Unequal eggs

[eros...@att.net]

Nine days ago one of my hens laid an egg, and laid another two days
later. The outside temperature has been in the nineties, and despite
this the adults started to incubate the first egg as soon as it was
laid. I have been candling the eggs and the first is clearly 2 days
ahead in development.
I assume that left alone, the eggs will hatch two days apart and the
second chick will either die of starvation because it can't compete for
food, or will be a runt.
Is there any way to get two healthy full size chicks in this nest?
Thanks.
e.rosbooks

[Geopelia]

<eros...@att.net> wrote in message news:487ECE6C...@att.net...

With my cape doves, I put the smaller chick in with another pair, or with a
pair of diamonds, for a while to get a good feed, and then return it to the
parents. But they are the sort of bird that will feed any chick. And once
they fledge, any bird they beg from will feed them. I often have several
eager cock birds waiting around trying to feed one chick.

I don't know if pigeons would do the same.

[eros...@att.net]

Thanks for this suggestion. I decided to let Nature take its course. On
two occassions I gave supplimental feedings to the smaller chick when it
seemed to be getting weak from lack of food. Ultimately both fledged,
although one was twice as large as the other. In the future I think I
will start the supplimental feedings from day one.
e.r.

[Marty]

Try using wooden eggs if the size difference is a real problem. That
way you can assure they both hatch together, or at least on the same day.

My homers generally do okay even if one is two days ahead of the other.