- Apr 5, 2011
- 74
- 6
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Hi -
I have 3 white racing pigeons - two females and a male, with one female and male bonded (although he is not a faithful or helpful mate). All were born in January.
The bonded female has now laid 3 clutches of two eggs each, but none have hatched, although she sat there religiously for more than 3 weeks in each case. I've been away a few days but I know she got off the nest over the weekend and I flew them all this morning on a short, 5 miles flight.
I opened the last four eggs this morning to see if I could figure out why they weren't hatching. They look just like little chicken eggs - white and yolk inside. Every so slight tinge of reddish - but remember, these eggs well past date. No sign of implantation or development. No bad smell. One of the eggs seemed addled - the yolk and white were mixed together, but the others weren't.
My laying female just laid another egg. Although I'd like another bird or three (no more than 6), I don't want her exhausted or malnourished with non-productive laying.
Is it possible the male isn't fertile (yet)? I'm interpreting this as she's fertile but the eggs aren't fertilized - either because the male isn't fertile, they didn't mate successfully, or (for all I know), all three are female and they're just faking me out.
Any suggestions?
Nancy
I have 3 white racing pigeons - two females and a male, with one female and male bonded (although he is not a faithful or helpful mate). All were born in January.
The bonded female has now laid 3 clutches of two eggs each, but none have hatched, although she sat there religiously for more than 3 weeks in each case. I've been away a few days but I know she got off the nest over the weekend and I flew them all this morning on a short, 5 miles flight.
I opened the last four eggs this morning to see if I could figure out why they weren't hatching. They look just like little chicken eggs - white and yolk inside. Every so slight tinge of reddish - but remember, these eggs well past date. No sign of implantation or development. No bad smell. One of the eggs seemed addled - the yolk and white were mixed together, but the others weren't.
My laying female just laid another egg. Although I'd like another bird or three (no more than 6), I don't want her exhausted or malnourished with non-productive laying.
Is it possible the male isn't fertile (yet)? I'm interpreting this as she's fertile but the eggs aren't fertilized - either because the male isn't fertile, they didn't mate successfully, or (for all I know), all three are female and they're just faking me out.
Any suggestions?
Nancy