Can You Eat Pigeon Eggs?

Yes, pigeon eggs are edible. Like any other eggs, they can be fried, poached or boiled, and squab and pigeon eggs are still eaten in parts of Asia. In the UK, though, you cannot simply take them from wild or feral pigeons (see the legal note below).

Their yolk contains a lot of protein, plus carbohydrates and fat.

The problem is you need many of them to make a decent meal, as they are so small.

In some cultures pigeon eggs are regarded as delicacies.

Pigeon Egg Appearance

A pigeon’s egg measures about 3cm which is slightly smaller than a quail’s egg (3.5 cm) and much smaller than a hen’s egg (up to 6cm).

The egg has a porcelain-like surface and is smooth to the touch. Inside, the egg white has a slightly translucent appearance with a pale-yellowish yolk.

It has a stronger “eggy” aroma than other types of eggs.

Pigeon Egg Scarcity

Pigeon eggs attract a premium because they are rarer than other bird eggs – female pigeons only lay one to three eggs a fortnight compared to a hen’s (on average) daily output.

There is also another factor – pigeon intelligence!

Pigeons know exactly how many eggs they have laid which means if a keeper picks any of them, they need to be replaced with fake eggs.

A pair that loses its eggs will usually lay a new clutch, which is why keepers who want to stop breeding swap real eggs for dummy ones rather than just removing them.

It is also illegal in many countries to buy and sell fertilized eggs, adding further to the rarity factor.

Also Read:

How Long Do Pigeon Eggs Take To Hatch?
Do Pigeons Eat Other Birds Eggs?

Eating City vs Woodland Pigeon Eggs

There is some debate about whether the eggs of city-dwelling pigeons are healthy to eat, compared to their country cousins.

It is a question of diet. As opportunists and scavengers, feral town pigeons will eat almost anything they can get.

Because of that reason, they are considered to be exposed to all kinds of toxic chemicals and bacteria.

They can get infected or imbibe substances that can later be harmful to humans if either the eggs or the flesh is eaten.

The woodland pigeon, on the other hand, lives in a more natural habitat and eats healthier types of food so their eggs are less likely to be contaminated. Wood pigeon eggs are still protected by law in the UK, though.

Commercial Pigeon Farming

Commercial pigeon farming survived into the 19^th century.

People still do raise pigeons for this purpose, but on a much smaller scale.

This kind of pigeon production is mainly to supply restaurants that have more exotic menus.

It isn’t often that you find pigeons on the menu, either eggs or meat.

Whether or not they were raised for the pot or hunted as wild birds, you will probably never know.

Pigeon dishes tend to be on the menu of fine dining restaurants and maybe country gastropubs, but not a staple of regular/high street restaurants.

Pigeons As Cuisine

Since Roman times, recipes for pigeons have been recorded.

The young birds, the fledglings or squabs were mainly used because of the tenderness of their flesh.

Game pies have been around since medieval times.

These included various wild and hunted game such as venison, rabbit, pheasant and of course, pigeon.

Pigeon meat can be stewed, baked in pies or casseroles and roasted.

Eating Pigeon Eggs Today

Today pigeon is very rarely on the menu, neither the eggs nor the meat. It is one of our eating customs that has gone out of fashion with a mainly urbanized population.

Eating habits have changed and there are much more viable animals to farm. Commercially, raising pigeons for the market isn’t that profitable.

Although, those that live in rural areas may still have the occasional pigeon meal.

Pigeon eggs are more readily available in Southeast Asia.

In Chinese cooking, pigeon eggs are often served at banquets and in soups.

Traditional Chinese medicine credits them with various health benefits, but there is no good scientific evidence for these claims.

Handle Eggs Carefully

Pigeon eggs should be handled very gently because the shell is as thin as a sheet of paper and is very crispy.

The fact that transportation is difficult and rarely achieved without breakages is one of the reasons pigeon eggs are not commercially attractive.

And also on the handling side, even the boiling process can damage the shell and break it.

How to Eat Pigeon Eggs

Pretty much whatever you can do with an egg (hen, goose, and duck are the most common – although hens’ eggs are the clear favourite), you can do with a pigeon’s egg.

They are rarely used in baking as you would need 3-4 pigeon eggs for the equivalent of a hen’s egg.

Most chefs who use them regularly have the opinion that the best way to eat them is whole.

They might be boiled or steamed.

A popular method is to cook them by steaming then coating them in breadcrumbs and deep-frying them.

Is it legal to take pigeon eggs in the UK?

In Great Britain, all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Under that law it is an offence to intentionally take or destroy a wild bird’s egg, or to possess one. Feral pigeons and wood pigeons count as wild birds.

Natural England issues general licences that let authorised people (usually the landowner or someone acting for them) take or destroy the eggs of some species, including feral pigeons, for specific reasons such as protecting public health and safety. Those licences are for pest control. They do not allow anyone to collect eggs to eat. If you want to eat pigeon eggs, the legal options are eggs from your own domestic pigeons or eggs bought from a food business.

Cook pigeon eggs thoroughly, as you would any egg.

Sources

Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

Last updated 21 October 2026 · Hunting