Dabbing eggs with exposed membrane with water to stave off shrinkwrapping... Have two that are being stubborn and we're about 30 hours through the 24-48 after pip. I noticed the membrane getting a little leathery near the pip.
One seemed VERY happy to receive half a drip of water and drunk it right up. (this was on accident not really intended... but when you're wetting the membrane and the bill is there it's pretty easy to drip)
Any suggestions? I can see one's bill and both are peeping. They're both very alive and responsive to anything outside just haven't seemed to put up the effort to come out yet.
Dabbing the membrane with water, will actually pull any moisture that is present on the membrane away this drying it out further. If you want to actually keep the membrane, you could either moisten with Neosporin, mineral oil, or coconut oil. Of course, use common sense, and keep it away from the duckling's mouth to avoid aspiration.
As for the towel, it will do the same to the eggs, and will also chill them. You can have it in the incubator, just don't have it touching the eggs.