Help - Duck egg cracked accidentally at 21 days

[chellenz]

We have a hen brooding a single duck egg that itself was rescued by my son after the mother duck abandoned it. I accidentally cracked it today while candling it. The crack is long - about 2 cm - but has not ruptured the membrane. I have taped it with surgical tape and put it back under the hen. I think an incubator would be safer but unfortunately I don't have one. Can the duckling survive in this scenario? Should I seal the crack with nail polish?

I'm so upset we might lose the baby.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

It needs to be sealed with something, like fingernail polish or wax, as bacteria can get in there and will kill it.

I've heard of some melting a color crayon over the crack as they had no unscented candles, but I'd go for a scented candle above using nothing.

I would first dab the area gently with a hilex wipe or something similar as by now bacteria could be sitting in the crack.

 

[chellenz]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

It needs to be sealed with something, like fingernail polish or wax, as bacteria can get in there and will kill it.

I've heard of some melting a color crayon over the crack as they had no unscented candles, but I'd go for a scented candle above using nothing.

I would first dab the area gently with a hilex wipe or something similar as by now bacteria could be sitting in the crack.

Thanks for this. I have now removed the tape, gently wiped the area with idodine solution, and sealed it with candle wax. Back under broody now. I don't think I can do anything more, I have everything crossed that baby makes it.

 

[Chookychicky]

Let us know if he makes it! Fingers crossed

 

[chellenz]

Ducky made it!

The day after the cracking accident my son heard the egg pipping. I immediately thought the worst and wondered if the rough handling had caused it to start hatching prematurely. I also wasn't quite sure how long it had been incubating as it was rescued from a nest abandoned by mama duck. I assumed she hadn't started stitting in earnest, so counted from when we got the egg and put it under our broody hen. Turns out mama duck must have brooded it for a week before we got it, because on day 22 of it being under our hen it hatched. Not premature, and apparently no worse off for my mishandling. So relieved!