Man Hatches Mystery Egg, Raises Duckling Named Spike

Finding a single egg sitting alone in the dirt isn't something most people encounter on a walk. But for Irish author and broadcaster Riyadh Khalaf, that moment in Devon, England became the beginning of an unforgettable journey.

With no nest or mother bird in sight, Riyadh knew the egg wouldn't survive on its own. He carefully placed it in a paper cup and began the long trip back to London, complete with two car rides, a hotel stay, a train, a tube, and a bus.

Drawing on his experience breeding chickens and pigeons, Riyadh ordered an incubator from Amazon. The device would mimic the warmth of a mother bird, giving the egg a fighting chance to develop.

For 28 days, he watched the egg transform. Movement appeared, then an eye, then the outline of a beak. His excitement grew with each discovery as he devoured everything he could learn about ducks.

When the shell finally cracked, the hatching process took 29 hours. Ducklings must break free on their own, turning inside the egg to detach the umbilical cord naturally.

At 4:51 in the morning, Riyadh woke to soft tweets. A wet, tiny duckling stared back at him. He named him Spike.

Riyadh created "Duckingham Palace," a setup designed for Spike's physical and mental health. Ducklings can actually die from poor mental health when isolated from other ducks, so he used mirrors, stuffed duck surrogates, and recorded duck sounds to prepare Spike for life with his own species.

He taught Spike to forage, swim, and eat proper duck nutrition like plants, insects, seeds, and grains. He took him to parks and gave him outdoor experiences while carefully avoiding making Spike see him as his mother.

After 89 days together, Spike moved to a rehabilitation center where he joined a flock. Within weeks, his signature mallard colors emerged as he matured into a healthy adult duck.

Sunny's Take

Riyadh's story reminds us that compassion doesn't require a grand gesture. Sometimes it starts with noticing something small and vulnerable and choosing to care. His dedication to preparing Spike for a natural duck life, rather than keeping him as a pet, shows the deepest kind of love: the kind that lets go.

Spike learned to fly at the rehabilitation center and now thrives with his flock, carrying the gift of a second chance that began with one person's curiosity and care.