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Few people managed to see the pigeon egg, like the chicks themselves. To raise their chicks, pigeons choose places hidden from prying eyes. For a long time, parents feed their offspring with bird's milk and do not let them leave the nest until a certain moment.
What do pigeon eggs look like?
A pigeon egg is characterized by 5 main characteristics: size, weight, shape, shell quality and color. Pigeon eggs can be seen in the photo.
Depending on the breed, a pigeon egg weighs approximately from 15 to 28 g. The shell is very fragile, oval in shape, with a pointed end on one side. In the wider part there is an air chamber. The color of the shell also depends on the breed of bird and its main diet. Most often it is white or beige, with a slight creamy or pearlescent tint, without inclusions.
Pigeon egg size
The average size of a pigeon egg in centimeters is about 4 - 4.5 - also depending on the breed. In meat-producing pigeons they are larger.
How an egg is formed
The formation of pigeon families begins in early spring at the end of February - beginning of March. Immediately after the formation of a pair, pigeons begin to build a nest. After mating, 2 weeks later the female makes the first laying - the first egg appears in the nest, after 2 days she lays the second, the couple begins to incubate the chicks.
At 7-9 months, pigeons enter sexual maturity. In the female's ovary, a cell located in the follicle matures. After ripening, it comes out and is the yolk. The fertilization process takes place in the cell, then, passing through the oviduct, a protein part is formed, which, passing through the tube, envelops the yolk. In the uterus, the membrane hardens and a shell is formed. The process lasts about 15 hours. Next, the egg is hatched into the cloaca, and at the appropriate time, the female pigeon pushes it out of herself into the nest.
The whole process takes about a day. The masonry on average consists of 2-3 pieces. Next, the incubation process begins, and the subsequent clutch appears after 18-23 days.
Incubation period
Both parents incubate the chicks, maintaining a certain temperature in the nest - 40.7 °C on the upper surface of the egg, 36.1 °C on the lower surface. To ensure that all the eggs are heated evenly, the couple constantly turns them over with their paws and adjusts them with their wings.
If we are talking about breeding pigeons in captivity, then the breeder should always have an incubator at hand - in case the pigeons leave the clutch for some reason. In such cases, it is necessary to install seals in the cells so that the masonry does not fall apart, and monitor the humidity and temperature in the incubation cabinet. They need to be turned over every 2 hours. The incubator should be ventilated daily for 10 minutes.
Around day 15-16, the chicks begin to hatch. During this period, they do not need help; usually they cope on their own.
Is it possible to eat pigeon eggs
The answer to the question is it possible to eat pigeon eggs, unequivocally - yes, you can. Moreover, they are very beneficial for the human body. They have a very high nutritional value: 100 g contains 14 g of proteins and fats, 1.5 g of carbohydrates.
Gourmets appreciate this product for its delicate, refined taste. Their cost is quite high, since the female pigeon does not lay eggs very often, and if you take everything from the nest at once, she will stop laying eggs altogether. Therefore, those who want to try the product need to order it in advance from special farms. Such farms for raising eggs and pigeons for meat are especially popular in some Asian countries and the USA. The product is a delicacy and is used in cooking to prepare cult dishes.
Pigeon eggs in cooking
It is believed that man first tried pigeon eggs immediately after the domestication of birds; this happened in Persia thousands of years ago.
Since they are much smaller in size than chicken ones, large quantities will be required to use them in cooking. Dishes made from pigeon eggs appear rarely in restaurants and are made to order. More often they are found in Chinese and French cuisine as one of the components for soups, salads and other snacks. In English restaurants they serve various cocktails, soufflés, and jelly based on them.
Among the peoples of the Caucasus, the Baltic states and Russia, the product has been consumed with hot dishes, fish, and vegetables since ancient times.
Traditional Chinese dish
To prepare Chinese stir fry, the product is first boiled, peeled and fried in oil. At this time, boil bamboo shoots and xianggu mushrooms, then transfer them to a frying pan, add starch diluted in water, stew with broth, soy sauce, rice vodka, and a mixture of star anise, onion, ginger and pepper. The dish is served hot.
How to get a delicacy
So, buying the product is not so easy, but those who breed pigeons can taste the delicacy. Although we must take into account that pigeons do not make more than 5 clutches per year and in one clutch there is usually an average of about 2 pieces. Ornithologists also warn to remove all eggs from the nest, as the dove may stop producing offspring.
Storage
The product spoils quite quickly, so it is better to eat it immediately on the day of collection. You can store eggs in the refrigerator, but no more than a week. The door is not suitable for this, it is better to put them in a box and place them in the coldest place in the refrigerator. If you plan to store them for longer than a week, then you need to carefully wrap each egg in paper and turn them over once a day, preventing the yolk from sticking to the shell.
The benefits and harms of pigeon eggs
The benefits of pigeon eggs are beyond doubt. They are especially recommended for use by young children, the elderly, pregnant women and women after childbirth during lactation, as well as people with weakened immune systems.
Due to the high content of vitamins and microelements in the composition, consuming them in food increases the activity of skin cells, making it elastic, improves blood circulation, and affects hemoglobin levels. Useful for people with anemia and women with menstrual irregularities. Protects the kidneys, removes toxins from the body, the cardiovascular system, and prevents the formation of blood clots. Positively affects the health of the eyes and mucous membranes, as well as the skeletal system. Regulate metabolic processes in the body.
The product does not contain contraindications for consumption, but individual intolerance is possible.
Calorie content of pigeon eggs
The calorie content of pigeon eggs per 100 g of product is 115 kcal, which is several times less than that of chicken eggs. The glycemic index is low (48).
The product contains vitamins A, E, D, B, as well as a huge amount of microelements: iron, cobalt, sulfur, iodine, calcium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, healthy fatty acids.
How to raise a pigeon egg
Pigeon breeders know that sometimes situations arise when it is necessary to use an incubator. In this case, the eggs must be inspected, placed in a box with cotton wool and kept at a temperature of 10-15 ° C for no more than 20 days. At this time, all collected eggs are placed in an incubator, in which 120 eggs can be warmed at the same time, the process continues for 18 days. After being in the incubator for a few days, you need to check all the eggs for unfertilized ones. Each pigeon egg is illuminated with a lamp. The embryo usually floats up and looks like a dark spot with capillaries.
Feeding chicks
Sometimes experienced breeders have to feed the chicks themselves using a syringe.The yolk with cow's milk is used as food. After 2 weeks, sugar is added to the mixture.
The pigeons themselves feed the chicks with crop milk, which contains all the necessary nutrients for healthy offspring. During this period, for adult birds, pigeon breeders pour coal, crushed shells, shells, clay and salt next to the feeder.
Conclusion
A pigeon egg is a unique product in its characteristics, and raising pigeons is a rather labor-intensive process. Beginning breeders need to study all the rules of keeping and prepare for some difficulties.
