Mandarin ducks cracking their eggs!!

[judsenn]

Both my ducks seem to be crushing and cracking their own eggs. Separate nesting boxes. I grabbed 2 of 6 out of the one ducks nest (the other 4 were fine) All 6 are moving and I can see their little beaks in the air cell. So any day now I'm hoping to have little ones running around. However the 2 that have the hairline cracking throughout have extremely large air cells. And one of the 2 looks as if the duckling actually made an external pip...BUT ITS AT THE WRONG END!!! Just looking to see if anyone's had experience with this and and tips that could lead to a successful hatch. I hate thinking that if I do nothing they'll both just die. And lastly... are my ducks just fat or what?? This is their 2nd clutch bc I had to remove their 1st set due to the cracks!!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

@BirdsBeesTrees.
I’ve heard you can seal the cracks with a bit of melted and unscented candle wax.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

@BirdsBeesTrees.
I’ve heard you can seal the cracks with a bit of melted and unscented candle wax.

That's true, but they are so close to hatch time I almost wouldn't do it now.

 

[judsenn]

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

So cute! Congrats!!!