Help!! I can’t tell if my duck has died!

[dharris031]

This is my first time hatching Mallard duck eggs. One out of two of my eggs has already hatched and is perfectly healthy. But the other, I’m very uncertain! Candling him, I could see him moving on day 23. It is now day 26. There is no moving, no pipping, and no quacking. I did the float test and he laid horizontally, mostly submerged but still had 1/4 above the water. The touch of is egg is somewhat warm. Not nearly as warm as he was before. I don’t smell anything fowl. I’m not sure what this means. Will he be okay? Or should I plan a ducky funeral?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The float test might have killed it.

 

[dharris031]

The float test might have killed it.

He wasn’t moving before I did the float test. I’m not sure if that means anything. But for educational purposes how could the float test kill it?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Eggshells are porous otherwise the baby inside couldn’t get air. Water can also pass through it. Hopefully you didn’t hurt the baby as an internal pip would be in the air sac which is the part out of the water. I would give the egg a day or two and see what happens.

 

[Floof]

Unless you soaked this egg for hours or it had externally pipped, you didn't drown it.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Do not put a hatching egg in water. The hatching journey is a learning one. I learned from each hatch and you will too. It's both a fun filled and heartbreaking journey.