Will they lay eggs?

[loftkeeper]

another thought show kings are not the best parents they are bred for show and many have lost there parenting ablitys due to fanciers using feeders also they being big birds need more cushing to keep parents from crushing young also the bird with a bad foot could be a carrier of parathoid which will kill young at a young age

 

[SunnyAlberta]

What is a parthoid? I'm told the boy lost a toe when he froze it. I will add bedding to the nest to cushion the eggs; good idea. Rachel is smaller than she's supposed to be, but Finn is a good size.

 

[sourland]

I believe that loftkeeper was referring to Paratyphoid or Salmonellosis which can be a chronic disease (carrier state) in adult birds that will kill all of their young - frequently in the egg.

 

[jak2002003]

My king pigeons are great parents.. very very protective of their nest and chicks!

I have never has a chick squashed! I even use some pairs to hatch out my bantam chicken eggs... which they do better than some of my bantams.

The can loose a toe for all sorts or reasons. I bought a pair where the male had only one toe! The breeder told me he got his foot stuck between the wire mesh or his cage floor and the poor thing damages his foot so much in panic that it dried up and dropped off from no circulation. He was a good pigeon and he and his mate raised many squabs (although I can not be 100 percent sure he was the father as they can are not too hesitant to do a little cheating on their partners from time to time.

 

[Hokum Coco]

This article suggest that increasing humidity may help. I'm going to try spraying the egg and parents or setting a sponge next to the nest. We're very dry here.
http://www.auspigeonco.com.au/Articles/Dead_in_shell_Pigeon.html

Now that you have brought that to my attention I do remember reading somewhere that fanciers do go in and mist their birds while they are incubating with a spray bottle from time to time. (I never have) Most incubators have sponges or trays to increase humidity while the eggs are incubating. I would not tend to go over board with this new information (maybe just once or twice a week depending what the humidity is in your climate). I know my pigeons enjoy a mist and lay on one side with the opposite wing elevated to enjoy a rain or the mist from a sprinkler.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

My coop has two open nest boxes beside each other. I'll set a bowl of water in the unused box. Thankfully we've had rain for a few says now.

I tried getting the Kings to incubate quail eggs last year but they kicked them out of the nest. If they'd allow it I'd put Serama eggs under them, but it would be a shame to invest in fertile eggs that no one will sit on.