The eggs are laid 2 days apart. Once the second egg has been laid the male and female pigeons take turns incubating the eggs. The male usually during the day- the female at night. Approximately 19 days after the second egg was laid the chicks hatch. They are covered in golden yellow down and are quite a sight to see.
Oversized beaks make it easy for the parents to feed the chicks by regurgitating into their mouths.
Within days, the chicks have tripled in size. It is important that the owner place the identification bands on the chicks after the 5th day. Click here for information about Homing Pigeon bands. Within 6 weeks the chicks will venture out of the nest and begin practicing flight. Baby Homing Pigeons are flying within 2 months and can be trained to return to the loft by teaching them to use a trap door entrance and released from short distances from the loft.