Do Pigeons Lay Unfertilized Eggs?
If you are keeping them as pets, knowing the basics is essential. The breeding process is one key criterion in that regard. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Do pigeons lay unfertilized eggs? Pigeons lay unfertilized eggs. It generally happens when the female bird lays eggs without mating with a male. And it is a pretty common phenomenon among these birds.
But why could make a pigeon lay unfertilized eggs? Do all pigeons lay unfertilized eggs, or is there a reason? The answers are below.
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What Is the Difference Between a Fertilized and an Unfertilized Egg?
Sperm infusion distinguishes fertilized from unfertilized eggs. Fertilized eggs include sperm. It does not merge with unfertilized eggs. Biologically, fertilization begins when a male bird’s sperm enters a female bird’s ovum. It happens during the coupling process.
The egg will not develop into a proper embryo if fertilization does not occur. The egg that females lay without maying is an egg with no embryo. But can pigeons lay unfertilized eggs after mating?
Even after mating, pigeons can produce fertilized eggs. However, it’s unlikely. They cannot make eggs without mature sperm.
Do All Pigeons Lay Unfertilized Eggs?
Not all pigeons will lay unfertilized eggs. Some criteria, such as not reaching sexual maturity and not finding proper mates, dictate whether the pigeon will potentially lay an unfertilized egg. If birds do not match those criteria, they are likely to have sound sexual health.
And when the birds are in sound sexual health, they will not lay unfertilized eggs. Instead, they will have successful breeding seasons with healthy and thriving offspring.
Why Do Pigeons Lay Unfertilized Eggs?
For many causes, pigeons can lay unfertilized eggs. Below are some crucial factors mentioned.
No Mates or Not Wanting to Mate
Female pigeons can lay unfertilized eggs when it has reached sexual maturity but cannot find a mate yet. Sometimes, these birds will lay unfertilized eggs even when there is an abundance of male pigeons around.
In that case, the female pigeon might not be interested in mating. Or, the bird might not have found the right male bird to mate with.
Mating Before Sexual Maturity or After Reaching the Infertility Age
Pigeons achieve sexual maturity around 7 months. It can take longer for some. A pigeon will lay unfertilized eggs if it mates before sexual maturity. They can lay unfertilized eggs as their fertility declines. Usually, pigeons can not mate and breed after they are 9 to 11 years old.
Constant Laying of Eggs
Some pigeons mate and breed at a high frequency. For those, the chances of laying unfertilized eggs are quite high. Remember, constant breeding can have a massive impact on the body of the pigeons.
Bad Diet
The diet of the pigeons plays a crucial role in their sexual health. If your pigeons are not getting nutrient-rich food, they can lay unfertilized eggs. In such cases, you should look over the feed you offer to the birds.
What Happens to Unfertilized Eggs Laid by Pigeons?
As you can guess, unfertilized eggs do not hatch. These eggs are not fused with sperm, which makes them incapable of bringing offspring. But, female pigeons will not discard the eggs by themselves.
The pigeons will instead attempt to incubate the egg by sitting on it repeatedly. The birds are expending unnecessary effort. If you find an unfertilized egg laid by your pigeon, remove it immediately.
How Can You Tell If the Egg Is Unfertilized?
It can be pretty tough to tell whether the eggs are fertilized. But you can easily find it out with a method known as candling.
In the candling method, you must shine a bright light through the egg. That will illuminate the contents of the egg. Fertilized eggs have a blood vascular network and an embryo.
Veins will not appear in an unfertilized egg. The egg will have no embryo. You should discard these eggs as the pigeons can not differentiate them and try to incubate them anyway.
Final Words
So, do pigeons lay unfertilized eggs? In short, pigeons can lay unfertilized eggs. Usually, it happens when the female lays eggs without mating. These eggs do not hatch. Pigeons waste energy on them.
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