Hatching help!

[Mkm1980]

Hi, I have 3 duck eggs in the incubator. They are at 26 days today. 2 days ago I was candeling and I heard a little peep when I picked up one of the eggs. This egg has been developing more quickly than the others for some reason. As I replaced the egg I somehow dropped it from 2 inches off the floor and the egg cracked but the membrane is still intact. I replaced the egg and removed the automatic turner. I have been a nervous guilt ridden teary eyed mess since. As it is still only day 26 I have forced myself to do leave it alone and not check to make sure its OK. But there hasn't been any signs of external pipping, haven't heard anything from the egg, and seen nothing that would reassure me it is alive. I have kept the humidity around 65, it is a cheap incubator and not the easiest to maintain humidity. It has been 69 or as low as 62. Any suggestions on what, if anything, I should do at this point. Please

Update: so I candled the other two eggs and decided to candle the cracked egg as well to see if I could see any movement or sign of death. I am so relieved to have seen movement! There was something that would be seen in the air cell but it didn't look like the many pictures of bills I've seen in pictures online. It actually looks like the membrane is intact and duckling pushes against it and it returns to its previous shape. Also, the air cell looks too large. I am going to see if I can get a video but I really don't want to keep taking it out. What should I do?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

The air cell gets larger right before hatching. If you heard peeping, internal pipping happened. I would try your best to sit on your hands. You are doing everything right. I bet you will have a pip by morning. After that expect a long rest. Most of my ducklings have taken at least 24 hours after external pip before they hatch. Hang in there!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hi, I have 3 duck eggs in the incubator. They are at 26 days today. 2 days ago I was candeling and I heard a little peep when I picked up one of the eggs. This egg has been developing more quickly than the others for some reason. As I replaced the egg I somehow dropped it from 2 inches off the floor and the egg cracked but the membrane is still intact. I replaced the egg and removed the automatic turner. I have been a nervous guilt ridden teary eyed mess since. As it is still only day 26 I have forced myself to do leave it alone and not check to make sure its OK. But there hasn't been any signs of external pipping, haven't heard anything from the egg, and seen nothing that would reassure me it is alive. I have kept the humidity around 65, it is a cheap incubator and not the easiest to maintain humidity. It has been 69 or as low as 62. Any suggestions on what, if anything, I should do at this point. Please

Update: so I candled the other two eggs and decided to candle the cracked egg as well to see if I could see any movement or sign of death. I am so relieved to have seen movement! There was something that would be seen in the air cell but it didn't look like the many pictures of bills I've seen in pictures online. It actually looks like the membrane is intact and duckling pushes against it and it returns to its previous shape. Also, the air cell looks too large. I am going to see if I can get a video but I really don't want to keep taking it out. What should I do?

Are you sure you heard a peep? It sounds like the duckling is shadowing. Don't beat yourself up over this! It's not an uncommon mistake to accidently crack a hatching egg-it happens. We all make mistakes some time or another!
I would wait a little longer, keep an eye on the egg.
The air cell drops quickly right before an internal pip, this is normal, so don't worry about the air cell looking large!
Is any membrane exposed to the air? If any pieces of shell came off, gently brush a little coconut oil onto the membrane- this will prevent the membrane from drying out.