Betsy Ross saved a cracked duck egg whose nest was smashed. She kept it in her bra for 35 days, hatched it, and took care of it as her own.
Found destroyed duck nests
Ross told ABC's Localish that she went out to play pickleball and found that some kids busted up fences, cracking open duck nests. Her kids were upset upon seeing the destroyed nest of the ducks, so they asked her to save the lone egg that has a slight crack, Ross told Bored Panda.
Without experience in hatching eggs and having no budget to buy an incubator, Ross called the local wildlife place for help. Sadly, they do not take eggs, so Ross researched to know what best to do with the egg. She found that the egg needs a warm and moist place to hatch.
This woman saved a baby duck by keeping an egg in her bra for 35 days! pic.twitter.com/KYNTd98fVh — Localish (@localish) May 11, 2020
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Kept in her bra for warmth and moisture
She decided to put the egg in her bra for warmth and used her boob sweat as moisture. She rotated the egg four to five times a day.
Ross took time off from work, to carry the egg in her bra for 35 days. She slept with it, and only leaves it to her husband when she goes to shower. She found that the egg needed more moisture, so she set up a DIY hatching box. Inside, it had a lamp, gallon baggies, a plastic container, a bowl of water, and lots of tapes.
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Half-way out
After 35 days, Ross heard the beak pushing out of the lining. She waited for one day but feared that something was wrong, so she called the vet. The vet told her that she had to slowly peel the shell and avoid veins because it was being shrink-wrapped by the egg membrane. The duckling got out half-way, but it was still connected to the yolk at the egg's bottom.
Ross found out that an unstable warm temperature caused the premature cracking of the egg. Ross wet a paper towel and wrapped it around the shell with the yolk. She also put a Neosporin to prevent infection.
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The duckling came out healthy
One day, Ross woke up and the duckling was walking. She lets him swim in the tub and mud puddles, then naps with her during the day. She took him places using a little carrier. The duckling would scream and follow her when he hears Ross' voice, then sits and cries when he realizes Ross left him at home.
Ross does rescue work from time to time, so she contacted one of her connections. It helped her find a nearby little rescue farm. She shared that the duck is doing well and now has a new human girl who loves him. They now call the lucky duckling Thawne.
