Pigeon pair keep breaking their eggs

[CCUK]

I have had the same problem with my Archangels. They keep on throwing all the nesting materials out so the nest has no padding so I have bought some nest liners that are quite soft that they can't remove. Also make sure they have a mixed grit for pigeons. It will have all the minerals in they need including calcium.

These are the nest liners I was on about. They are reasonably cheap. So far I have not had any broken eggs whilst using them.

 

[jak2002003]

I suspect the hen does not have enough calcium. It is very difficult for a pigeon to break a healthy normal egg, they can stand on them and they won't break... the shells are very strong.

However, if the pigeons are laying thin shelled eggs they will be easy to break. Or, if the pigeons have long sharp nails.

That nest bowl is way too small. Also you don't put nesting material into the bowl for them (maybe apart from wood shavings or nest liner). Put a pile of sticks and straw in the cage and they will pick it up and make their own nest.

Even though you say you have the minerals and grit, sometimes a pigeon will not know to eat them for calcium. Try powdering some cuttlefish bone or calcium supplement over the birds feed.

Chickens layer pellets are a great addition to breeding birds diets... they have lots of calcium in them. You can mix them in with the seed.

Finally, do your birds get enough direct unfiltered sunlight every day? If they are housed indoors or only get sun through a window, they can not make enough vitamin D. They need this vitamin to use the calcium... without it they can't process the calcium.

Wishing you good luck with their nest try!!!

 

[Mihai]

this is his first reaction with the nest. Its the same kind of nest that all my pigeon had before and hatched babys in, hoping that her will stay on the nest because she is very teritorial when were talking about nestes and gets very hard used to the new one

 

[Mihai]

These are the nest liners I was on about. They are reasonably cheap. So far I have not had any broken eggs whilst using them.View attachment 2137330

not having any at hand to buy, next time i will buy online i will get some

 

[Mihai]

I suspect the hen does not have enough calcium. It is very difficult for a pigeon to break a healthy normal egg, they can stand on them and they won't break... the shells are very strong.

However, if the pigeons are laying thin shelled eggs they will be easy to break. Or, if the pigeons have long sharp nails.

That nest bowl is way too small. Also you don't put nesting material into the bowl for them (maybe apart from wood shavings or nest liner). Put a pile of sticks and straw in the cage and they will pick it up and make their own nest.

Even though you say you have the minerals and grit, sometimes a pigeon will not know to eat them for calcium. Try powdering some cuttlefish bone or calcium supplement over the birds feed.

Chickens layer pellets are a great addition to breeding birds diets... they have lots of calcium in them. You can mix them in with the seed.

Finally, do your birds get enough direct unfiltered sunlight every day? If they are housed indoors or only get sun through a window, they can not make enough vitamin D. They need this vitamin to use the calcium... without it they can't process the calcium.

Wishing you good luck with their nest try!!!

they are very heavy pigeons, they will break them very quickly, it takes for him something like a week to do it. I said it before, he throws the nesting material. She is a great grit eater, she had it from the momment she got out of the nest. They are in direct sun light.
i reallt think this is all his fault because of 2 big ressons: 1) This is his first pair and doenst know anything about eggs 2) hatched from her until now and shes a great mother when were talking about eggs and babys

Thank you

 

[Mihai]

Heres the pigeon pair close up

 

[Mihai]

How i thought, she didnt adapt to the nest and leave them cold for 2-3 hours, do you guys think that the embryos are still alive? Now they are incubating them in their old nest

i made up a plan. Every time he throws straws out i put in as many as he throw, like this the nest will always have nesting material

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

How i thought, she didnt adapt to the nest and leave them cold for 2-3 hours, do you guys think that the embryos are still alive? Now they are incubating them in their old nest
View attachment 2141107
i made up a plan. Every time he throws straws out i put in as many as he throw, like this the nest will always have nesting material

I would put some sand or clay cat litter underneath the straw. That way, even if they do kick out the straw it still has something in the bottom

 

[Mihai]

I would put some sand or clay cat litter underneath the straw. That way, even if they do kick out the straw it still has something in the bottom

ok, gonna do it
Do you think i can foul them if i spray the nest i made black?

 

[Old_Strain_Lover]

ok, gonna do it
Do you think i can foul them if i spray the nest i made black?

I doubt it... some birds don't seem to mind small changes, but some are very stubborn and will quit with any small change. Yours seem quite stubborn so I don't think painting it will fool them. You could try if you want, but they might not even sit on the old nest again if you keep switching it. I would try the sand or cat littler under the straw first.