rid of all those blue things and get some pink ones for Noodle!

I'm glad you finally know just what "flavor" you have with Noodle.

I've had some of my birds for a couple of years and still don't know for sure if they are male or female. Obviously, I am guessing male, but I have had some that never laid an egg for the longest of time and then .. I knew.

Can't answer your question with any certainty or fact to back it up about the "early" egg laying but 4 1/2 months sounds about right. After all, they go from helpless, eyes closed, little dependent things to flying wonders in such a short time that it wouldn't surprise me a bit that egg laying starts at a very tender age .. Babies raising babies, I guess <heavy sigh>.

I do believe that people who raise pigeons do try to wait until the babes are older before they actually let them raise youngsters. Hopefully someone who knows will be along shortly to fill us in.

Terry Whatley

[turkey]

Wild Dove,

What are the signs that she is about to lay an egg?

Shuku laid her eggs this week, and I missed the whole thing.

She is 4 1/2 months old.

Julie

[maryco]

YAY!!

I am glad everything went well with laying it...I think it is normal for ferals..I have some young ones come on my balcony who "Lay'n'Run" yes!
And everyother pigeon out there gets to play and roll the "Unknown" egg around..lol

That's so sweet! So now we are sure Noodle is a SHE!!!

Big huggs and kisses from me to Noodle!

Mary

[Wild Dove]

Thank you all! Poor Noodle looks a bit bewildered at the moment..."What was THAT?".
As for the signs, Julie:
1)The last three days, Noodle wanted IN the cage, (normally, Noodle wants OUT).
2)A lot of "wing wiggles" when she was in her basket.
3)Grouchy...I got slapped yesterday for having my hand in the basket before the egg arrived.
4)A slight hump at the rump when perching...tail hangs down a bit more, lower back is a bit raised.
5)Big, greenish poops.
I'm pretty bang-on at telling when my doves are "eggy" from these signs...I just missed them with Noodle because I couldn't believe my baby was ready for that yet...thanks for telling me about Shuku, I feel better.

Oh yes, when she was actually laying, her beak was slightly open, she was panting really fast with eyes half closed and feathers fluffed. Then she made a few grunting noises, lifted her tail, and whallah...egg!
I hope the second one goes as well.
Wild Dove

[Wild Dove]

Just an update...and a bit of a bizarre one at that.
We were caught off guard by Noodle's egg, and therefore, completely forgot to "present" her with any nesting material. Tonight we did just that...offering her a variety of bits of everything.
What did she choose?
Why the Chinese bean-thread noodles, of course!
Yes indeed, another "Pasta Mom" is born!
Wild Dove

[AZWhitefeather]

That is too cute. What a character Noodle is.
Sure glad things are going well for all of you. Thanks for the update. Cindy