New to this, hathcing without incubator?

[Aelrift]

So, I found this Muscovy egg (how do I know it's a Muscovy egg? Well it was near a muscovy nest but I guess the duck had too many eggs/ it rolled away, but I couldn't get it back into the nest, the duck wouldn't let me) so I took it with me, and well, I'm trying to hatch it. I'm just a poor college student so I can't really afford an incubator atm, especially since this is just a one-time thing. I think it's going pretty well, it's been 4-5 days now, the egg is alive and well, but I'm a bit worried as I saw all these things that are supposed to be done (specific temperature, humidity, checking the weight etc...) and I have done none of these things.
Right now the way I'm providing heat to it is to simply have it in a small round container that fits it with some fluffy feathers I found near the duck's nest, rolled in a socked with my laptop's charger on top of it to heat it. It's a cheap solution I know but that's the best I can come up with. I wanted to know if anyone had any tips for me or a better solution.
I'm misting the egg once-twice a day, turning it an uneven number of times too. I think it's about 12-14 days old since I saw the nest a week prior t finding the eggs then had it for 4-5 days.

I'm also trying to reproduce the condition it might be under in the wild, (taking off the battery from times to time as if the mother left to get food etc) idk if it'll work but any and every advice is greatly appreciated

 

[featheredplanets]

I know it sounds harsh, but personally, I’d let the egg die.
That egg is from wild birds, it could be carrying anything and it’s not the same as domesticated blood lines. It’ll be a single chick, which is a no no, it needs wild duckling friends. What will you do with it when it grows up into a eating/pooping machine?
Whether you could have a succesful hatch, I don’t know, but in my books taking a wild egg, abandoned or not, is wrong.
I’m sorry if this was harsh.

 

[Aelrift]

I know it sounds harsh, but personally, I’d let the egg die.
That egg is from wild birds, it could be carrying anything and it’s not the same as domesticated bloodlines. It’ll be a single chick, which is a no-no, it needs wild duckling friends. What will you do with it when it grows up into an eating/pooping machine?
Whether you could have a successful hatch, I don’t know, but in my books taking a wild egg, abandoned or not, is wrong.
I’m sorry if this was harsh.

Harsh is fine. I've raised two wild ducklings from when they were no more than 3 days old, who had been abandoned by their mother, and I've had people make "harsh" comment up until they were adults and released. Now they're wild and perfectly fine. So I know what I'll do with it when it hatches. If I hadn't taken it would have died, why should I let it die when I can take it and let it live?

I knew people would answer something like this though... it's always what they answer. "Let it die, it's better for it" Funnily enough that what people said when I took in the two ducklings " they won't survive" "They'd rather be dead and wild than alive and captive"
Yet now they're grown, they fly, eat, mate, sleep just like all the other wild ducks. And I'm sure they wouldn't be if I had listened to everyone that said "let them die"

 

[featheredplanets]

Whilst it sounds great, wild birds need raising by wild parents. They learn absolutely invaluable life skills and survival necessities from their parents, they simply can’t get from us. A lone duckling is harder than two ducklings, this will be a duckling raised in solely human company, never seen ducks before, hasn’t learned the skills it needs. IMO, it’s just wrong. Domestic ducks are here for you to experiment hatching with and raise, nature shouldn’t be played with.
Those two ducklings would be alive because there are wildlife sanctuaries there for wild animals; though they’d give the same opinion on letting the egg die, they may try to put it with another nest, you never know.

 

[Aelrift]

Whilst it sounds great, wild birds need raising by wild parents. They learn absolutely invaluable life skills and survival necessities from their parents, they simply can’t get from us. A lone duckling is harder than two ducklings, this will be a duckling raised in solely human company, never seen ducks before, hasn’t learned the skills it needs. IMO, it’s just wrong. Domestic ducks are here for you to experiment hatching with and raise, nature shouldn’t be played with.
Those two ducklings would be alive because there are wildlife sanctuaries there for wild animals; though they’d give the same opinion on letting the egg die, they may try to put it with another nest, you never know.

?? Nature shouldn't be played with? I'm not playing. I asked for helpful advice. This is everything but helpful. I'm not even going to argue with you because you refuse to listen

 

[featheredplanets]

?? Nature shouldn't be played with? I'm not playing. I asked for helpful advice. This is everything but helpful. I'm not even going to argue with you because you refuse to listen

Excuse me? I’ve been listening, gave you my opinion and advice, which I’m fully entitled to do.
“Playing with nature”, what I mean by that is, it’s not okay to just take an abandoned wild egg, whether it’s alive or not, attempt to hatch it and raise it improperly which will hinder it’s life and probably get it killed someday.
Did you even read what I wrote?

 

[Hopin4raon]

I am SUPER new so I don’t have any good advice for you. Hopefully some other duck mamas can make other suggestions.

I understand. I am the same way where I can’t just let something die. I rescued 2 tiny baby birds while in college that fell out of the nest. The lawn cutter out at work barely missed them, so I scooped them up before he came back around. I raised them for 2 weeks until they were old enough to fly away.

Good luck! Is there a wildlife rescue center near you that might take it or maybe a farm nearby that has a brooding hen or duck that might be willing to take it. My biggest concern is that baby ducks don’t like to be alone.

I think I’ve read on here about people doing homemade incubators with styrofoam coolers. You might look into that.

Have you candled the egg at all to see if there is anything alive in there?

 

[Rocky Rhodes]

Good luck. I would try to find an incubator. A little giant still air from TSC is less than $50.00, and you might find one cheaper on Craigslist. Temperature and humidity is critical for success. Whatever you do, Good Luck. A chance at life, no matter how small the chance, is always a more intelligent choice than not having the courage or good sense to try. Don't be discouraged by "Know nothing, Know it alls".

 

[featheredplanets]

Don't be discouraged by "Know nothing, Know it alls"

This is obviously implied at me, like I said, I’m entitled to my opinion, my opinion is simply thinking of what’s best for the possible duckling what could hatch. It would be far different if I’d said “let it die because you’re an awful person for doing that and it’s disgusting to - blah blah blah”. Never did I imply that, I stated, imo, what would be best for the WILD, possible, duckling, my opinion would very much differ if this was a domestic line we were talking about.

* Not to mention, it is illegal to take or possess wild bird eggs in the UK, no matter their condition. I’m assuming it’s the same in the States.

 

[Rooster G]

Right onya! I love it. You can warm it with a simple heating pad, warm water bottles, sock with rice, light bulb - all have been done. Either way it will be be a great learning experience. Keep inquiry alive and go for it.