Broody Hen Cracked Egg Shell

[Rachnicko]

I have a first time broody Polish bantam hen who we have let sit on 2 eggs. She’s a funny thing (I think most polish are), so she chose the most inappropriate neat box in an appropriate place. We moved her box into the shed and she is happy in the new place but still in plastic nest box.

I noticed yesterday that one of her 2 eggs has a cracked shell. I imagine because she moves all the straw away and sits on bare plastic. It is cracked in a small circle and slightly dented on the side of the egg. I candled and the embryo is still going and moving, and we are on day 13 today.

I have seen that you can use wax or nail varnish to seal a crack. Does anyone have any experience? And what would anyone recommend?

 

[DobieLover]

I have a first time broody Polish bantam hen who we have let sit on 2 eggs. She’s a funny thing (I think most polish are), so she chose the most inappropriate neat box in an appropriate place. We moved her box into the shed and she is happy in the new place but still in plastic nest box.

I noticed yesterday that one of her 2 eggs has a cracked shell. I imagine because she moves all the straw away and sits on bare plastic. It is cracked in a small circle and slightly dented on the side of the egg. I candled and the embryo is still going and moving, and we are on day 13 today.

I have seen that you can use wax or nail varnish to seal a crack. Does anyone have any experience? And what would anyone recommend?

I would use wax to seal the crack. Day 13 is pretty early to have a cracked shell.

 

[Rachnicko]

Thanks so much I will try that but need to get some plain wax candles. I managed to get a photo and check the egg while the broody was off the nest earlier and it is still alive as of earlier today. This is what the crack looks like...

 

[Rachnicko]

I have an update.... cracked egg hatched perfectly fine! I was a little worried as the broody was only sat on 2 eggs and the other one hatched first, leaving me on the edge of my seat for half a day!

I didn’t do anything with the crack because I was worried about Queenie (the broody) eating or pecking at any wax or anything else I could have added. Anyway, all ended well