Pinkybijou Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Dora has been beautifully sitting on our two eggs for 12 days now and on candling them they clearly contain little wriggly chicks. I've just come home from work and turfed her off the nest to let her stretch her legs etc. One of the eggs has a 1cm depressed crack in it . Please someone tell me there is something we can do? I've candled the egg and the little chick is still wriggling and all seems fine. It is the shell which is craked, like really small cracks for 1cm, and the internal membrane seems to be intact. Will the egg break when the chick gets bigger and then it will die? I'm so worried. Can the shell be fixed with anything, like nailvarnish, glue, micropore tape, clear surgical tape etc??? Does anyone have any experience of this? Sorry for my nutty worrying post, I know she could sit again and we could have different eggs etc, but these two are our special babies and my boys will be gutted if they don't make it (as I will!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hi Kris, I'm sorry to hear about the egg, I am a total novice, not even got hens yet! Just wanted to say I was sorry, I want to say as the membrane is still okay, no infection should get in? So the chick will remain healthy? I'm sure someone will be along shortly, there are some very knowlegeable people on here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bantam of the Opera Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 aww, sorry to hear it, im afraid i can't offer any advice since i havent experienced anything similar but good luck with the eggs. if you do try to repair it though make sure its something you can remove though , like tape, incase the chick tries to peck out of that bit when it's ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Dora has been beautifully sitting on our two eggs for 12 days now and on candling them they clearly contain little wriggly chicks. I've just come home from work and turfed her off the nest to let her stretch her legs etc. One of the eggs has a 1cm depressed crack in it . Please someone tell me there is something we can do? Well, Pnkybijou, the lesson may be that there is nothing you can do. On the other hand, I was surprised that the first egg laid by one of my hens healed the crack that had somehow been made in it. Nature is strange, unpredictable, sad and marvellous--we can only wish you the best here and we do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 By the way, I have no experience in egg hatching whatsoever!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkybijou Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Thank you so much for the advice so far. I have taped over the cracked bit with some micropore surgical tape because it's porous so might offer some protection. I have no idea how the crack happened and can only assume Dora (or Doris) have maybe got a knee or elbow into it by accident. (Do chickens have elbows and knees??!! You know what I mean anyway!) I'll candle again tomorrow and see if our little chicklet is still hanging in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkybijou Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Unfortunately when I went to check yesterday morning the egg had GONE! Dora had suspicious looking dried yolk stains around her beak too . I had a rummage around their run and found a small bit of eggshell which had the micropore tape on it. I think she has tried to peck off the tape I put on, damaged the egg and then eaten the contents. So sad, but that's nature's way isn't it? The rest of the shell was nowhere to be found, so I can only assume that got scoffed too. She is still sitting beautifully on the remaining egg, though, so fingers crossed for a healthy chick (preferably female!). Thanks again for your kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Sorry to hear that Kris - like you say, it's nature's way. I hope that you have luck with the remaining egg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
