Dove eggs 14 days

Question
Thank you, everything I have read on the internet had said 14 days so I thought I would see babies by today....now I feel better.  Every now and again she shoves one of the eggs to the side for a few minutes and then retrieves it and lays on it.  I have had the opportunity to take a good look at one of them and there are small "bumgs/cracks" on the eggs.  I am sorry to bother you but is this a tell tale sign that they are "pipping" on the inside are on their way to hatching?  Another question I have is:  She has no next (and refused to use one) will the babies be ok on the bottom of the care?  I am supplying her with non scented bedding from the pet store, pet fresh pet bedding...will this be sufficient? Thanks again, finding information on the internet is very difficult for pet doves.
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-----Question-----
Hi,

My doves laid their eggs 14 days ago.  Both parents have been sitting on them diligently.  I finally got up the courage to clean out their cage, I was afraid that they would leave them if I disturbed them.  I figured I would take a real quick look at them by candleing them.  It was difficult to see anything but it seems as if the egg is to "full" to see through.  I know that they should hatch at 14 days.  So my question is 1.) does this sound to you like they have a live chick is in there (I did candle them at about 7 days and saw veins) 2.) do they always hatch exactly on the 14th day?  Are there any signs that I can look for that they are trying to hatch?

Thanks in advance.

Michele
-----Answer-----
Hi, Michele.  Thanks for posting!

The incubation period is 18 days, not 14.  Eggs don't always hatch on their exact "due" date for different reasons.  Yes, if the egg(s) look "full," they are likely full of a baby!  It takes 24-48 hours for a baby to hatch.  They start "pipping" around on the inside first...you won't see this.  When they have finished this part, you'll notice a hole starting to appear on the outside of the egg.  They "pip" around again until there's a "seam" like around the biggest end of the egg.  Then they push themselves out.  You'll probably just find 2 halves of an egg on the ground one morning, and the bird sitting on a baby.  If there's 2 eggs, the other one should hatch 48 hours later.  

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Michele.

It's more like 18 days for dove eggs.  I've raised doves/pigeons for over 10 years, and they usually hatch at around 18 days.  This doesn't mean they can't hatch at 17 or 19 days...it just depends on how warm the eggs have been kept during incubation.  

I'm not sure what you are seeing from your description.  Bumps could be excess calcium deposits on the egg.  "Cracks" are a different story.  If the egg has been cracked, it may not hatch.  If the baby is pipping out, usually the first thing you will see on the outside is a small hole where the baby has started cracking the outside of the egg shell.  

Doves make their own nests out of feathers, straw, paper or whatever might be around in their cage they can make a nest from.  If you tried to provide them with a nest, I'm not surprised they wouldn't accept it.  I'm not familiar with what you mention you are using as substrate for their cage.  I always provide straw for my doves in the winter time and so they can make a nest.  However, the baby(ies) should be OK on the cage bottom.

It's OK to check the egg(s) every day if you want.  The birds won't mind.  Just don't move them around at this point in the incubation process.

Chrys