Hello,
I own a pair of breeding doves. I have had them for about a year and a half now. Until yesterday the female didn't lay eggs...But she did. I think she is laying another one too. But I am not totally ready to add another dove into my "collection". What should I do so that the egg doesn't hatch? Any help would be appreciated.
Cole

Take it out! place it in the toilet

How about not owning a pair of breeding doves?.. heh.

I think by letting it hatch and selling.. or giving.. it to a pet store would be a better solution... theres no need in my opinion to toss out another birds life (or would be life) because of room situation. If it came down to it, I would take the bird from you if you couldn't find a home for it.

Justin

Hey Cole,
You definately want to take the egg out so she can't sit on it. You don't want her getting into the habit of laying eggs. First, I would make sure you really have a breeding pair. All of my doves are female and every once in a while I am surprised with a "gift." Sometimes birds lay eggs that are infertile. If you're sure you have a pair you might want to consider housing them seperately or trading for a like-sexed bird. The last thing I'll say is that you'll want to make sure that your bird gets a little extra calcium in her diet as laying eggs is quite taxing on a bird's body. I hope this helps. Keep us posted.

Jason

Cole, breeders or not, a female will lay an egg. Two females together can also produce eggs. Typically they have two at a time spaced a day or so apart. If you really don't want the babies, then by all means remove and destroy the egg when it is layed. If you don't, the parents will be sitting on it for about 21 days and will then be nurturing it for another 6 weeks.
Hey, Justin, when are you opening up the Justin David wildlife ranch? LOL. If we all send you the birds we don't want, you'll soon become the king of doves.

LOL hahaha.. what a routine that would be.

I just feel horrible watching a potential baby get tossed (dont mind me, I've seen mine hatch and now I'm a baby addict.) But like I said, anyone on here that has birds that they don't want or need to get rid of asap, I will surely take them. I know two great pet stores that are wanting them and I could use a few also. I know how fast they can breed and before you know it you have a million.

Just call me the king of doves

Justin

You can't just abort the baby doves!!! They're living creatures! lol, just kidding. I've thrown away several eggs, only because I have never had success with them being fertilized anyway.

Dave

Eat it.

Sperris

LOL Dan your a sick dude.

Seriously though, I'm really good friends with this dude who's like old school Neil Foster type dove magic and stuff, like classic Chavez jazz, he used to eat his dove's eggs he told me once.

sperris

My doves lay eggs all the time.

The male doesn't know what to do (and I'm not going to teach him!) so the eggs are unfertilized. If that is the case with yours I agree with many who post here, Flush it. Otherwise you will put the female into the care cycle. I have had problems where females lay too many and that can deplete them of calcium so supplements are in order.

Laying eggs is a natural occurance. I have 18 birds right now and it is not unusual for me to destroy a dozen or so eggs every month or so.

Years ago when I only had a couple of doves I also felt guilty about throwing away an egg. Now I never think twice about tossing them out. No harm done. I now have 20-to 25 doves and it’s not unusually to throw away five or six at a time. Better to do that than have them get broken or not hatch due to weather conditions etc.

Tom Boleware

Cole:
I had doves 25+ years ago when most magicians did not know much about caring for them. I know how you feel about taking the life of a to-be bird. I could not deal with it back then.

I have dealt with Dave Scribner on the forum and read his posts. He is a gentle man, if he let the eggs go, he must be right. I do know it takes a lot out of them to sit on a non-fertile clutch of eggs.
Bob