We just successfully hatched a cracked mallard egg scotch taped since day 5 of incubation

[BrockBrood]

A lot of people have said it couldn’t be done so wanted to share that our first of 10 duck eggs hatched and it was a cracked egg that we scotch taped on day 5 of incubation. He is now named Scotch
If anyone in CT is interested in Cayuga babies let me know.
Also- looking for Frizzle hatching eggs and golden laced Wyandotte. Any help on where to begin looking would be greatly appreciated. I’d rather pickup local then ship.

 

[Gray Farms]

Was the membrane cracked as well or just the shell?

 

[BrockBrood]

I’m not sure, I assume just the shell. He matured faster then the other eggs. I candled him daily assuming he wouldn’t make it. His air pocket was huge. I read cracked shells typically lose too much moisture and never make it. I literally scotch taped the 2 areas and got lucky he could pip and zip without touching the tape

 

[BrockBrood]

 

[Gray Farms]

I bet it was just the shell. I've seen people melt wax onto a cracked egg and hatch it but not tape. I'll be trying this myself I think. I get a few eggs every year that get a little crack and I think "Dang I really wanted/needed to set this egg!"

So if I understand correctly, you incubated this egg for 5 days, noticed the crack, then taped it. Right?

 

[BrockBrood]

The egg was cracked on day 5. My 6 year old son was helping me rotate the eggs when 2 hit each other pretty hard resulting in the crack. I’ve heard of the wax too. Had scotch tape handy and we were lucky it worked! Again- especially because it wasn’t in a location that interfered with pipping and zipping. Good luck to you if you try it! I hope you have the same good fortune

 

[Gray Farms]

Thanks

 

[Joeschooks]

I bet it was just the shell. I've seen people melt wax onto a cracked egg and hatch it but not tape. I'll be trying this myself I think. I get a few eggs every year that get a little crack and I think "Dang I really wanted/needed to set this egg!"

So if I understand correctly, you incubated this egg for 5 days, noticed the crack, then taped it. Right?

I’ve tried putting melted wax on cracked eggs (they cracked in the incubator for some reason) but I’ve never had any success with those eggs.

 

[Gray Farms]

Friend of mine does it every year. She says about half go ahead and hatch.

 

[BrockBrood]

Does wax or tape? Every thread I read said no chance except one, so we felt like we won lotto! Sorry to hear she has that many cracked eggs!