help! broken shell at day 18-20

[capper2013]

calling all chicken egg gurus,
hi,
a couple of days ago I negligently killed a chick in it's shell by crushing it with the automated egg turner.
collateral damage to this was an egg right next to the killed one had it's shell broken.
the shell shattered at the air pocket end and cracked from there a little elsewhere. however it did not pierce the white membrane at all.
there are some little bits of shell stuck to the membrane but it is completely in one piece.
I think there is movement in the egg but I am not totally sure, it seems imperceptibly light and doesn't go on for long enough to be certain it is not my imagination.
anyway, my issue is what to do with it. the membrane, although intact is drying out and resembles a bit of dried leather.
I keep moistening it with tepid water every couple of hours to try and keep it soft, but being in the last few days I am uncertain if what I am doing is correct of whether I am causing more harm to the potential chick inside and/or the other eggs by keep dipping into the incubator every couple of hours.
I have read the assisted hatching guide, however I am not sure if I am assisting the hatching here or not.
the damage was caused around day 17 or 18 and I am now on day 20.
I figure that right now there is no great urgency to do much as babies are not due until at least tomorrow, however I am concerned that the white membrane and inner membrane may have fused due to drying and that the chick is going to struggle to get out.
I may be coming across as an "old mother hen" but I want to know in advance what I should be doing rather than floundering if I need to do something.
should I be putting anything on the membrane other than water (I have no anti-bacterial creams or gels other than anti-bacterial hand cleanser which I don't think is a particularly good idea to use), as in moisturiser or petroleum jelly? the reason I ask is that the membrane seems to dry out real quickly.
ok, enough o my novel, if I come across as a bit of a numpty it is because I am learning, this is my first collection of incubated eggs.
thank you all in advance.

Capper2013

 

[MrsBrooke]

Put a little petroleum jelly on it to seal it, sit back, and wait. Do it quickly, since Day 18 starts lock down and the eggs must remain as undisturbed as possible.

Let us know what happens!

MrsB

 

[Rowsdower]

Put a little petroleum jelly on it to seal it, sit back, and wait.

Do it quickly, since Day 18 starts lock down and the eggs must remain as undisturbed as possible.

Let us know what happens!

MrsB

x2 These little buggers are a lot tougher than we give them credit. We have a very similar situation going on in one of our incubators atm. My sister took the lid off and the viewing window popped out and fell onto the eggs. One was a lost cause and the other just had a little puncture. She sealed it up with nail polish. This was day 14. We're now at day 20 and all still seems well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the both of us.

 

[pwand]

I have used scotch tape, worked great.

 

[capper2013]

thank you all for responding, I put a little petroleum jelly on the membrane and added a little moisture too. I know oil and water don't mx but it seemed to soften the membrane quite well.
I couldn't find any gaffa tape, but I did get a large breathable plaster (sticky bandage) and stuck that over it to help keep the moisture in.
I know it has a viable chick in there now as it wriggled enough this time to convince me it was alive!
woo hoo, if this one survives then it is definitely "my" chicken. male or female I don't care, it will be my baby now.
strange how the extra little effort put in to an egg can help form attachments.
I might even throw my daughter out into the new coop and keep the egg in her bedroom...

 

[Rowsdower]

I just wanted to update you and perhaps give you a bit of hope. My little Frankenchick hatched out about an hour ago.

 

[capper2013]

I just wanted to update you and perhaps give you a bit of hope. My little Frankenchick hatched out about an hour ago.

nice one! congratulations new parent.
I am looking forward to this little critter introducing itself.
I must say I am a little concerned now how to get the plaster off. its one of those cloth ones that always rips the hair off your body when taking them off. I thought being in a warm environment might make it easier to peel. I had peek earlier and I think I may need a scalpel to cut it off as it has bonded extremely well.

 

[capper2013]

ok, so update is this,
this morning I peeled the sticky plaster back and it took off more of the broken shell.
I decided to operate as the little membrane sack was like a shrink wrapped boil in the bag package.
the bird was still, no sign of movement (may have suffocated)
but it is a wonderful little black critter.
I have put it in a little pot on some damp tissue to allow it the opportunity to come round and absorb the rest of the yolk.
I am hopeful but I guess the next day will help me decide whether to keep it in the incubator or send it off to chick motel for it's final stay.

 

[MrsBrooke]

ok, so update is this,
this morning I peeled the sticky plaster back and it took off more of the broken shell.
I decided to operate as the little membrane sack was like a shrink wrapped boil in the bag package.
the bird was still, no sign of movement (may have suffocated)
but it is a wonderful little black critter.
I have put it in a little pot on some damp tissue to allow it the opportunity to come round and absorb the rest of the yolk.
I am hopeful but I guess the next day will help me decide whether to keep it in the incubator or send it off to chick motel for it's final stay.

Do you have the chick under heat??

MrsB

 

[capper2013]

Do you have the chick under heat??

MrsB

it is indeed. it is in a small pot on damp tissue in the incubator.
the ones that are trying to get out the shells are far more lively.
it has been still in the same position all day. I fear the worst for the baby unfortunately.