Q&A for How to Create an Egg Incubator for Wild Bird Eggs

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How can I know if there is anything in the egg?

Community Answer

If you candle it -- put a flashlight up to the egg in a dark room to see what is happening inside it -- you should be able to see something in it. It is easier to tell if the egg is older because you can tell if the baby inside is moving or not.

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Question

If the wild egg is cold, will it still have a chance to survive?

Community Answer

It depends on how long the egg has been cold for. The longer it has been cold for, the less likely it will be to survive. If it has been cold for only a very short period of time, however, it may survive.

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Question

Is there anything I can substitute for a heating lamp?

Community Answer

A heating lamp is ideal, as nothing else can replicate the temperature it provides. If you don't have one, you could try a regular lamp, or a heated blanket to keep it warm.

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Question

Can I use the sun as a heat source for incubating eggs instead of a heat lamp?

Community Answer

Probably not, because the average incubating temperature for avian eggs is about 90 to 100 degrees. The sun is usually not that hot, and even if it were, the heat would not be consistent.

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Question

I found an egg in two inches of water near a lake. What should I do?

Community Answer

You should keep it under a lamp that is on. Also, remember to wrap it in a towel, and refer to the steps in this article.

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Question

Can I incubate my budgie's eggs?

Community Answer

If your budgie is able to incubate her own eggs, then I would let her do it as an incubator might be too hot.

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Question

Will a wooden box work instead of a shoe box?

Community Answer

I think it would work. In fact, since it has thicker walls, it might work better.

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Question

Could the egg ever get too hot? I live in a desert, and I don't want my house sparrow to die.

Community Answer

Never put eggs in direct sunlight. It will lower the humidity and kill the unhatched bird.

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Question

Will this work to hatch chicks as well?

Community Answer

For chicks, it would work better without the water. The only reason water is added for wild bird eggs is because ducks, geese, etc. are all water birds, so they need to have more humidity during incubation.

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Question

How long will it take to hatch a wild bird egg after I put it in the incubator?

12pups

Community Answer

It depends on what type of egg it is.

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Question

I found an egg at my home they are cold for two days can I hatch them also they are of blue color

Community Answer

If the egg was outside of the nest, it is probably not viable. The parents could have kicked it out, or it could have been dropped by a predator.

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Question

How long will it take to hatch a robin egg?

Community Answer

Around 14 days (2 weeks) in the wild. Probably about the same with the incubator.

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Question

Is there anything I can do to save an egg that is cracked?

Community Answer

Yes. Depending on how badly the egg is cracked, you can melt an unscented candle and drip the melted wax on the cracks.

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Question

Does this apply to robin eggs as well?

Community Answer

It should. Check temperatures for specific species, as well as humidity. Robins are delicate birds. The best thing to do when you find bird eggs is to leave them where they are.

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Question

Can I use the nest I found the eggs in?

Community Answer

Yes, you probably can. Just be careful as nests are rather fragile. Also, make sure that the birds are not coming back before you take it.

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Question

I have two love birds. The female layed eggs today, but she pushed them out of the next and broke them? Why would she do this?

12pups

Community Answer

She probably did that accidentally. The next time she lays eggs, try to keep the eggs in a safer place, like on a pillow in a high spot that only you can reach.

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Question

Is a light blue egg a robin's egg?

Community Answer

Most likely. It could also be a bluebird egg.

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Question

Can I use a small plastic bin instead of a shoe box?

Community Answer

I don't see why not. Treat it like a glass fish tank and check the temperature more often.

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Question

Will the egg survive if I'm not within reach of it for a couple of days?

Community Answer

They need constant warmth and rotation. If you are unable to keep the warmth and rotation of the egg, the chances are very slim for survival.

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Question

How long does it take robins to hatch?

Community Answer

It takes 12 to 14 days after the last egg is laid. The temperature for the egg needs to be kept at 90 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit and only for 50 minutes every hour with rotating the egg 3 times a day.

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Question

What does it mean if one egg is soft on the outside?

Lindsey Jo Walker

Community Answer

Most of the time, if the egg doesn't have a hard shell on the outside, it means the chicken that laid it isn't getting enough calcium in her diet.

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Question

I found a mourning dove egg on my porch. I do not have an incubator but I do have 4 white doves, do you think my female would sit on them if they aren't her eggs?

Community Answer

if she already has eggs that are at the same stage of development as your egg, she will not care if you slip one more in to the nest without her knowing.

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Question

How often do you turn the egg because I have to be at school for 7 hours

Community Answer

It depends on the species. Some eggs need to be rotated every 4 to 6 hours. Some species of shore birds need rotation twice an hour.

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Question

I found a nest of seagull eggs, but I'm still in school. What should I do?

Community Answer

Leave the nest be so the parent birds can care for the eggs. If you already moved it, the parents may reject the nest, and you should call animal control, a nearby animal welfare facility, or shelter.

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Question

What is the temperature to hatch wild bird eggs?

Community Answer

It depends on the type of bird that you are trying to hatch. Research the needs of your eggs online.

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Question

How do I get eggs to hatch in an egg incubator?

Community Answer

Put them in the incubator then turn it on.

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Question

What if you only have one egg?

Community Answer

Just follow the steps, but there will be a smaller chance of a chick hatching.

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Question

I have a bird house in my yard and I found very small, cold blue eggs. Might they survive?

Community Answer

It depends on how old the eggs are. Younger eggs can still be hatched if they were exposed to cold. Older eggs however, have a lesser chance of surviving. This is because the already-developed embryo in an older egg may not survive cold temperatures, but if the embryo has not developed that much, it will start developing when it gets warmer.

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Question

What else I can use as a heat source?

Community Answer

A heat lamp is the best thing to use. Your bird may have a low chance of survival when trying to use something else.

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Question

I have a quail egg from the refrigerator, will it survive?

Community Answer

Most eggs that have been refrigerated will not be able to hatch because of the low temperature they were exposed to. In addition, many eggs are not fertilized by male birds, so they have no possibility to hatch.

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