Dropped and cracked an egg while candling

[AmyLang]

Curious as to thoughts from anyone with experience or knowledge on the subject. We are entering day 18...so I did a final candling. While doing so, I dropped an egg and it cracked on the air sac end. No fluids leaking, and I put it right back into the incubator. I will watch it closely for the next couple of days. Is it safe to leave in there? And any chance it can survive? I "thought" that I saw movement in the egg right after it happened and I had closed up the incubator...but I'm not sure. If I need to take it out, I want to do so before I risk the hatch of the others...

 

[MapleLeaf86]

I've read before that people use things like a small amount of candle wax to seal cracks, as it prevents bacteria from entering and can still be easily cracked by the chick. I'm still new so I have no experience trying it myself.

 

[Impress]

I paint cracks with Elmer's Glue and a paintbrush, put it back in once it is dry. The rule is though if it hatches you have to name it Elmer.

 

[AmyLang]

The crack (actually a few cracks) is a big enough crack to almost see into the egg....It isn't just a small crack. Would it still be safe to do this?

 

[Impress]

Okay, all I have is my own experience with this, so I will tell you what has happened to me. I had a duck egg get caught in my turner, I hadn't put the rack back on the shelf right and it got caught and crunch! This was a day before lockdown.

It managed to pip, but the inner membrane was so dry from the crack, it was trapped in there, shrink wrapped.

If I could do it over again, I would have watched that one like a hawk, and as soon as it made a pip on that inner membrane, I would have been wetting it regularly and slowly peeling it off and out. It was SO dry. I think the crack just let it get too super dry in the air cell and spelled its doom.

 

[AmyLang]

Thank you for the info! I have been trying to come up with a way to do something similar. I'm curious about a tube through the vent with a small syringe to keep it wet when it gets to that point?? That is...if it ever does get to that point. hmmmmmm.....

My original thought was that I had just killed the chick. But...the more I thought about it. If it hasn't broken through, and IF the cracks are at the air sac only, then there might be a chance for it???

 

[MapleLeaf86]

My original thought was that I had just killed the chick. But...the more I thought about it. If it hasn't broken through, and IF the cracks are at the air sac only, then there might be a chance for it???

Until you know otherwise, I'd always assume it's alive. Animals sometimes show to be amazingly strong.

 

[AmyLang]

Thank you...I'm hoping. Keeping fingers crossed. And sidenote...I didn't think it was immediately dead...but prognosis-wise...figured that I had just determined it's fate...

 

[AmyLang]

The egg is still moving a bit here and there. I have about 5 of them wiggling around just a bit...so this is a good sign.

 

[MapleLeaf86]

Yay! Hang in there little egg (and Amy!)