Abandoned Duck Eggs!

[G-freegal12]

There is these 3 ducks that come around every year, and one duck layed 1 egg in the middle of my lawn! I have it in a tupperware with one of those little heat packets that you shake and it warms up for about 8 hrs. I have been keeping it this way for about 2 days, how do I tell if it's dead?

[mommida]

Can you contact a 4H vet club? They might be able to put you in touch with a fowl person. (no puns intended) For a search option www. hoobly .com (I think it's .com maybe org)

[ravenwoodglass]

If the egg is in direct contact with the heat pouch it is most likely 'cooked'. Also do you know how long it was on the lawn before you snatched it? It may have been 'gone' before you noticed it and picked it up. You should never disturb an egg if you can possibly avoid it as the mother may be coming back to it.

[G-freegal12]

I candled the egg on Day 3-5ish it was dead.

[Jestgar]

sad. at least you tried

[mommida]

Sorry to hear that.

You tried! You stepped out of the box and learned something new. Life lessons aren't always easy.

[ravenwoodglass]

I candled the egg on Day 3-5ish it was dead.

I'm sorry you lost the egg, if it was abandoned it may have been gone before you even found it.

If this should happen again call your local DEC and ask to be put in touch with a wildlife rehabilitator. They will be able to tell you how to care for it and if you can legally do so. Many breeds of birds are protected and you could be fined for trying to save it without permission. Years ago I was able to get special permission to hand raise a song bird since the WR didn't have the time or space. Without that permission I could actually have been arrested for having it. It was a great feeling to transfer him to an outdoor open top cage and watch him fly away a few days later after weeks of every 2 hour around the clock feedings.