Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/18/2008

Question
I went to taco bell today and found outside taco bell a unhatched robin's egg just sitting on the rock decor and I picked it up with a napkin and took it home.I wrapped it up in paper towels and tissues and put it under my lamp.It does not smell rotten and I want to know how to save it and maybe where I could find an inexpensive incubator if needed.

Answer
It may or may not be fertile or viable; there is no way for you to tell. Who knows how long the egg was there or how old it is. It is VERY difficult to try to hatch and raise a wild bird's egg. Putting it under a lamp will not warm it enough.I can't tell you where to find a cheap incubator but it would probably be futile anyway. If the egg was being incubated before you found it, it is probably dead because once incubation begins and is interrupted, that usually kills the egg. If it is fertile but incubation has not begun, extremes in temperature will kill it. My best advice is to contact your local wildlife rehabilitation center for help and advice.