Breeding Diamond Doves?

Question

I have had a pair of diamond doves for several months. When I bought them from Pet Smart I was told they were both female. 

I did some research and thought that one of them might be a male because the cere was darker and thicker. 

One of them has been jumping on the other and flappig its wings repeatedly. I was wondering if they were mating, but wasn't sure.

Then a couple of days ago, one of them was staing in the bamboo nest and I wondered if she was sick since they have both pretty much ignored the nest until now.

Today the one was back in the nest and I thought maybe she was sick, so I went to move her off the nest and discovered two eggs!

So I wonder if the eggs are fertile?  Coud they have been mating?

If anyone knows about the mating habits of diamond doves do you think they were mating?  Is there a way to tell if the eggs are fertile. (I do not want to disturb them tho)


If they are fertile how long will it take for them to hatch?

Thanks

Frank · Accepted Answer

Hello,
Birds mate jut as you have described, and the process takes only a few seconds, so it is likely that you have a pair.  Diamond doves can be very difficult to sex visually…unfortunately, cere color is not always reliable.  The red-orange eye ring of the male averages 2-3 mm in width, while that of the female is 1 mm in width – this small difference may be noticeable when the birds perch together and can be compared.
Developing eggs show blood vessels when viewed under a strong light, but I would advise strongly against handling them for that purpose, as this may cause the birds to abandon the nest.  Disturb them as little as possible – feed and clean quickly, and be sure never to put on a light suddenly if their room is dark.
The eggs will hatch in 13-15 days, and the chicks remain in the nest for an additional 12-15 days.  Once they fledge (leave the nest), they will be fed by the parents for an additional 2 weeks.
If you’d like to read more about diamond doves, please see my 2 part article The Diamond Dove in the Wild and captivity at http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatbirdblog/2008/08/15/the-diamond-dove-geopelia-cuneata-in-the-wild-and-captivity-%e2%80%93-part-i-natural-history/. 
Good luck and I hope you are greeted by 2 young doves soon!

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Breeding Diamond Doves?
I have had a pair of diamond doves for several months. When I bought them from Pet Smart I was told they were both female. 

I did some research and thought that one of them might be a male because the cere was darker and thicker. 

One of them has been jumping on the other and flappig its...

Anonymous · Answer

our peacocks never produced. we found a snake in their pen eating the eggs. snakes swallow the eggs whole and he couldn't get out until someone smashed the egg inside him.

Breeding Diamond Doves?

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