Pigeons usually lay two eggs at a time, and in rare cases three. Baby pigeons are seldom seen, but the idea that baby pigeons don’t exist is a conspiracy theory that ornithologists have debunked.
When to Breed
Though a pigeon reaches sexual maturity by seven months of age, most experts recommend waiting to allow them to mate until they’re a year old. Pigeons often mate for life and enjoy monogamous pairings with each other.
When the male and female decide to mate, the male will bring the female a stick to start their nest and show his interest. Together, the pair will build a nest and prepare it for eggs. Pairs sometimes start a second nest and lay again while they are still feeding the young from the first.
When Do Pigeons Lay Eggs
Once the nest is ready, the female will get ready to lay her eggs.
Approximately 8 to 12 days after mating begins, the female will usually lay the first egg.
This egg is typically laid during the early evening hours.
About 44 hours later, the female will lay her second egg.
In most cases, there will only be two eggs in the nest, although very young or older female pigeons may only lay one egg.
Once both eggs are in the nest, incubation begins in earnest.
The female will generally incubate the eggs from evening to midmorning, then the male will take over until early evening comes back around.
Also Read: How To Care For A Pigeon Egg
What do the Eggs Look Like?
Pigeon eggs are small and white, sometimes with a slight cream tint. Unlike the eggs of many other birds, they are not spotted or blue.
If you’re worried that an egg doesn’t look right, talk to your veterinarian, but don’t try to remove it from the parent pigeons without being advised to do so.
Something that’s interesting to note about the color of a pigeon’s eggs is that in pigeons it is the same in tame and wild birds. Across bird species, though, scientists have found that climate plays a role in egg color.
Birds in colder regions tend to lay darker eggs, which may absorb more heat. Pigeons nest in sheltered spots and sit on their eggs almost constantly, which may be one reason their eggs have stayed plain white.
Scientists have other theories about why birds’ eggs are the colors they are. One idea is that the egg color provides some camouflage so that the developing baby is safe from predators if the parent pigeons aren’t incubating for some reason.
Another idea is that the color of the egg protects it from the damaging UV rays that may reach it in the wild.
Other theories suggest that a bird’s egg color helps the mother and father bird differentiate it from other species and could also have antimicrobial properties that help ensure the health of the pigeon as it develops.
If you plan to breed your pigeons, it’s a good idea to get familiar with what their eggs look like so you can identify potential problems. Just remember that it’s not a good idea to handle your pigeon’s eggs as care needs to be left up to the parents.
If, for some reason, your pigeons aren’t caring for their eggs, talk to your veterinarian about what you can do. Otherwise, all you have to do is sit back and wait for those eggs to hatch.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Baby Pigeons