abandoned eggs

[ImTheRealElly]

my rollers sat on their eggs for 3 weeks and then abandoned them. they are now mating again. is this common? it was their first eggs.

 

[sourland]

The eggs must have not been fertile. Incubation period for pigeon eggs is 18 days. Absolutely normal for them to start a second round if the first does not hatch. Hopefully this round will be fertile. Were there two eggs? If there were more than 2, you have two hens mated together.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Yeah they weren't fertile. It is common for first time parents to have an unsuccessful hatch (usually from not incubating them properly) or they may abandon the babies or simply not feed them very well. They get better as they get more experience.

 

[ImTheRealElly]

well i opened the eggs and they were definately fertile. they looked like they had only developed a few days though. no recognizable parts. so i guess they let them get cold early on. maybe they will do better next time.