Squab-induced crop growth in ring dove foster parents.

Abstract

The effect of introducing 2-4-day-old squabs to ring dove foster parents at 5 points in the breeding cycle was investigated. For the groups tested after the female had laid the eggs (i.e., when the birds were attached to the nest), the squab was able to induce a significant acceleration of crop growth. This effect was not obtained in groups tested prior to egg laying.