Why would a Pigeon abandon her eggs?

Question

Almost two weeks back a Pigeon built a nest on a floor corner of our balcony between some big pebbles. As far as I know that they take around 14-18 days to hatch. She was always laying on top of the two egs since then as expected.

Three days back she just left the eggs unhatched for no obvious reason! I am not sure what to do from there? what if they hatch? would another Pigeon feed them? did she felt they are dead for some reason and left? when should i through them away?

Answer 1

Something could have happened to the mother pigeon, or maybe she instinctively felt they were "bad" eggs. Is there any sort of Animal Shelter you could take them to with an incubator?

Answer 2

I am a wild bird rehabilitator, with permits from the State & Federal government to engage in this activity.

I want to clear up a common misconception regarding humans touching baby birds or eggs, and the parent subsequently abandoning them.

This is categorically untrue. Except for buzzards, condors, and vultures, birds have an extremely poor sense of smell. They cannot smell if a human has touched the eggs/babies/nest -- they are much more likely to have SEEN the person.

The instinct to reproduce is very strong in wild animals. Abandoning young -- or potential young -- is done only when absolutely necessary or if outside forces intervene (i.e. the parent is killed). Other birds will not take care of the babies unless they are in a communal nest, such as weaver birds who make gigantic "apartment-complex" type nests, and even then, it's not likely. There is only so much food and energy to go around, and taking on another bird's offspring is expensive, biologically speaking.

Your pigeon most likely was killed, possibly by humans (cars, poison, etc.) or a cat, dog, etc. The eggs will not hatch if the parent has not been on the eggs for more than a day or so, keeping them at a constant temperature. I'd recommend that you pick up the eggs, if you can safely reach them, and throwing them away before they get cracked and start to smell bad. Also, you don't want to attract pests such as ants.

Pigeons, by the way, are doves. They are actually called Rock Doves, and nest in crevices in cliffs and rocky outcroppings. They are not native to North America, and therefore are not protected by such laws as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but are still protected by animal cruelty laws.

They always lay two eggs, one or two days apart. Pigeon chicks have bright yellow "fuzzies" all over their bodies, a knobby beak with a white tip, and "peep" constantly. Cooper's hawks and Peregrine falcons especially enjoy pigeons; in fact, many major metropolitan areas have brought in Peregrines to help naturally control the pigeon population.

Hope that helps!
Bird Girl

Answer 3

Perhaps something killed her while she was off the nest. Something could have scared her and caused her to not want to return. She may have built a nest elsewhere. I've raised ducks and geese. Eggs can be in the nest for quite some time until the bird has enough therein to begin setting, but once she has begun to incubate them they will die if she leaves for any length of time (enough for them to cool). I'd say the eggs in the pigeon's nest are not viable. I don't think she's coming back.

Answer 4

Yes she would leave if they did not hatch "on time" as there is something wrong with them. If they were touched by another bird, or a person she will also leave. No another pigeon with not feed the chicks if they hatch. I think it's safe to say you can through them away because they are dead. If the chicks were still alive when she left they are dead now because they were not kept warm.

Answer 5

something could have happened to the her, killed or eaten by a predator, or her eggs could have been unvialble and she realized they were not going to hatch. Don't listen to people telling you that if the eggs were touched she would abandon,...this is an old wives tail..birds have a very poor sense of smell. Could she be incubating when you are not around? I would not remove the eggs or nest yet. Give it some time to see if she returns or perhaps is tending to the nest when you are not watching.

Answer 6

There could be lots of reasons to abandon eggs. She could think they were dead. She could have died herself. Maybe a human or another animal touched them, which would cause her to abandon them.

I doubt they will hatch without her nesting them. I'd wait a few more days before throwing them away. Maybe you just don't see her nesting them.

Answer 7

Two very possible reason is :
1. The eggs were not furtilised
2. She was disturbed by someone or something that scared her and she flew the coup, that would mean she is in the vacinity, and is most probably watching from a distance.
It is just a wild geuss, did you not scare her as you seem to know her in's and out's, it is possible.

Answer 8

It sound like some human has been messing around the nest...Once the mommy gets a sence of human smell,They will leave their nest an never come back...You need to get ahold of someone who takes care of animals in trouble like this...Call an animal shelter and maybe they can tell you who to contract..GOOD LUCK...

Clowmy

Answer 9

the pigeon probly saw a person touch the eggs so she thought she wasnt responsible because something else touched it

Answer 10

did you know..... TACOS RULE!
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