Biology of Embryo Development in Pigeon Columba livia domesticus in Conditions of Artificial Incubation

摘要

The study was conducted on the eggs of pigeon Columba livia domesticus collected in an amateur pigeon breeding facility during the breeding season. Eggs were collected in the morning from the long–beaked pigeons to make sure that they have been laid recently. They were incubated at 37.8°C and humidity of 65% (standard conditions for the development of the domestic chicken embryos). A total of nearly 70 embryos have been analyzed at different stages of development. 4 fertilized eggs were opened every day and analyzed for external morphological features according to the Hamburger and Hamilton key (1951). It was found that the embryonic development of pigeon Columba livia domesticus was shorter (17 days) by about 4 days compared with embryos of domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus (21 days). Further, it was observed that the pigeon embryos developed slower in the first 14 days of embryogenesis, and a marked acceleration of their development occurred from day 14 of incubation. Artificial incubation enables successful raising of Columba livia domesticus pigeon chicks. The remaining period of the growth and development of chicks is possible by placing them with foster parents, long–beaked pigeons.