Q&A for How to Hatch a Mallard Duck Egg

Female ducks will not incubate their eggs until they have a clutch (normally 12 - 15 eggs). From the sounds of it, she might be already forming a clutch of eggs. She will visit every day to lay a single egg until she is happy with her collection of eggs.

7 - 12 years in the wild, 15 - 20 in captivity.

Yes, but some species of ducks take a shorter or longer amount of time to hatch.

Yes, and making your own incubator comes up much cheaper than buying one. Visit the wikiHow article How to Make a Simple Homemade Incubator for Chicks .

Without the warmth of an incubator, the chances of an unborn chick surviving is very slim, especially after being abandoned for 5 days.

Yes. As long as the chicken stays on the eggs and is being fed often. She will stay on the eggs as her parental instincts will kick in.

Those eggs must not be fertile. If they don't hatch around 28-30 days, then they are bad. Try candling them to see what's going on in there.

If the ducks are within the same species, then yes. Different species may have slight differences, but it will still be close to 28 days.

Not with any real success. Duck eggs are notoriously difficult to achieve high hatch rates with. The eggs need a stable temperature of 99.5 F for days 1-25 with a relative humidity of 55%. For days 26-28, the temperature should be at 98 F with a relative humidity of 65%.

No. Just check your local wildlife laws.

No. This will cool them down to much. But always check with the seller of the eggs.

On average, 28 - 35 days, depending on species.

Small seeds, crushed mealworms, crushed hard-boiled egg, and crushed grapes are all fine. Don't give them anything large they might choke on, and make sure to provide fresh water.

No, the eggs would be bad after a few weeks; you have a window of about 10 days.

It's hard to say whether they'll hatch, but she should turn them large end up as it says in the article above.

Put them in a brooder when they're dry with a heat lamp, food and water. They will get up in about an hour.

She should return within an hour. Ducks fly from predators but usually stay close to the nest to keep an eye on things. She may try to find food in the meantime, but will return soon to continue incubation.

The ducklings will begin to crack their shells 1-2 days before actually hatching, and peeps and noises will be heard. If the mother duck is the one incubating (as in, the eggs are not in an incubator), then she will begin to vocalize so that they imprint together. All the successful eggs should hatch within 24 hours, and the ducklings will dry off in a few hours after hatching. They will rest for up to 10-12 hours, then begin feeding as they leave the nest with their mother. She will lead them to water soon after.

The wire mesh bottom is fine. In nature the eggs will be on their sides, not standing on end, while the mother is sitting on them. Just roll them carefully so they don't bump each other and crack. I've used this type of incubator. Right now I'm using a wire baking rack.

Yes, it's an exploding egg by the sounds of things, the smell can be quite putrid.

To determine the age of your mallard eggs, you can "candle" them by holding the egg up to a bright light in a dark room. In the first 1-7 days, the egg will be mostly clear with a small dark spot. After 7-14 days, you’ll see blood vessels. By 14-21 days, the egg will appear darker, and you’ll see the developing duckling. As the egg nears hatching, it will be mostly dark with an air sac visible at the wide end.

It's best to avoid using the dryer to prevent disturbing the nest. The noise and heat can stress the mother and may cause her to leave. If you must use it, try to do so when the hen isn’t nearby, but it's safest to avoid using it while she’s nesting. You can also contact a wildlife expert for more advice.

Use a large plastic storage container or a kiddie pool as a temporary space. If you have outdoor access, set up a simple pen with inexpensive fencing or chicken wire. Use straw, hay, or wood shavings for bedding, and provide food and water containers. To save money, consider asking local farms or animal shelters for extra supplies or advice.

It can survive if cared for properly. Keep it warm at 99° to 100°F and maintain humidity at 60 to 70%. If the crack is small, you can seal it with tape to prevent contamination. Monitor for signs of life, like movement. If the egg has been abandoned for a while, it may not hatch. Contact a wildlife expert for further advice.

To hatch mallard eggs under a heat lamp, maintain a temperature of 99-100°F (37-38°C) and humidity of 60-70%. Turn the eggs three times a day, stopping three days before hatching. Watch for movement or chirping as signs of life. Avoid interfering when they start to crack. Ensure the eggs have enough room but won't roll around excessively.

Whether an egg hatches or not can depend on multiple variables, including the amount of warmth it's getting, whether it is sterile or infected with bacteria, and even whether if the egg is fertilised at all. A mallard egg should hatch in around 28 days since laying. You can also check to see if the egg has any development by shining a torch into it in a dark room. It will illuminate all the networks of veins, and you might even see a heartbeat. If you can't see anything, and it's been more than 28 days, the egg is probably dead.

If conditions are right, mallard eggs should take roughly 28 days to hatch, give or take. In a clutch of eggs, all eggs should hatch within 24 hours of the first one.

Ducks that are incubating eggs cannot leave their nest for too long or they risk impeding the development of their eggs due to lack of constant heat. It also leaves her eggs at the mercy of potential predators, so she will only leave for up to an hour at a time and typically 3 or less times a day.

Yes, you can use a “surrogate” hen. You don’t need to change anything after 21 days, the hen should stay on the eggs until they hatch, and even raise them if you allow her to, which is recommended.

A wildlife rehabber or your local DNR if you're in the USA. You can search online to see who is the closest to you.