Hey,

I have just acquired a tiny specled bird's egg, which was found at the end of my driveway.

I know it probably won't hatch, but I cant just throw it away! I was wondering what you thought I should do ...

... it's the hottest day of the year so far, so I could leave it on a windowsill in the sunlight, or...

... should I set up my electric blanket and keep it warm that way?

At the moment it's a little cup with tissue paper ^__^

Also do ya reckon it will actually hatch at all?!

Thanks!

anyone awake?! :O

Hey, I'm awake! I couldn't throw it away either. What I would probably do is if your elec blanket has a dial- set it on the lowest temp- like body temp- too hot could cook it- and see what happens. If it doesn't hatch, at least you tried. Also, I'd try to find the nest...

no, i don't think it will hatch.

i wouldn't try to hatch it either, unless you have experience handfeeding baby birds.

Oh, also, I was going to add, that sometimes birds have been known to push certain eggs out of their nest purposely, for one reason or another. Maybe there's too many, maybe mama bird knows that one won't be normal??? I dunno.

Sit on it.

Another issue is imprinting. Whatever the first thing the bird sees moving when it hatches is what it will think of as it's mother and will follow it around. Even if its a sponge or something. Plus, if it imprints on the wrong thing, it might never mate properly. Basically if you let it hatch and you are responsbile for it for life.

At all of the parks I vist they have pamphlets about "helping" wildlife and they generally say to leave things alone, that "helping" often makes things worse. If in doubt, call a local wildlife rehabilitation center.

ETA- http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/#aa

Remember, most species of birds are protected and therefore it is not legal to keep them unless you are licensed to do so. Beyond the legalities, these animals require specialized care and diets to grow up healthy and strong. It's important to turn them over to an experienced person as soon as possible.

In most areas, Wildlife Rehabilitation is governed by Fish & Wildlife or Wild Game agencies. Although some areas do not have established shelters for wild animals, there are rehabilitation individuals who provide home care. Again, Fish & Wildlife offices, humane societies, animal control agenies, and often state or local police will be able to provide you with phone numbers and/or addresses.
http://www.wildlifecareofventura.org/Animal%20Help%20Information%20Pages/Helping%20Birds.htm

If you are unsure if the animal is a true orphan, look over the information below, or contact a licensed rehabilitator in your area. Please do not try to raise the baby yourself:
* It's illegal
* Proper care and nutrition are crucial to the survival of the baby... We frequently have people bring in babies they have been trying to raise themselves that are now having problems from an improper diet....
* Baby animals easily imprint on whoever is feeding them and steps are needed to prevent this. An animal that is imprinted on people can never be released back into the wild.

I'd put the egg back as soon as you can. Some species of birds (killdeer, nighthawks, etc.) lay their eggs right on the ground. The mother wouldn't start incubating the eggs until the clutch was complete, so for the first few days it would just be an egg or two on the ground, appearing abandoned but not really.

Even if the egg wasn't from a ground nest (i.e. if it had fallen from somewhere or some animal had removed it from it's nest), so be it. Over half of all birds' nests get munched by predators before the young grow up. It's a normal part of life for birds, and it's best for us humans not to interfere.

Rule of thumb with animals in nature:
Leave them alone.

Often people try to help out a bird and end up doing more harm than good.

The tough thing is that in general people's intentions are good, but mother nature does better when when we leave her along to do what she does.

Thanks for all your replies...

I do have experience hand-raising baby birds, and I'm guessing this egg is from a Blackbird (not illegal to keep).

Actually I agree entirely on the point about not messing with nature, its so true. I'm not sure what to do... the nest will be high up in a holly bush, plus the egg smells of human, but I'd feel a bit bad "chucking" it!

Shall I just leave it outside somewhere? :S

"Sit on it."


Who are you ...The Fonz ?? :lol:

Thanks for all your replies...

I do have experience hand-raising baby birds, and I'm guessing this egg is from a Blackbird (not illegal to keep).

Actually I agree entirely on the point about not messing with nature, its so true. I'm not sure what to do... the nest will be high up in a holly bush, plus the egg smells of human, but I'd feel a bit bad "chucking" it!

Shall I just leave it outside somewhere? :S


quite a dilema. I'd look around for a nest and try to put it back.

I had a baby bird situation over the weekend and I called up the wildlife foundation. They said that a birds sense of smell is too weak to be able to recognize if a human has held a baby bird or not. So I assume that's the same for an egg...