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Pigeon egg, like the chicks themselves, few people managed to see. 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 out of the nest until a certain point.
What do pigeon eggs look like
A pigeon egg is characterized by 5 main features: 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 is the air chamber. The color of the shell also depends on the breed of birds and on their main diet. Most often it is white or beige in color, with a slight cream or mother-of-pearl 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 pigeons of meat productivity, they are larger.
How an egg is formed
The formation of pigeon families begins in early spring in late February – early March. Immediately after the formation of a pair, pigeons begin to build a nest. After mating, after 2 weeks, the female makes the first laying – the first egg appears in the nest, after 2 days she lays the second, the couple proceeds to incubate the chicks.
At 7-9 months, pigeons enter sexual maturity. In the ovary of the female, a cell located in the follicle matures. After maturation, it comes out and is a yolk. The process of fertilization 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 the shell is formed. The process takes about 15 hours. Next, the egg is hatched into the cloaca, and at the right time, the female dove pushes it out of herself into the nest.
The whole process takes about a day. Masonry on average consists of 2-3 pieces. Then the incubation process begins, and the subsequent clutch appears after 18-23 days.
Incubation period
Both parents incubate the chicks, keeping a certain temperature in the nest – 40,7 ° C on the upper surface of the egg, 36,1 ° C – the lower surface. In order for all the eggs to warm up evenly, the couple constantly turns them over with their paws, and with their wings they pick them up under themselves.
If we are talking about breeding pigeons in captivity, then the breeder should always have an incubator on hand – in case the pigeons leave the clutch for some reason. In such cases, it is necessary to lay seals in the cells so that the masonry does not fall apart, monitor the humidity and temperature in the incubator. You need to turn them over every 2 hours. Air the incubator daily for 10 minutes.
On about 15-16 days, the chicks begin to hatch. During this period, they do not need help, they usually cope on their own.
Is it possible to eat pigeon eggs
The answer to the question of whether it is possible to eat pigeon eggs is unequivocal – yes, you can. Moreover, they are very useful 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 dove does not clutch so often, and if you take everything from the nest at once, she will stop laying altogether. Therefore, those who wish to try the product should order it in advance from special farms. Such farms for growing eggs and pigeons for meat are especially popular in some Asian countries and in the USA. The product is a delicacy and is used in cooking for the preparation of cult dishes.
Pigeon eggs in cooking
It is believed that a person 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, a large amount will be required to use them in cooking. Pigeon egg dishes rarely appear in restaurants and are made to order. More often they are found in Chinese, French cuisine as one of the components for soups, salads and other snacks. In English restaurants, various cocktails, soufflés, kissels are served on their basis.
Among the peoples of the Caucasus, the Baltic States and Our Country, they have been using the product with hot dishes, fish, and vegetables for a long time.
traditional chinese dish
To prepare Chinese roast, the product is first boiled, cleaned and fried in oil. At this time, boil bamboo sprouts, syangu mushrooms, then transfer them to a frying pan, add starch diluted in water, stew with broth, soy sauce, rice vodka, as well as a mixture of star anise, onion, ginger and pepper. The dish is served hot.
How to get a delicacy
So, it is not so easy to buy the product, but those who breed pigeons can taste the delicacy. Although it must be taken into account that pigeons do not make more than 5 clutches per year and in one clutch there are usually about 2 pieces on average. Ornithologists also warn to take all the eggs from the nest, as the dove may stop producing offspring.
Storage
The product spoils rather quickly, so it is better to eat it immediately on the day of collection. You can store eggs in the refrigerator, but not 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 more 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 trace elements in the composition, eating them allows you to increase the activity of skin cells, making it elastic, improves blood circulation, and affects the level of hemoglobin. Useful for people with anemia, women with menstrual irregularities. Protects the kidneys, removes toxins from the body, the cardiovascular system, prevents the appearance of blood clots. It has a positive effect on the health of the eyes and mucous membranes, as well as on the skeletal system. Regulate metabolic processes in the body.
The product does not contain contraindications for eating, but individual intolerance to the body is possible.
Pigeon eggs calories
The calorie content of pigeon eggs per 100 g of the 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 trace elements: iron, cobalt, sulfur, iodine, calcium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, useful fatty acids.
How to grow a pigeon egg
Pigeon breeders know that sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to use the incubator. In this case, the eggs must be examined, placed in a box with cotton 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 pieces can be warmed at the same time, the process continues for 18 days. After staying in the incubator after a few days, you need to check all the eggs for the presence of 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 with 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 goiter milk, which contains all the necessary nutrients for full-fledged 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 terms of its characteristics, and raising pigeons is a rather laborious process. Novice breeders need to learn all the rules of keeping and prepare for some difficulties.