I have dove EGGS in my cage!

[queenutopia]

I have a female ringneck dove that just laid two eggs. She is only sitting on one of them. I have a male diamond dove as well. I have been told that female doves can lay eggs without a male but they just aren't going to hatch. Why is she sitting on it if it's a dud? Does she not know the difference? Or do I have a real egg in my cage now?? Can a ringneck dove and diamond dove mate?

[Lori~D]

she does not know the differance. five days after you can candle them to see if they are fertile. I doubt they are but anything is possible I suppose. google candeling to learn how and why.

[expressmailtome]

Even if they are not fertile it is a good idea to leave them with her. Wait until she is done with them before removing them. If you remove them too soon then it can cause her to lay more eggs. If you want to you can boil the eggs and then let them cool. After they have cooled you can put them back under her. Some people do this so that if the eggs break there is not a big mess. Other people do it if they feel that they are not able to care for the babies if the eggs hatch.

Matt

[queenutopia]

Does anyone know if a ringneck dove and a diamond dove can breed?

[expressmailtome]

I guess that it is possible. The eggs probably would not be fertile though.

Matt

[rainefeather19128]

The eggs probably would not be fertile or if they did survive out of the eggs the babies would be sterile. (that's just what i would think.)

[Lori~D]

Remarkably, the offspring resulting from a cross between the ring-necked dove and the vinaceous dove, the two species studied by Den Hartog, are able to function and reproduce. Although the hybrid doves make a different sound to their parents, this sound is still functional.
By coincidence, biologists discovered the existence of a hybrid dove alongside the ring-necked dove and the vinaceous dove in a region of Uganda. The DNA of the hybrid dove has genes from both parental species.
Also
http://www.internationaldovesociety....es/hybrids.htm