26 Days Later: Miracle Duckling Hatches From Dead Mother's Egg

FAIRFIELD (CBS13) — An egg discovered in an injured duck hatched into a healthy duckling 26 days after the mother died.

At International Bird Rescue in Fairfield, they're used to nursing birds back to health, but nothing quite like this.

"At this time of year, we get a lot of baby ducks, but very few come in still inside the mother," said Michelle Bellizzi.

The story starts on a sad note.

"Apparently this mama duck was crossing a road and got hit by a car, and unfortunately broke her back," she said.

X-rays showed the duck had a broken spine, but also something else: an egg ready to be laid. Unfortunately, the mama was hurt too badly to make it, but vets removed the egg and hoped for the best.

Somehow, the egg hadn't been damaged. It sat in the incubator and a miracle happened 26 days later: a healthy duckling hatched.

"It's quite large," she said. "The smaller ducklings are cuddling up to him for protection. He looks great."

And that's how a mother duck was able to give birth almost a month after she died.

He'll be here the next few weeks before he's released back into the wild.