BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation

Subject: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 04 May 02 - 03:04 PM

About a week ago as I sat t here at my window I saw two pigeons building a nest on the sill. Thursday afternoon I noticed while momma left the nest briefly that she had laid two eggs. Does anyone have any idea what the incubation period is? I remember from my High School Biology class that ambient temperatures and the humidity content of the air play a part in the hatching time, but can't recall exactly how long the incubation period is. Our temperature is running around 84 for the daytime high and humidity is about 65%. Any thoughts??

Just to keep the musical angle in here, I would like to play the Tennessee Birdwalk for the mother to be!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Amos
Date: 04 May 02 - 03:54 PM

LOL! Banjer, play softly!! But to answer your question, I dunno -- but I do know it runs pretty well naturally through its due course; we had a couple of doves do this on our upstairs balcony at our last house, and it went like clockwork.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 May 02 - 04:16 PM

More than you wanted to know about pigeons. For incubation, click on basisc facts link.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 04 May 02 - 04:43 PM

Thanks Sorcha, I did a search but evidently didn't dig deep enough. But I knew if I could find any help anywhere it would be at the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 04 May 02 - 05:04 PM

My wife just called me a birdbrain! What I called 'Pigeon' is actually a DOVE! All I can say in my defense is 'I had a brainfart'. But soon we will know if pigeons and doves have the same incubation period. She is sitting on the nest right now looking in the window at me. I try not to make any sudden moves so as not to alarm her.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 May 02 - 05:08 PM

They are pretty close, Ray. The site I sent you to has several "doves" listed. Mostly they are just smaller, but there are some small pigeons and some large doves. What kind of doves? Mourning/Morning? Ring necked?

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 04 May 02 - 05:22 PM

Its the standard grey dove, I think we know it as the mourning dove. The page you found says that in both cases the parents hare the nest sitting duties. The female sits from late afternoon through the night until about 10AM and then daddy takes a turn. Also it says that there are two eggs, which also holds true in this case. The only difference is that the incubation is 13 days instead of 16 to 18. Thanks, Sorcha!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Sorcha
Date: 04 May 02 - 05:24 PM

We had the little house finches (male has red head) on our porch light one year. That was fun. Had to block off the front porch and make folks go to the back door. Wasn't quite as neat as the screech owl that stopped by across the street for a few days, though!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 05 May 02 - 12:27 AM

Standard Chicken is 21 days

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 05 May 02 - 04:07 AM

"Standard" ??? Do they come in automatic models also??? I didn't know that...WOW...Thanks, Garg ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: paddymac
Date: 05 May 02 - 04:50 AM

Just to confuse the discussion a bit, I seem to recall that what most urban dwellers call a "pigeon" is "technicallY" known as a "rock dove". Mourning doves are a popular sporting bird in the southern US. They are deliciuous when cooked in a slightly sweetened reduced red wine sauce.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 15 May 02 - 07:51 PM

Last night I noticed a little more activity in the nest than usual. This morning at first light I peeked and momma dove was feeding a newly hatched chick! It was right at thirteen days as we figured. It appears tonight that mother and youngsters are doing well!!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:08 AM

Banjer, some time ago, I realized that I have never seen a baby pigeon, at least not one that was identifiable. The chick in the nest- is it small, or practically the same size as Momma?

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 16 May 02 - 02:20 AM

Ebbie the chick in the nest is about the size of a man's thumb. If you would like to see a picture PM me an email addy and I will send you pictures. I have been following the dove family and their nesting on the windowsill. I have pictures of the eggs, and just yesterday morning got a shot of momma feeding one of the young. The chick couldn't have been more that 24 hours old.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 16 May 02 - 05:17 AM

BTW - I think that a pigeon chick is called a "squab" - don't know if it applies to doves as well.

Anyway Banjer, you should have grabbed the eggs when they were still fresh - they're about the same size as quail's eggs and taste similiar. After all, eating them would cut down on some of the future dove/pigeon shit. In an office where I used to work, we did our best to control the pigeon population by interupting their copulation with well-aimed elastic bands - quite puts them off their stroke !

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 16 May 02 - 05:58 AM

I suppose in some circumstances it is necessary to control population, but here no one will notice two more birds. I am all for letting nature take her course where possible. We don't have a problem with the birds here like you would in a big crowded city.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: bob schwarer
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:05 PM

Back in my Louisiana days we had a pair of wrens that would buld a nest over the clothes dryer. They would lay their eggs, hatch the young and one day the nest would be empty. This went on for years. Our coming and going and the racket and vibration from the dryer didn't seem to bother them.

Had to keep the door open tho.

Bob S

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:11 PM

We had a nest of sparrows every year in the vent from the exhaust fan over our stove. Every year Dad screened the vent; every year Momma bird tore it off. And every year, my mother turned on the fan first thing in the morning to warm the chicks. If she didn't, they set up such a noise that you would think a cat was in the nest. Enjoy your extended family, Banjer.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: lamarca
Date: 16 May 02 - 05:57 PM

For those of you who like baby birds, but don't have a nest outside your window, here is a site that lists a WHOLE bunch of "Birdcams" on the web. My personal favorite is owlcam.com, which has carefully documented the nesting and raising of owlets by a pair of Barred Owls in Eastern Massachusetts every year for the past 6 years. Ward and June have two chicks this year, Spencer and Penelope.

We had city pigeons (AKA Sky Rats) nesting on the roof outside our laboratory window at NIH for several years, and it was a truly disgusting process to watch. Pigeons aren't much in the nest building department - they pile a few twigs kindof cemented together with pigeon shit on the nearest available flat surface and hope the eggs don't roll out. The young were featherless and quite ugly for a long time, and then they grow up to be pigeons. Yuck. I used to cheer when one of the young Red-tailed Hawks that occasionally wander into suburban Bethesda by mistake would grab a quick lunch on the NIH rooftops and the pigeon feathers would drift lazily on the wind....

There are Peregrine Falcons that nest in many American cities on skyscraper ledges, and help keep city pigeon populations down. When the National Folk Festival was in Dayton, OH, we enjoyed seeing random pigeon feet or tripes littering the street near our office trailer after the Peregrines had made a kill overhead. They are truly graceful and amazing birds (the Peregrines, not the pigeons...)

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: ddw
Date: 16 May 02 - 06:08 PM

Dave B. ...

Don't know if the pigeon chicks are called squab, but cooked pigeon is called that. Believe it or not, in rural areas the little beggers are edible -- and quite good. Mostly breast and the rest is too boney to mess with.

cheers,

david

BTW -- I though mourning doves were usually soft brownish-grey and white, not grey or multicolored like pigeons. Of course, I'm no expert on birds -- just going by what rests on my TV antenna all the time and coos beautifully.

ddw

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 18 May 02 - 06:06 PM

I've been getting some good closeup shots of the development of the dove family. If anyone wants to see them PM me an e-mail address.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 May 02 - 06:31 PM

I don't agree with your opinion of 'city' pigeons, lamarca, though I'm aware a lot of people feel as you do. I like them because of their irridescence, their streamlined bodies, their perkiness, their hardiness; you know they feel masters of their world. I like their low- voiced chuckles too, as though at any moment they could burst into song.

Besides, when they explode as one from the ground and wheel overhead, glinting in the sun- come on! they're beautiful.

(Once I saw a video a friend had taken at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. On the green grass was a flock of all-white doves. As they leapt into the air, it looked as though someone had flung a large handful of handkerchiefs up high.)

On the other hand, I have no problem letting nature take its course- owls and bats and peregrine falcons (and coyotes?) living in the confines of the city because of the abundance of prey are fascinating and another part of the circle of life.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 29 May 02 - 06:25 AM

For those interested, the two fledglings left the nest yesterday (Monday) morning. They both landed on the roof anf then one went to the roof of a neighbors house. Both momma and pappa dove were observing from atop the antenna in the yard. It sure was an interesting four weeks literaly having a 'window' on the nest from building it to emptying it!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 May 02 - 11:52 AM

Banjer, thanks again for providing the photos. Can hardly believe how quickly those chicks joined the big world.

Maybe someday I'll have the closeup experience you've had these last weeks. Not likely, I guess- you have to be in the right place at the right time with the right birds!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 May 02 - 12:12 PM

Sheesh, Banj! Here I've been enjoying the emailed photos and updates and I didn't even know there was this thread! Thanks, again, it's been a real treat watching the process, so speeded up compared to our own "fleglings," eh? I hope they come back next year!

Ebbie, I feel the same way about pigeons...I love the irridescence of their feathers, their tufted feet and the way they strut their stuff!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 May 02 - 03:26 PM

Down right cocky, they are. Not to mention cheeky!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 May 02 - 03:37 PM

Damn, missed the moment there Banjer, you're meant to eat them before the flight feathers come.... (called Squabs, they are the origin for the word squabble, a thing I'm sure you got heartily sick of before they left the nest).

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 May 02 - 04:19 PM

Banj, I missed this one somehow and now have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Our Cardinal pair are nesting now as they do each year and it's always great to see....although we don't get nearly as good a view. We always make sure that Mom and Dad eat well though. Do you have my new e-mail? If not you should, but I'll PM it as I'd like to see the pix too.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Bearheart
Date: 29 May 02 - 06:02 PM

Great thread! We're down in a valley by a creek and doves/pigeons don't hang out here (got cliff swallows, chickadees, Carolina wrens and cardinals instead), but we go often to Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills State Parks(central Ohio)where the roost in the pockets of the cave ceiling. I love to hear their cooing echo through the cave... Banjer, I'd love to see your photos... please PM me?

Bekki

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Art Thieme
Date: 31 May 02 - 08:54 PM

I Chicago, where I come from, we were certain the pigeons were nothing more than reincarnated cockroaches. If we found a nest of one of these outside our window, we would hastily push it over the edge after making sure the eggs had been rendered aborted. Then we would go down to City Hall where the original Mayor Richard J. Daley would ceremoniously give ua a gold plack for service above and beyond the call of duty to our city.

Ah, fond nostalgic memories !!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 31 May 02 - 09:25 PM

Liz, they were no bother at all..Didn't make much noise except at feeding time. 'Spaw I did get your new e-mail addy from th ePM of the other day, (you should by now have pics of Ms. Beamer). I will PM Bekki and get her e-mail addy and then send both of you the pics. If ever you get the rare oportunity to watch it, seeing nature at work up close and personal like that is a treat!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 May 02 - 09:31 PM

Got the Ms. Beamer pics and she's truly a lovely hound. We go to pick up Macy tomorrow! I'll look forward to the other pics!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 02:51 AM

A work colleagues' mother has a front row seat on a blackbird nest at the moment, she gives daily reports and lessons on cat deterrant! The parents are going batty feeding and the youngsters are about a week out of the egg.

Oddly enough, one of lifes' unanswered questions was 'why do you never see baby pigeons'.... well I saw some youngsters on Sat last, and they are even more disgusting than their parents. They are skinnier, scruffier, grey and mottled, look like they should be wearing leather jackets and DA haircuts. I swear one had a cigarette in its beak... they strut around imitating their parents but then spoil the effect by bothering their mothers to regurgitate in public and feed them (incidentally, this is also part of the courtship ritual, the male gets the female to regurgitate and feed him, then he hops on and a second later off again..... so much for getting him to buy you dinner first!).

I would rather have a nice rat over a pigeon any day!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 03:07 AM

post the picture here so we can all see

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 04:00 AM

Posting pictures on the forum is a No-No as it uses too much space. I am looking for another photo storage type thing such as photoloft was before they started charging unaffordable (to me anyway) rates. If anyone can suggest such a site I will upload and post the link so that all can see them!

Liz, I have often wondered just that very thing about squirrels! I have never seen any squirrel that appeared to be young or smaller than the rest!

On the subject of young animals, I saw two groups of ducklings with their mothers by a local lake the other morning. It is fun to watch the littel ones learning about life! They are so rambunctious and full of energy. One mother had five little ones and the other had seven crowded around her!

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 07:33 AM

Ok, for GUEST and the rest....I happened to remember that I had signed up with Yahoo some time ago and explored their site. It does have photo capabilities!! I have six photos posted there from the first sighting of the egss to the picture of one of the young on the roof of the house on his/her(?) first day of flight! Click here

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 06:26 PM

Refresh... for anyone wanting to see the pics....

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 07:23 PM

Ah, I was just about to suggest Yahoo, Banj! Thanks, again, these are really neat and I am glad you've shared them. Nice affirmation of Spring.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 03:02 AM

All I got was site unaccessible, never liked bloody pigeons (raw) anyway.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 02 Jun 02 - 10:07 AM

Sorry Liz, that you are having problems. Actually mine are Doves, I mis-wrote when I titled the thread. I would asume in the idiom of your part of the world 'bloody bloody pigeons' would be the raw ones. **BG** If you would like to see the pics, PM me your e-mail addy and I will send them to you. I will ship them like two at a time, (there are at least eight to get the full series) so as not to slow anybody's server down too much. I know large files are a pain sometimes waiting for them to DL.

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 02 - 11:58 PM

What WAS the incubation time - was it 21 like other birds of a feather?

Subject: RE: BS: Pigeon Egg Incubation
From: Banjer
Date: 04 Jun 02 - 05:08 AM

From first sighting of the eggs to first sighting of hatchling was 14 days! Another 14 days from first sighting of hatchling to first flight. Have you been able to look at the pictures?