Knowing how pigeons are born is important for those who breed them. Understanding all the subtleties correctly organizes the process. A thorough understanding of this topic will help this review.
Secrets of breeding decorative pigeons
Mating and breeding pigeons takes into account many features. For mating, it is better to select individuals who themselves choose each other to enter into a relationship. The process begins after the bird enters the mating season. After a certain period of time, pigeons are born, for which you need to equip the nest in advance.
Did you know? The dove was domesticated more than 5 thousand years ago in Mesopotamia, as evidenced by ancient written sources.
Mating season
Pigeons change their behavior before mating. This phenomenon is called the mating season. The first to show mating desire are males. They make loud noises, spread their tail and stick out their breasts. Such males approach females and begin to circle near them.
The pigeons either refuse the invitation, or they agree and go with the pigeons. After consent to mating, the steam begins to coo and rub its beaks.
Did you know? Pigeons are monogamous animal species and do not change partners throughout life.
Two males, spotting one female, can enter the struggle for her attention. The winner after the fight becomes a partner of the dove.
The choice of pigeons for mating
For the mating process, it is necessary to select suitable individuals. It is important to initially determine their gender, which often becomes clear by the size of the bird. Equally important is the age of males and females, which determines their maturity.
Age
Pigeons enter a sexually mature period six months after birth. Most often for birds, this period is early, and the first breeding occurs in 1-2 years. By 5 years, mating becomes regular and most effective. However, do not mate too old birds (for example, at the age of 10 years).
By age signs include the following:
- the color of the waxweed in young animals is closer to pink, in older birds it has a light color;
- the paws of young individuals are covered with a delicate skin, in adult pigeons the paws are red;
- the eyelids of young birds are clean; they grow coarser by old age.
Dimensions
Outwardly, pigeons have practically no sex differences, however, it is still possible to distinguish boys from girls. The main sexual attribute is size. Often males have a larger physique. Females are slightly smaller and more fragile. It is undesirable to pair very small pigeons, as there will be problems with laying eggs.
How does the mating process go?
There are no external genitalia in birds. The anatomical features of the dove suggest the presence in the reproductive system of the oviduct and ovary, the dove has 2 testicles.
When mating, the male jumps onto the female, the testes increase in size. Eggs are considered formed when the male spews a seed into the female’s oviduct and fertilizes the egg. The duration of sexual intercourse is a few seconds, which ends with the so-called marriage flight. Next, the female is ready to lay eggs in the nest.
When kept in captivity, two types of mating are distinguished: natural and artificial (forced).
Natural
The natural process is characterized by the fact that the dove herself agrees to accept or not accept the courtship of the male. Such couples have been together for life since the first mating. Birds that control the choice of the pair themselves have the best reproductive properties and affection for each other.
Artificial (forced)
Artificial (or forced) communication is used by breeders who breed new species of pigeons. Such relationships often do not become monogamous, and couples are not particularly attached. For forced insemination, the pigeon breeder independently breaks the birds into pairs.
Nest structure
Under natural conditions, pigeons themselves build nests from branches and straws and choose the most comfortable place to hatch (for example, on open balconies of high floors and under the roofs of houses). In the dovecot, the breeder needs to build a place for laying eggs on their own.
To avoid conflicts between birds over the nest, you can place several nests in different corners of the room. Lay out “building material” in the dovecote in the form of branches, straw and dry grass, from which the birds themselves will suggest a place to hatch and place it in a convenient place.
When doves give birth, what are the signs
About 2 weeks (12 to 15 days) after mating, the dove lays eggs.
Before hatching, the female becomes calmer, measured and sits in a pre-prepared nest. An fast laying of eggs can be determined through the swelling of the cloaca.
A few days after placement in the nest, eggs emerge from the cesspool. Each of the following is delayed 40-45 hours after the previous release. Next, the hatching process begins, which lasts no more than 3 weeks. Pigeons are born after 18-20 days.
A newborn chick independently pecks the shell at the indicated time. The process can last up to 24 hours. To determine the health status of offspring, you need to know how pigeons are born.
Chicks are born without feathers and with their eyes closed. At first, they should be near the mother. When they get stronger, they open their eyes and grow down in fluff; their development is becoming more independent.
Important! Nit is necessary to ensure that the chicks are fed in the first 4 hours after birth. The feeding process is made from goiter mother-doves.
How many times a year breed
The most effective in terms of breeding frequency are pairs that pick each other up without the intervention of a breeder. They lay eggs up to 6-7 times a year.
The process of mating pigeons is not difficult in preparing for the pigeon. Birds themselves control fertility by choosing a partner.
Important! Females who are forced to communicate with males that are not attractive to them may be aggressive.
Carefully prepare for the artificial mating, however, the anatomical features of mating and breeding of this species of birds does not lead to special problems.
