Mallard duck egg question!

[skiwee]

I found this mallard duck egg alone on the concrete pool deck. I had a couple of mallards hanging out at my pool for weeks and she would leave random eggs around so I decided to attempt to incubate it. So we are on day 19 of when I placed it in incubator. I have candled it a few times and always see growth and lots of movement. Amazing! So I hadn't candled it in 4 or 5 days and decided to take a peek tonight. The egg contents are very dark. I see veining and an air sack on the end. And lots of veins in the egg. Its just that the egg now has very little clear to it? Last time I looked it seemed half of it was clean and other half was yoke and baby. Now it seems whole thing is dark but for the air sack and a tiny portion of the white. Rest looks dark red in there. I do see movement. Is this normal? I thought I saw a small vein that looked like it was leaky or had a blood clot in it? Not sure if its my imagination or not. Is any of this normal or am I losing my little duckling?

 

[Luvduck]

Movement is very good! That means the baby is going to come soon. Yes you will see veins and they should be very obvious. But that's very good! Good job! Just remember not to open it when your getting close to hatch date. That's lockdown time.

 

[skiwee]

Thank you! I relit it while it was in the incubator and saw that indeed there was still a large section of clear. It's just when I turned it it kept moving out of my view. The duckling was still active and I got to see the veins a lot better. Made sure I didn't take or move it that time but was worried it was dead. I do think the air sack isn't as big as it could be at 19 days. I am going to run out and get a spray bottle tomorrow to start misting it a bit and hope it helps. Thanks again!