Mallard duck egg

[Miskee]

We live on a lake and a pair of mallard ducks abandoned an egg on our dock. We never saw them again and eventually brought the egg in because we have many wild animals that would have eaten it before the Night was up. We have had it under a heat lamp and have been flipping it and checking temperature regularly. I wanted to know what you have to say about what to if it does end up hatching? What should we feed it from day one? Will it eat by itself? And drink? Should we try to help it walk after a few days or will it learn without help? This is all hypothetical if it does hatch we do want it to survive. We are on day 18 and the egg has begun to leak. What do we do? If anyone knows help us out

 

[Ratchnick]

It wont hatch without an incubator. You cant controll temp and humidity well enough without one.

 

[Miskee]

It wont hatch without an incubator. You cant controll temp and humidity well enough without one.

We have essentially made an incubator with a heat lame plastic container and we’ve kept it moist. I understand it won’t be perfect but is there a chance it could still live. We can no longer see anything through shining a light through it.

 

[Isaac 0]

Welcome to BYC!

You don't see any movement?

 

[Miskee]

It

Welcome to BYC!

You don't see any movement?

Its hard to tell. I can’t see the light through it except for the smaller end though

 

[21hens-incharge]

Leaking? That sounds like an egg bomb not a developing embryo....

Is it smelling bad?

 

[Miskee]

Leaking? That sounds like an egg bomb not a developing embryo....

Is it smelling bad?

No. Liquid is coming out of a few places. It all started happening today

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you post a couple pics of the leakage?

 

[Ratchnick]

Unless you have been maintaining temp between about 98 and 105 with a calibrated thermometer your probably not going to hatch. If its dark inside then its fairly advanced in development.

 

[Miskee]

Unless you have been maintaining temp between about 98 and 105 with a calibrated thermometer your probably not going to hatch. If its dark inside then its fairly advanced in development.

We have. We check the temperature like 4-5 times per day and have kept it between That temperature trying to keep it as close to 99° as possible. And day 18 should be pretty advanced right? There is an air pocket on one end