Dead duckling day 22, organs outside body.

[DannLi]

Hi, i'm currently incubating duck eggs for the first time, we're now on day 22 and up to yet everything has run smooth.
This morning i candled the eggs and noticed one embyo wasn't moving so i waited a while and candled again...nothing!
I then popped into into a glass of water and again it was still so at this point i knew it had died.
This particular egg did have an hairline crack from day one which i sealed with wax...last week i noticed a black spot forming at the bottom of the crack, does anyone know what this was?
Also after opening the egg today to see what was going on i was shocked...all the ducklings organs were on the outside of its body...heart included, so the poor baby it stood no chance at all.
Does anyone know what could have caused this problem?
I'm really nervous for the remaining 4.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Normally viscera outside the body is the result of high temperature throughout incubation or lethal genes.
However, in this case, it is possible the crack allowed bacteria to enter.
I've found that using liquid skin bandage is a better sealant than wax.
It is antiseptic and doesn't inhibit hatching.

 

[DannLi]

The temperature has been at a steady 37.5 throughout, so i'm assuming the introduction of bacteria may have caused the problem...thank you for the tip i will definitely get some liquid bandage in for future eggs.
i never thought hatching our own eggs would be so stressful, i'm sure i'll lose a lot of sleep this next 6 days waiting for the safe arrival of our remaining babies.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Is the thermometer guaranteed accurate or has recently calibrated?

Were the eggs set on different days (staggered hatch)?

 

[DannLi]

Yes my dad calibrated the thermometer for me and i also have another in there to make double sure, they both give the exact same reading.
No they were all set on the same day....i don't know about staggering hatching?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Then perhaps the embryo just wasn't fully formed since it was early.