so, a friend of mine called me up today to ask me if i was interested in taking in a couple of "strays". she and her significant other just moved into an apartment and found the patio occupied by smaller tenants, a family of pigeons. recently, and most likely due to all the new activity in and around their previously quiet bit of real estate, the parents left the nest, abandoning two fresh eggs along with it. they have been left exposed for quite a significant amount of time, but seeing as i currently have plenty of time on my hands, i figured she might as well bring them over.
there is probably very little chance that the eggs are viable after being left so cold, but after several jokes involving tiny fried eggs, candling proved them to be with yolk intact at the very least, which is the only thing you can expect for an egg which was laid only a week prior. i decided i might as well keep an eye out and watch for any development (or inversely, rot) as it's a better fate then being dumped from the patio with the rest of the nest. i rigged up an incubator using a small cricket tank of water warmed with a tank heater, and nested the eggs wrapped in cloth afloat in a tupperware, double boiler style. so far, the temperature is staying around 80*F which i have read is appropriate. i'm going to be sure they don't get too damp, and keep them rotated for even warming, just like mom would be doing.
while i don't expect them to hatch, i do have experience with raising birds, and plenty of time on my hands to rear a pair of needy squabs. an interesting experience in the least. anybody with experience want to offer a word or two of advice?
there is probably very little chance that the eggs are viable after being left so cold, but after several jokes involving tiny fried eggs, candling proved them to be with yolk intact at the very least, which is the only thing you can expect for an egg which was laid only a week prior. i decided i might as well keep an eye out and watch for any development (or inversely, rot) as it's a better fate then being dumped from the patio with the rest of the nest. i rigged up an incubator using a small cricket tank of water warmed with a tank heater, and nested the eggs wrapped in cloth afloat in a tupperware, double boiler style. so far, the temperature is staying around 80*F which i have read is appropriate. i'm going to be sure they don't get too damp, and keep them rotated for even warming, just like mom would be doing.
while i don't expect them to hatch, i do have experience with raising birds, and plenty of time on my hands to rear a pair of needy squabs. an interesting experience in the least. anybody with experience want to offer a word or two of advice?