Is a duck egg that was just laid but is half soft viable?

[Animallover903]

We have two ducks, one male, one female. I watched the female lay an egg and then abandon it outside. I grabbed a towel and nestled the egg in the towel but noticed that half of the egg is soft whereas the other half is hard like a normal egg. Does this mean that the egg is unable to be hatched? Or can it be hatched with specific care instructions?

 

[QueenMisha]

I personally don't recommend ever setting any eggs of any species which are not in perfect condition. Weird shells, cracks, and even being excessively dirty are all things that would cause me to throw an egg out. Most likely what is going to occur is the soft part will dry out within a few hours of incubation. Even if the embryo does begin to develop, it likely won't last long.