How would you react if you found an abandoned bird egg in your backyard? Would you throw it outside or take care of it? Maybe the mother bird had died and the eggs get abandoned. You want to take care of the eggs but you don’t know the proper way to do so. In this article, we will discuss how to take care of an abandoned bird egg. So, let’s get started!
How to take care of an abandoned bird egg
1. Don’t throw:
At first, you should never throw it away. You need to pick up the egg carefully and put it back into its nest. If you are going to keep the egg for yourself, then make sure that you have enough space to store it properly. It is best to place the egg on top of some soft material such as newspaper or cotton balls. This will help protect the egg from getting damaged.
2. Handle it carefully:
The egg shell is very fragile. Therefore, you need to handle it with extreme caution. Do not touch the eggshell because it can crack easily. Instead, use a pair of soft gloves when handling the egg. Also, be careful while cleaning the egg. Use only water and soap to clean the egg. Never use harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia. These chemicals may damage the eggshell.
3. Keep warm:
If you want to hatch it, you need to keep it in a warm place or else it won’t hatch. The ideal temperature range for hatching is between 98 – 100°F. However, you can also incubate the egg at room temperature. Make sure that you provide sufficient heat by placing the egg inside a paper bag or wrapping it in a towel.
4. Check regularly:
You need to check the egg every day. This will ensure that there is no danger of the egg breaking. Once the egg starts to hatch, you need to remove the chick immediately. Usually, it takes 18 – 21 days to hatch an egg after the mother bird lays an egg.
Precaution
- Keep the egg in a safe place where the rate, cat or another animal cannot reach it.
- Be careful while handling the egg that the eggshell doesn’t crack.
- Avoid using any chemical products near the egg.
- Check the temperature frequently.
- Make sure that any hard particles that might be present around the egg are removed.
What happens if I leave an egg out in the open?
It depends on the weather conditions. If it rains, then the egg will probably get wet. As a result, the egg will lose its moisture content which could lead to mould growth. If the humidity level is high, then the egg will dry out quickly. This will cause the egg to crack and break.
Will bird eggs hatch if abandoned?
Yes, it is possible to hatch an abandoned egg. But, it needs continuous temperature and humidity levels. Humidity helps break the membrane and hatch. If these two factors are not met, then the chances of hatching decrease significantly.
How many days an abandoned egg is alive?
It depends on the temperature and humidity levels. Generally, the egg is alive for about 7-10 days.
Is it safe to keep an abandoned egg?
It is safe to keep an egg that has been left alone for less than 1 week. After that period, it becomes unsafe to keep it.
Final thought
It is very tragic to see an abandoned egg. But it is not too hard to take care of an abandoned egg. Simply just follow our above steps and you will surely hatch the abandoned egg. In this article, we have discussed how to take care of an abandoned bird egg. We hope this information will help you to take care of your own abandoned bird egg.
