Pigeon eggs represent the initial stage in the life cycle of these common birds. The journey from a laid egg to a hatched chick is a natural process guided by specific biological timings and environmental conditions.
The Incubation Period
Incubation, the period a pigeon egg develops into a chick, lasts 17 to 19 days, with 18 days being average. Slight variations can occur. During this time, parent birds maintain consistent warmth and humidity for the developing embryo. This care is crucial for embryonic development.
Factors for Successful Hatching
Successful hatching relies on environmental and parental factors. Consistent temperature, ideally 37.5-38.5°C (99-101°F), is important. Deviations from this optimal range can slow or accelerate development within the egg. Humidity is also important, with a recommended range of 55-60% during most incubation, increasing to 70-75% before hatching. This humidity level helps regulate moisture loss, essential for proper embryo growth and gas exchange.
Parental care is another factor, as both male and female pigeons share incubation duties. The female typically sits on the eggs from late afternoon through the night until around 10 AM, after which the male takes over for the day. The parents also periodically turn the eggs, often at least twice daily, to prevent the developing embryo from sticking to the inside of the shell. This attention to temperature, humidity, and egg positioning impacts hatch viability and timing.
The Hatching Process
Hatching is a demanding physical effort for a pigeon chick, unfolding over several hours. It begins with the chick, using a temporary egg tooth on its beak, breaking through the membrane into the air sac at the blunt end of the egg. This initial step, known as internal pipping, allows the chick to take its first breaths of air. After internal pipping, the chick progresses to external pipping, where it pecks a small hole through the outer shell.
Once the first external hole is made, the chick continues to peck and rotate within the egg, creating a series of cracks that encircle the shell. This circular cracking pattern is often referred to as “unzipping” due to its resemblance to an opening zipper. The entire process, from the first external pip to full emergence, can take 12 to 30 hours. The chick exerts effort during this final stage, using its body and legs to push apart the shell sections until it emerges.