[Lost in France]

Hello,
I haven't visited the site for a while but wondered whether there are any pigeon "experts" reading?! I just want confirmation that I have correctly advised a friend! She has 2 doves in an aviary. I suggested that they are a couple as they display courtship but she tells me that she thinks both are female as they have 4 eggs and are sitting, one of the birds on each pair of eggs. Her dovecote is open in the middle so I think that the pair are sitting on some old eggs as they are close to the later ones. My question is...if they are 2 females, can they lay, as hens do, without males i.e. try to make the best of their situation? The eggs are clearly infertile as they are not hatching but I think that if she replaces the eggs with fresh fertile ones, (which I can give her), they will hatch and the couple may produce fertile eggs as they age a little. What do you all think?!
Meanwhile, love to anyone who remembers my old posts...hens, peacocks and then alpacas!!
Judi

[joyfull]

hello Judi, yes they can lay without males but just infertile ones. If she wants them to hatch some then yes replace them with the same amount of fertile eggs as you suggest 

Alpacas - how nice any chance of a couple of photos?

[Lost in France]

Hello Joyfull,

I must get back to looking at this site...there's always someone with the answer to my questions! I used to look daily but somehow I've let it slip...hope Aunt Sally won't send me to the "naughty corner"!!  

Thank you for the info, I will suggest she gives them one more chance to hatch what they lay as they have actually displayed courtship behaviour.. but maybe it's just a case of "needs must"! Then I'll give her some eggs as well as a young bachelor male we have seeking a partner.


When I have a minute, I'll tell you all about Blodwyn, the ginger hen who's on holiday with us. She's different to any hen I've ever known...you'll have to wait though!

Judi

Judi I have removed the link to your website as this is not encouraged on here (to help prevent you getting loads of spam etc), however we would really like it if you would post some of your pictures in the pets pictures section of the other livestock section  
A lot of fellow chicken owners would love to read about caring for alpacas as they are supposed to be excellent fox deterrents so please do post something about them for us xx