Hen hatching ducklings... eggs have a crack on them..

[Crazyabouthens]

Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I've never used medical tape on an egg but I know it has very sticky adhesive so I don't know that I would try to pull it off because I would worry it may make the situation worse. I see where it's pulling pieces of shell away but the blood does appear a little brown so maybe it's older. I still wouldn't want to accidentally make a new bleed by taking it off. You still have quite some time before this little one is ready for hatch though.
Unfortunately cracks like this significantly reduce its chances of making it to hatch because it's open to bacteria but that doesn't mean it's impossible. I just don't want you to get your hopes up on this one. You're doing what you can to try to stabilize the crack. I do think the other egg has a really good chance of making it though because the crack is minimal!
For future reference, I have found that only covering the crack is the best practice when applying anything to a shell because covering too much surface area can affect the gas exchange. I experienced this in an experiment I did a couple of year ago when hatching "Reject Hatching Eggs" I used wax liberally. Since that experiment I've had much better luck with hatching cracked eggs though so it's definitely possible! I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

Can't thank you enough for your help and advice, you have taught me lots !! I'm hoping the other on will still hatch and vickey will be a happy mama. I know now to not use masking tape again, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you so much!

 

[wyochick10]

Hi! I am not sure either. I would have probably just left them alone and see what happens. But thanks for the tag and good luck!!

 

[Crazyabouthens]

Went back today to check vickeys eggs and the egg with the 'tiny crack at the top ' seems to have gotten bigger and I don't know how to be honest, I don't think vickey is being very careful when she's coming off and on the eggs to get a drink and some food. Not sure if I should just leave it or do something about it to try keep it alive and stop bacteria getting in. Any help would be appreciated. @CluckNDoodle @PippinTheChicken @Lemon-Drop

 

[PippinTheChicken]

can you candle it? depending what you see you can make a decision
maybe put some nail polish on that

 

[BelovedBirds]

My hen vicky went broody about 3 weeks ago now. I only have hens and don't have a rooster so her eggs weren't going to hatch. However, I do have a female and a male duck, the female lays eggs but she doesn't go broody so I just take her eggs to eat. So I done a bit of research about a hen raising a duck and what I read, it seems okay to do. So I gave her 3 duck eggs to sit on and everything was going good. Last week I noticed a crack on one of the eggs, it wasn't a big crack but you could see the "membrane" (I think it's called?) on the egg. I looked it up and there was lots of techniques to use to try keep the chick alive. The easiest one I saw was using masking tape to cover the hole to stop air and bacteria getting in. So that's why I did. I have been candling the eggs and they all look as though there is something in there. They are due to hatch this Thursday. But then this morning when I checked the eggs, another one had a very very small crack on it at the top of the egg. I don't know if that's meant to happen because it's due to hatch soon, or maybe vickey has accidently cracked it when she's been moving about. So that's my first worry that I need advice on, what do I do??? My second worry is about the other egg I put masking tape over. Will the chick still be able to hatch with that over it? Do I take it off??

duck eggs take 28 days to hatch. What breed is it?
Could you candle the egg and take a photo? Candle wax wouldve probably been better, than tape, but I wouldn't try to remove the tape for fear of making it worse.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Went back today to check vickeys eggs and the egg with the 'tiny crack at the top ' seems to have gotten bigger and I don't know how to be honest, I don't think vickey is being very careful when she's coming off and on the eggs to get a drink and some food. Not sure if I should just leave it or do something about it to try keep it alive and stop bacteria getting in. Any help would be appreciated. @CluckNDoodle @PippinTheChicken @Lemon-Drop View attachment 3089215

Do you have an incubator?

 

[Crazyabouthens]

Do you have an incubator?

Unfortunately not no, my friend gave me an incubator last year, and let's just say, it's didn't go very well

 

[Crazyabouthens]

duck eggs take 28 days to hatch. What breed is it?
Could you candle the egg and take a photo? Candle wax wouldve probably been better, than tape, but I wouldn't try to remove the tape for fear of making it worse.

I will try get a picture tomorrow, I have been candling the eggs and it looks like there is something forming. You can see the veins and the dark bit in the middle.

 

[Crazyabouthens]

can you candle it? depending what you see you can make a decision
maybe put some nail polish on that

Would clear nail polish be okay? Like the nail polish you put on to make your nails a bit stronger?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Would clear nail polish be okay? Like the nail polish you put on to make your nails a bit stronger?

Yes, nail polish works very well for small cracks. Just hold it horizontal so the drips go down rather than in the egg.