How Big is a Pigeon Egg? Uncover the Mystery

Pigeons are a common sight in cities around the world. These birds build flimsy nests and lay eggs on window sills, ledges, and rooftops. But how big is a pigeon egg compared to other birds’ eggs? In this article, we will explore the typical size and dimensions of pigeon eggs.

How Does Pigeon Egg Size Compare to Chicken Eggs?

Many people are familiar with chicken eggs, so this provides a good point of comparison. On average, a pigeon egg is quite a bit smaller than a large chicken egg.

A large chicken egg may be about 2.5-3 inches long and about 2 inches wide. Pigeon eggs are generally 1 to 1.5 inches long and around 1 inch wide. So a pigeon egg is less than half the size of a large chicken egg.

The main reason for this size difference is that chickens are much larger birds than pigeons. Since a chicken egg has to contain enough nutrition for a chick to develop inside, chicken eggs need to be considerably larger.

What is the Average Size of a Pigeon Egg?

While there is some variation in sizes, most pigeon eggs measure between 1 and 1.5 inches in length. The average diameter of a pigeon egg is around 1 inch.

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Some sources cite the average length of a pigeon egg as 1.3 inches. The average width is typically 0.9 inches.

So if you see a small white egg nestled in a pigeon’s nest, you can expect it to be about 1.3 inches long by 0.9 inches wide. This compact size contains everything a baby pigeon needs to develop!

How Many Centimeters Long is a Pigeon Egg?

The dimensions of pigeon eggs are often described in the metric system as well as imperial measurements.

A pigeon egg is typically 3-4 centimeters long. To be more precise, the average length of a pigeon egg is 3.3 cm.

The average width of a pigeon egg is around 2.3 cm. And the typical diameter measures about 2.5 cm.

So while imperial measurements put a pigeon egg at 1 to 1.5 inches long, in metric units it equates to 3 to 4 cm long and 2 to 2.5 cm wide.

What is the Diameter of a Pigeon Egg in mm?

We can break the size specifics down even further into millimeters.

The average diameter of a pigeon egg is 25 mm. To be exact, sources cite the typical pigeon egg diameter as between 24-27 mm.

The tiny pigeon chick that hatches from this small egg will weigh about 10 to 17 grams. That goes to show how perfectly the compact pigeon egg meets the nutritional needs of the developing embryo.

How Much Does a Pigeon Egg Usually Weigh?

In addition to linear measurements of length and diameter, pigeon eggs can be described by their weight.

On average, a pigeon egg weighs about 0.5 ounces or 12 to 17 grams.

The egg comprises about 10% of the female pigeon’s total body weight. This is true for many species of birds – the egg represents a significant energy investment for the female.

Newly laid pigeon eggs weigh closer to 0.7 ounces (20 grams). But some moisture is lost through the porous calcium carbonate shell as incubation progresses, causing the egg to lose about 10% of its weight.

How Can You Tell if a Pigeon Egg is Fertilized?

A female pigeon generally lays 2 eggs per clutch. These eggs are often fertilized and contain embryos that will develop into squabs.

You cannot tell if a pigeon egg is fertilized by looking at the outside of the egg. But there are some clues that may indicate fertility:

• Observe the nest – if you see both male and female pigeons taking turns sitting on the eggs, they are likely fertilized. Unfertilized eggs are usually left abandoned.
• Candle the egg – shining a bright light through the egg may reveal a network of veins from an embryo or an opaque mass.
• Float test – fertilized eggs will float in water, while unfertilized eggs sink. But this is an unreliable test.
• Wait and observe – if the eggs hatch about 18 days after being laid, you’ll know they were fertilized!

At What Age Do Pigeons Start Laying Eggs?

Most female pigeons start laying eggs at about 6 months of age. But some may begin as early as 5 months old, while late bloomers may not start until they are a year old.

Once a hen pigeon is sexually mature and ready to breed, she will look for a mate and begin building a nest. She will lay her first small clutch of eggs within 1 to 2 weeks of pairing with a male pigeon.

Pigeons can reproduce year-round, though egg laying is reduced in the winter months. A healthy hen can produce up to 8 clutches of 2 eggs each year.

How Long Does it Take for a Pigeon Egg to Hatch?

Pigeon eggs take about 18 days to hatch. The incubation period actually ranges from 17 to 19 days from the laying of the first egg.

Here is what happens during those 18 days:

• Days 1-2: The hen starts incubating after laying the 2nd egg
• Days 3-17: Both parents take turns incubating while the embryos develop
• Day 17: The eggs begin to hatch, often called pip
• Day 18: Hatch day, the fluffy white squabs emerge!

The hatching process takes around 12-24 hours from pipping internally to the squab breaking out of the shell. Having two parents to share brooding duties helps ensure enough warmth for development.

What is the Shell of a Pigeon Egg Made of?

Bird eggs need to be strong enough to protect the developing embryo, but porous enough to allow air exchange.

The main component of a pigeon egg shell is calcium carbonate. This chalky substance comprises about 98% of the total weight of the shell.

Calcium carbonate crystals are bound together with a protein matrix for structural integrity. The shell also contains small amounts of other minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium.

The shell is covered with a natural bloom that seals the pores and helps prevent bacterial invasion. This bloom wears off over time, letting air and moisture pass through.

Do Both Male and Female Pigeons Sit on the Eggs?

Yes, both the male (cock) and female (hen) pigeon take turns sitting on the eggs to provide incubation. This shared brooding behavior is called biparental incubation.

The hen lays two eggs, which the cock then fertilizes. About 48 hours after the second egg is laid, the pair will start taking shifts incubating the clutch.

Sitting on the eggs is called “brooding”. A parent pigeon carefully tucks the eggs beneath their body to provide warmth. The eggs must be incubated at about 37.5°C to develop properly.

The parents exchange incubation duties every 15 minutes to few hours. This constant warmth over 18 days allows the embryos to grow until ready to hatch.

Final Thoughts

For being such small birds, pigeons produce surprisingly small eggs. A typical pigeon egg is just 1 to 1.5 inches long – less than half the size of a chicken egg!

These petite pigeon eggs weigh around 0.5 ounces. Within their compact calcium carbonate shells, the developing squabs have everything they need to grow over an 18 day incubation period until ready to hatch.

Both parent pigeons share brooding responsibilities, taking turns sitting on the eggs to provide vital warmth. While individual pigeon eggs may vary in exact size and weight, most measure about 1.3 inches long by 0.9 inches wide.

The next time you see pigeons nesting on a balcony or building ledge, take a moment to appreciate the endearing size of their tiny white eggs!

Adreena Shanum

Welcome. I’m Adreena Shanum, the proud owner of this website, and I am incredibly passionate about animals, especially poultry. I founded adreenapets.com as a labor of love, stemming from my desire to share my knowledge and experiences with poultry enthusiasts worldwide.