Egg cutting

Last year I cut 24 hours after the 1st one pipped. By that point my 1st pipper was all the way out of the egg. I had 2 eggs left (out of a 7 egg clutch) that weren't showing any score marks like babies were trying to cut their way out (the rest of the eggs had such marks. I went ahead and cut about a 1" long slit in each of the eggs that showed no activity and within another 48 hours everyone was out. One of the eggs was super small already (had some humidity issues early in the incubation period) so I was particularly worried about that baby. I plan to follow this same line of thinking this year: if it seems like most of the clutch is progressing in the right direction and there are a few stragglers, I'll cut those...I really do prefer to let the babies do it their own way, on their own time.

We have a ton of threads come up every spring/summer about egg cutting, you just haven't hit the right time frame yet ;) There are quite a few of us that cut, I personally cut. I would say out of impatience and wanting to ensure that the hatchling makes it out of the egg. I cut on day 52, but do not advise cutting that early unless you have experience/do a bunch of research as to how to care for the egg if you cut it that early.

Mine isn't out of impatience but more of concern for the baby. I want to make sure they get out safely. Waiting for the first one to cut on its own seemed to work last year. I did have two that didn't make it but I think that was more of a heating issue. I haven't had any issues with feeding either. Both of my 2012 babies are voracious feeders and were eating within a day or two of their first shed.

I cut between day 55-58. Didnt have a problem. Babies usually get out at day 60-62.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jgfvNz29Ui...-14-33_617.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpQ47DikR2...-33-38_369.jpg

This one didnt like my help and found its own way out....lol

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hoYLqFLQR8...-10-51_262.jpg

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I noticed that too this past year, not a big sampling but I was kind of surprised how hungry they seemed compared to some past clutches that we cut on day 52.

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For what it's worth, I can vouch for this, as well. It's a small sample size, but out of my one clutch last year, I cut two eggs, and these were the last two babies to eat (three and four weeks after their first shed). They were also the most nervous babies. Is the nervousness a coincidence? I don't know. Some babies are just more timid.

Anyway, as far as cutting goes . . . If an egg hasn't pipped on its own ~6 hours after the others, I make a slight slit. It's not a door, just enough for me to peer inside and the little snakeling to get some air if something goes wrong when it's ready to hatch. Left to their own devices, they tend to pip on their own around day 60 for me, then sit for another 12 - 24 hours before coming out. Babies from cut eggs do seem to take longer before they're ready to crawl out.

Our very first clutch was produced by a gravid female we rescued who was battling a RI, she was weak to begin with & truthfully we had concerns about her surviving to lay her clutch. The entire clutch was collapsed & very wilted within days of being laid. we cut the eggs on about day 55 & the entire clutch was fine. Since then every clutch we produce gets cut, but only after the first baby or 2 pip on their own. we dont put our fingers in the eggs or disturb the babies & everything is sanatized before we cut. I think its about using common sense & moderation in how, when & why you choose to intervene.