Posted on May 09, 2006 at 16:30:18:

Question:
HI Chuck
We live in a 'Duck' Town - Mallards I assume... and mama and papa have been hanging around my house... I just found her nest, next to my house under a shrub - with what appears to be an egg under cover. Mama is not there anymore.... but she and hubby are still around the neighborhood. Can the egg be left alone or has she abandoned it? I assumed that she needed to sit on top of it until it hatched. Should I keep an eye on it or will she return to it??

Answer:
Poultry do not start setting until they have a whole nest of eggs. That way, they all start to incubate on the same day and hatch on the same day (hopefully). Sometimes they will start a nest and abandon it because many of the first eggs laid are not fertile. To check for a fertile egg, hold in front of a strong flashlight and see if you see any veins or formation of the bird. (this is called candling as they used to use the light of a candle).