Q&A for How to Tell if Duck Eggs Are Dead or Alive

Yes. A duckling's incubation period is about a month.

Absolutely. They have a richer flavor than chicken eggs, which some people really like.

Shadows at the tip of the egg are okay, the chick probably is just starting to grow.

Some duck eggs fail to be fertilized, and occasionally an embryo will die in the early stages of fertility.

It is. By 45 days, the eggs are dead.

Ducks aren't very happy nesters, so the answer to this should be no. I have had experience with ducks and have learned that when disturbed, they may just scatter the eggs and leave the nest. if you want to still hatch the eggs, try putting them under a broody chicken hen. I recommend you do this to all your duck eggs, because ducks really don't care about their eggs like chickens do, and will possibly forget about them and leave them behind.

Check the article Make a Simple Homemade Incubator for Chicks for instructions on making your own incubator.

Yes, sometimes they take up to 30-35 days. It really depends on the chick, but if they haven't hatched by day 40, they are probably not viable.

Put the eggs in an incubator as quickly as possible (you can easily find an online tutorial to quickly make your own DIY chicken egg incubator), and leave them in there until they hatch. Then, but them in a brooder (a tall sided box or, preferably, your bathtub) and raise them in there. Give them constant access to medicated starter feed and water, and fill up the bathtub, sink, kiddie pool, etc multip!e times per day to let them swim and bathe themselves. Once they are mature they will need a coop and something to swim in, and will need adult feed instead of starter.

You should wait until day 40; if they haven't hatched by then, they would be considered dead. If they start emitting an odor, they are confirmed to be dead.

You can incubate the eggs, but proceed with caution. Mother ducks often do not sit on the eggs until all are laid. If there is no sign of the mother returning, you can incubate them.

Return the egg but be cautious. When the mallard comes back, it might abandon the nest, which could result in the egg becoming your responsibility.

You can try candling, where you shine a light behind the egg. Inside the egg, you should see a big dot moving or pulsating with veins spreading out. If it is moving, keep the egg warm.

The egg is likely infertile. Once the chicks hatch, they can walk, so the mother and chicks probably left the nest.

If you see veins, it might have been alive, but it likely isn't anymore since it was in the refrigerator and could have frozen.

It's hard to say whether or not it's alive, but do incubate it just in case. It takes about 28 days to hatch. If your incubator doesn't have an automatic humidifier, but does have a humidity scale, you can put a small bowl of water in the incubator for humidity.

The egg could still be alive, but it's uncertain. Try "candling" the egg by holding it in front of a bright light in an otherwise dark room to look for an embryo or movement. If the egg is warm, it may be viable, but if it's cold, the embryo might not have survived. Keep the egg warm with a heat lamp or incubator, and contact a wildlife expert for guidance.

Keep them incubated until the rest of the eggs hatch. That's the best way to try to keep them alive.

No, you should wait ten days. If the cracked egg has an odor, it's dead. I recommend doing a float test on the other eggs after ten days of incubation and a smell test for the cracked one.

It's likely infertile, meaning it contains just the yolk and does not have a developing embryo.

I can't confirm definitively, but try placing the egg in a shallow plate to see if it moves around the 20-25 day mark.

No, duck eggs incubating for two weeks should not be left without heat for 24 hours. Heat is essential for embryo development, and exposure to low temperatures can halt development or cause death. Maintain a consistent temperature of around 99° or 100°F during incubation. If you must stop incubation temporarily, keep the eggs in a warm environment and restore heat promptly.

If a Mama Mallard has abandoned her nest, first check if the eggs are warm. If they're cold, the embryos may not be viable. If warm, try using a heat lamp or incubator at 99-100°F. Contact a local wildlife rescue for guidance, as they can offer help and follow local wildlife guidelines.

If your duck has been sitting on her eggs for 6 weeks, the incubation period is usually around 28 days. If there are no signs of hatching, the eggs may not be viable. You don’t need to force her off the nest, but you can check the eggs. If they feel cold or smell bad, they’re likely no longer good, and you should remove them. If the eggs are still warm and she’s still incubating, you can let her continue. You might also want to consult a wildlife expert or vet for advice based on her behavior and the eggs' condition.

It’s unlikely that the mother duck will return to the nest after leaving with her chicks, especially if she has already started leading them away. Ducks typically move their ducklings to safer areas once they hatch. If you're concerned about recently abandoned eggs, consider contacting a local wildlife rescue or rehabilitation center for guidance. If the eggs are still warm and viable, they might assist you in caring for them. If the eggs are cold, they are likely no longer viable.

If a mallard hen laid an egg on your pool deck and left, the egg may not hatch unless she continues to incubate it. A chick warmer or heat lamp could help keep the egg warm, but you’d need to maintain a temperature of around 99-100°F in a safe, quiet area to avoid stressing the egg. Since they always return, she might come back to incubate the egg. It's a good idea to consult a local wildlife expert for further guidance.

The mother may have relocated them due to perceived danger. Ducks sometimes relocate their eggs if they feel the original nest is at risk. However, if the eggs are left out in the open and the mother hasn’t returned to them, they might be abandoned. Ducks usually don’t leave their eggs unattended for long. You can monitor the area to see if the mother comes back to incubate the eggs. If not, the eggs may no longer be viable. It’s a good idea to contact a local wildlife expert for advice on what to do next.

Yes, the duckling in that egg is most likely departed. However, leave the egg in the incubator until the other eggs have hatched, as the duckling may be alive, after all.

It is up to you, however, it may be more distressing for the mother if you remove them. Ducks can handle wet weather and she chose the nesting site for a reason.

You can still incubate the eggs, but you need to get the eggs away from the duck first (which can sometimes prove to be challenging). I would recommend, however, that you let your duck do the sitting. It is much easier to let the duck take care of the eggs than to incubate.