Crazy Doves

How does one sex a bird? I mean there’s no obvious way to know if the doves are male or female. Just the word from the last owners that there’s one of each. I can’t even tell them apart.

Three weeks after the first four Christmas eggs didn’t hatch Don and Angie, guess I’ll stick with those names, began laying again. Last Saturday one egg, then Sunday number two but it had a chip in the shell.

By Monday morning three eggs but by afternoon only one left (they eat these unfertile eggs).

Tuesday morning no eggs and by afternoon they’re starting over again with one egg. This makes a grand total of eight dove eggs with, so far, no babies. Sure have to give them credit for trying.

One more egg or Here we go again

Yesterday I got around to posting about the first batch of four dove eggs not being fertile. Last night, they laid another egg. So, here we go again, waiting 13-19 days for a hatch.

BTW, I want to introduce you to Mike the owner of Don and Angie Turtle Doves. He started his own blog last night at blogwithnoname. Check it out.

No Dove babies this time

I guess we were prepared for this possibility. Young yet mature turtle doves, like many birds, often are not successful with their first eggs.

They actually ate one of the unfertile eggs shell and all.

Then with only two eggs left both Don and Angie spent less time on the nest. After we candled the last eggs Mike removed them.

But guess what, these two love birds seem to be courting again.

Maybe twins?

Don and Angie
Friday night Mike discovered another Turtle Dove egg broken and unfertilized. Yet the devoted parents continue to sit on the nest presumably incubating the remaining two eggs.

Just an update.

Pacing the maternity room

Don and Angie are still sharing the parental duties of sitting on their four eggs. Friday marks 16 days from the laying of the first egg followed by an egg a day. Typically eggs take 13 to 19 days to hatch. Yet turtle doves usually lay only 1-2 eggs.

Mike could be a Grandpa soon. ;-)

PS: Just discovered one egg broken with nothing in it and think it was the second egg laid.

1 egg, 2 eggs, 3 eggs, 4

The turtle doves are being wonderful parents, taking turns on the nest although they often seem reluctant to leave the precious eggs to the other. I read that the female typically sits during the day and the male takes over during the night with a quick, possibly unnoticeable, switch. It’s very difficult to tell them apart although the male is supposed to have iridescent feathers on their necks. Guess I’ll have to take a closer look.

Typically doves lay only two eggs, yet Don and Angie are sitting on 4 eggs. I hope these young first-time parents can handle quadruplets if they all make it. Incubation takes from 13-19 days so we may see the first hatch about the middle of next week.

Two Turtle Doves...

Must be Love!

Don and Angie have been courting for over a week and yesterday laid an egg. Hopefully it will hatch in 2-3 weeks. Turtle doves typically lay two eggs, but these two are young and it’s their first time mating.

Some of you may remember this photo I posted about Moosejaw. I’d like to introduce Mike, a wonderful man I’ve fallen in love with. I couldn’t have received a better Christmas gift.

May you all experience the love and happiness you deserve over this holiday season and beyond.