Egg of a dove in my flowerpot
A dove just laid an egg in my flowerpot, on the window on the third floor. I really wanted to let it hatch, however, my wife said the chick has no chance to survive in this environment, it will surely fall and die. So, I thought maybe it is better to take the egg and eat it - this will at least save the dove the incubation time.
But, I have no idea if and how it is possible to eat an egg of a dove?
Best Answer
According to the American Dove Association:
How many eggs do doves lay? Most doves lay two eggs; some species only lay one. Wild doves are notorious for infertile eggs.
Why do foreign doves abandon their eggs or young? Abandoning eggs may be due to biting pests (lice, mites), noises that frighten brooding birds, or overcrowding and fighting. Frightened doves will abandon young, or if the nest is disturbed in any way, parents may refuse to care for the young.
There is a chance the egg was not fertilized, and there is also a chance the bird could have had pests (whether or not that affects the egg, I do not know).
Based on this info, if it was me, I'd steer clear.
Pictures about "Egg of a dove in my flowerpot"
What do you do when a dove lays an egg?
Once the eggs of a clutch are all laid and exchanged for fake or sterilized eggs, leave them with the birds, regardless if they are nesting them or not, for approximately 3 weeks. Then, remove them one at a time every other day until they are gone.How can you tell if a mourning dove egg is alive?
It should have a smooth, unmarked shell if it is still alive. Shine a bright flashlight through the egg in a dark room, and look closely at the inside. If the egg is alive you will see veins running through it. The process of removing dead or rotten eggs during incubation that uses this method is candling.How can you tell if a dove egg is fertilized?
The dove's egg shell is thin, so "candling" is easy. Carefully hold an egg that has been incubated for five days in one hand and shine a bright flashlight behind it. In a fertile egg, veins are visible beneath the shell. An infertile egg is clear under the light, with no veins present.How long does mother dove sit on eggs?
Incubation is by both parents, about 14 days. Young: Both parents feed young "pigeon milk." Young leave nest at about 15 days, usually wait nearby to be fed for next 1-2 weeks.A mourning dove laid an egg in our flower pot!
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Images: Max Vakhtbovych, Mikhail Nilov, Polina Kovaleva, Ron Lach