Incubating Abandoned Dove Eggs

[Emalt]

I have a Dove that has come back to the same nest on my porch for the third year now. After only a week she has left and that was over a week ago its safe to say she will not be back. I checked the nest and there are two eggs. Can someone please assist on how to incubate and get these eggs to hatch. Currently i brought them inside with the nest and. I have a heating pad underneath the nest and wrapped the nest with a couple warm rags (fresh ones). I also read some people keep a heat lamp on them which I currently have and have been keeping it on during the day and turning it off at night. Any help is much appreciated!

Thank you

 

[nicalandia]

I do not recommend doing it. you would not be able to feed them properly

 

[Emalt]

I do not recommend doing it. you would not be able to feed them properly

Can you explain why one wouldnt be able to feed them? Buying the proper food I will just chew it up and spit it in their mouths. Pizza will work right?
LOL jk jk but in reality I have the feeding syringes I am great at caring with animals and have time to do research until they hatch. Thank you for the response but I am not going to toss them to the wolves once they hatch.

 

[nicalandia]

Can you explain why one wouldnt be able to feed them? Buying the proper food I will just chew it up and spit it in their mouths. Pizza will work right?
LOL jk jk but in reality I have the feeding syringes I am great at caring with animals and have time to do research until they hatch. Thank you for the response but I am not going to toss them to the wolves once they hatch.

Do they sell Crop Milk in powdered form?

 

[BelovedBirds]

I have a Dove that has come back to the same nest on my porch for the third year now. After only a week she has left and that was over a week ago its safe to say she will not be back. I checked the nest and there are two eggs. Can someone please assist on how to incubate and get these eggs to hatch. Currently i brought them inside with the nest and. I have a heating pad underneath the nest and wrapped the nest with a couple warm rags (fresh ones). I also read some people keep a heat lamp on them which I currently have and have been keeping it on during the day and turning it off at night. Any help is much appreciated!

Thank you

They need consistent warmth, not just in the day time...
You will need a calibrated therometer to ensure they are the right temp, as well as a hygrometer to measure humidity. Candle the eggs, to look for development, and post images here if you can- Candling is just shining a light through the egg in a dark room- You would hope to see an embryo and veins depending on how long the eggs were sat on, and how long you have had them.
But the most important thing here, is this your dove, or wild?
If wild, it may be illegal to take the eggs... It would depend on where you live, I'm not sure how it would apply here.

 

[Chicken poppy]

I would wait longer to see if the mom comes back, there could be many scenarios that we are unsure of. First off, dont walk around there a ton and be quiet around it, incase she does come back. If their not coming back, theres a high chance theres a reason. as hard as it is to, leave them be. Doves can leave their nests for many reasons for periods of times, not to mention how difficult they are to care for, and the fact many places it is illegal

 

[BelovedBirds]

This is my thought. I would wait longer to see if the mom comes back, there could be many scenarios that we are unsure of. First off, dont walk around there a ton and be quiet around it, incase she does come back. If their not coming back, theres a high chance theres a reason. as hard as it is to, leave them be. Doves can leave their nests for many reasons for periods of times, not to mention how difficult they are to care for, and the fact many places it is illegal

I believe the OP has already taken the eggs indoors- but my first thought is that the eggs may not be developing, or may have quit, as mama's can usually tell which eggs are good and which are bad (at least with hens and ducks, I know very little of doves).

 

[Chicken poppy]

I believe the OP has already taken the eggs indoors- but my first thought is that the eggs may not be developing, or may have quit, as mama's can usually tell which eggs are good and which are bad (at least with hens and ducks, I know very little of doves).

Yep. No, that is correct, doves can tell if their not good and will leave the nest, they might also leave because people would be being noisy around the area, which is why you shouldnt be noisy.

If that is the case, for future, dont do that OP. Your thought behind it was very sweet, but not very correctly thought of Ahead of time.

 

[nicalandia]

my first thought is that the eggs may not be developing, or may have quit, as mama's can usually tell which eggs are good and which are bad (at least with hens and ducks, I know very little of doves).

Doves can see Earth's magnetic field, I am pretty sure they can see if there is embryonic development.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Doves can see Earth's magnetic field, I am pretty sure they can see if there is embryonic development.

true, birds are smart, and they usually have good judgement when it comes to these things- good mama's don't leave their eggs for no good reason.