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brendan_670 New user 26 Posts |
I just got a pair of new doves yesterday and this evening one of them laid an egg. Unfortunatly, she laid the egg from on the perch bar and it cracked. about how many eggs do they lay in each clutch, and is their a way to tell if she is holding an egg? Will I need to get an inkibator (sp?) or will she sit on them? I put a bowl in the cage with some shreded newspaper in it.
Thanks, Brendan |
1906Alpha1906 Special user North Cacky Lack 516 Posts |
Doves lay 2 eggs at a time, so expect another within a short period of time. No need to put a bowl in the cage with shredded newspaper. Most likely she won't use it. Also, just because they lay eggs, doesn't necessarily mean they are fertile. Just like chickens. They lay eggs all the time, but unless they are fertile, they will not hatch. To tell if they are fertile, they will eventually darken (darker white color) over the first week or so. If they are not fertile, they will stay a clearish looking white color, and then after a couple of weeks (if you leave them in there), the dove will crack the egg, and it will probably not smell too great. Just keep an eye out to watch, but don't touch the egg unless you are planning to remove it. She will sit on it herself, and take care of it.
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brendan_670 New user 26 Posts |
Thanks,
I know I have a male and a female because I keep hearing cooing. What do I do about cleaning the cage, I put a sheet of newspaper over the wire grate so the egg won't crack when she lays it. Brendan |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4850 Posts |
Brendan, the dish in the cage with a paper is a good idea but I wouldn't use newspaper. The black print will rub off on the doves making them look dirty. Their are many alternatives to this. Your local pet shop should have nesting material which works very well. Doves are not good nest builders so you have to help them a little with the material. Your dove laid the egg from the perch because she had no where to go. She'll naturally look for the nest when she'd ready to lay again.
As mentioned, doves lay eggs in pairs so you should have another on the way any day. So you know, just because the doves are cooing does not mean they are male and female. Both genders coo. The only way you'll know for sure if you have male and female is if the eggs hatch. It should take about 20 days or so. I wouldn't put paper over the bottom grill of your cage. You'll defeat the purpose and have to keep changing the paper. The grill is allow the droppings to fall through onto the cage bottom so the doves don't walk in it.
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1906Alpha1906 Special user North Cacky Lack 516 Posts |
Also, telling the difference between the male and female can be done, but yuo have to watch them. As Dave says, they both coo, yes.
The difference between the coos is how you can tell, and you are going to have to watch the birds to find this out. The Male dove coos differently than the female. Both will coo straight forward. Meaning they will lean forward and flick their wings to coo. This is the norm among all the doves. However, the male also does another type of coo, which you have to watch for. His coo will sometimes look as if he is putting on a display of some type of dance. He will stand up and inflate his neck area, and then bow down repeatedly while doing a 'high step' with his feet. This is the Male dove. The female does not do this. The reason the male does this is because he is trying to get the females attention. You just have to watch your doves and see which is which. Only the males coo that way. But the male can also coo like the female leaning forward and flicking its wings. You already know you have one female, so just watch the other one that didn't lay the egg and see. They are both going to sit on the egg however whether you have two females or not, so that won't be of any help to you. If you have two females though, then you know the eggs aren't fertile and you can disgard them. also, a good nest building material is a pine type straw. Most gardens have it. The doves, as Dave says, are not any good at building a nest, so you may have to help a little bit, but they will eventually put some type of little round catastrophe together and call it home. |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4850 Posts |
Another idea for a nest is one that I have talked about several times here in this forum. Pet stores carry a dish called a "coop cup". It's an aluminum bowl with a wire ring that attaches to the side of the cage. You can hang it most anywhere. There is also a fiber nesting material distributed by Abba mfg. I put one bag of the material in a coop cup and put it in the cage. Your doves will naturally go to it and start the egg laying process. Straw can also used instead of the fiber material. Most anything will work. Just don't use newspaper.
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brendan_670 New user 26 Posts |
Thanks guys,
Today she laid the other egg. If it is fertle, is it better for them to grow up with a sibling or does it not matter? Thanks, Brendan |
1906Alpha1906 Special user North Cacky Lack 516 Posts |
Brendan, it really doesn't matter. It is actually better if it is by itself because then the parents only have one responsibility than two. A lot of times when there are two eggs fertile in the nest, the parents may neglect one, or one may out grow the other and smother the smaller one. Seeing that you only have one, this won't happen. A lot of times also with two eggs, you have to make sure that the parents are getting the nutrients they need because once hatched, they will consistently feed the sibling, and if they dehydrate, or not have the right nutrients, they may get sick or neglect the sibling because its their health over it...cruel, but that is natures way...survival of the fittest. If by chance the egg does hatch, do not touch the sibling for a while. If you see the doves ignoring the little one, as staying away from the nest or pecking at it, hurry it to the vet and let them take care of it. Although, there may be something wrong with it that only the parents know about. This happens in the wild life, so let nature take its course. Hope that helps
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
If the hatchling does live, leave it alone until it's moving around the cage by itself. There's not a big rush to start training it, you'll know when it's acting independently and then you can start working with it. By far, the best doves I had were the ones who were born in my cote. Good luck!
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knmagic Elite user 436 Posts |
If the parent necglecting one of the dove, you can handfeed it if you know how. I did before and it grew fine. I agree that baby dove will be better off being the only one in the nest. I miss those time. Maybe I should go back to dove magic. Hmmm...
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brendan_670 New user 26 Posts |
I found out 2 days ago that I have two females because now I have 3 eggs. I there any way I can tell if the egg is fertile by candleing it? I am thinking it might be fertile if they were with males before I got them.
Brendan |
Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4850 Posts |
Brandon, you've had the doves since at least the beginning of March. If they had been with a male before that, you would have had eggs before this. It only takes a few days after mating for an egg to be layed. You indeed have two females and your eggs are not fertile.
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