In tears...just cracked an egg - and the accidents continue!

[taprock]

I'm in tears, I just cracked an egg. I hand turn them and moved the small thermometer to do it easier and dropped it on one. It put a dent and crack in the egg. I don't have the heart to get rid of it so I duct taped it. The first time incubating a month ago was a test with all of my own eggs and everything went perfect. This time with eggs that I bought special it seems like nothing is going right.

 

[cowlady11]

I have read on here of people sealing the crack with wax and they still hatched out! dont give up!

 

[TinkleTurkey]

I dropped one egg on another egg and cracked them both. The one on the bottom died, but the one that fell hatched just fine with no futher assistance. I don't know what variables affect the outcome, but when it happens I just kick myself and cross my fingers.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Wax or superglue.

 

[taprock]

I slapped a strip of duct tape on within seconds but now I'm sure it won't come off. Should I put wax over the tape or is the tape good enough?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

the tape should work.

 

[Dora'smom]

I've heard of using wax and used it on one of my own eggs last fall, though a predator took it, so I don't know if it would have been viable or not. I would think that the crucial variables would be how bad the break was, where it was, if it was clean or not, and how quickly you covered the area.
It doesn't sound as though the break was very bad, there is no way to tell how it affected the developing chick, it was probably clean, and it sounds as though you covered it very quickly. I think that you did everything you could, and accidents happen. Don't beat yourself up over this, it happens under hens, and in incubators. You're trying hard to do the right thing, and I would think that the best chance for this chick is to leave the tape undisturbed, though you might have to watch closely at hatch.

 

[llaaadyel]

i wouldn't try to get the duct tape off at this point, that stuff will take the paint off the wall. I would just leave it. It may be just fine.

 

[ScissorChick]

Do not mess with the tape, many people use tape when they accidently

crack an egg. It should work fine.

Hope it goes well

wishing you the

best of luck!

 

[taprock]

Today I'm past the cracked egg - we'll have to wait and hope. The thermometer that caused all the problems is working. I had to add some water to the incubator. So I am using the syringe to a small tube that wets one of the sponges. It gets an airbubble in the line and splashes, hitting the light bulb that is on and blows it. Luckily it didn't shatter but came apart in my hand as I tried to change it. I was afraid to damage another egg trying to get the broken light bulb out so the fixture pulls out. The bulb got changed and put back in, however I didn't notice the fixture was moved slightly and so the temperature was lower. After about an hour we realized what had happened and readjusted it. Everything seems ok now but the stupid thermometer is back not working again - it is a remote but now it isn't working so I have to open to check levels. I will be off to buy a new one tomorrow! Just feeling very frustrated with it all at this point!