Duck Egg Pecked - Best Course of Action?

[Crazychickenlady05]

I have a wonderful and consistent broody sitting on 4 duck eggs. I am unsure of their exact day (my spouse let her sit and didn't document the date).

I have been checking them periodically. One has been pecked and broken. The break is in the shell only, not the membrane, and is on the opposite end of the air sac. I candled it and the duckling is still alive. It's possibly around the 26 to 27 day mark. I brought it in and put it in the incubator.

My question, what, if anything, can I do to ensure a successful hatch? I worry this hole will affect the humidity while it's trying to pip. See the photo for the hole size and location.

.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Not a bad crack, I'd probably take a chip of egg shell to cover the hole and seal it with melted candle wax. Be sure to seal all the cracks.

 

[Huntmaster]

I have a wonderful and consistent broody sitting on 4 duck eggs. I am unsure of their exact day (my spouse let her sit and didn't document the date).

I have been checking them periodically. One has been pecked and broken. The break is in the shell only, not the membrane, and is on the opposite end of the air sac. I candled it and the duckling is still alive. It's possibly around the 26 to 27 day mark. I brought it in and put it in the incubator.

My question, what, if anything, can I do to ensure a successful hatch? I worry this hole will affect the humidity while it's trying to pip. See the photo for the hole size and location.

View attachment 3862167.

Looks like outer membrane also not just shell. If it is that close to hatching, I would leave it alone and hope for the best.

 

[Huntmaster]

I candled it and the duckling is still alive. It's possibly around the 26 to 27 day mark.

When you candled was it internally pipped? Or could you tell if air cell has receded?

 

[Crazychickenlady05]

When you candled was it internally pipped? Or could you tell if air cell has receded?

No, it had not internally pipped yet. I am not 100% sure what you mean by receded air sac.

 

[Huntmaster]

No, it had not internally pipped yet. I am not 100% sure what you mean by receded air sac.

Just before internal pip the air cell recedes/gets larger fast.

 

[Crazychickenlady05]

Just before internal pip the air cell recedes/gets larger fast.

Okay, it definitely has done that now. Sometimes between last night and this morning. It's still moving in there and may be internally pipped. I did a quick candle and saw movement, so I put it back in there.