Put it down already

[jglass38]

Listen, I fully agree with the practice of culling sick or underdeveloped/deformed babies. I also agree that we should not breed kinked or deformed animals. But I am not quite sure how cutting eggs even enters into this discussion. Tampering with the natural process of reproduction? Hardly. A baby is either going to make it or it isn't. Unless you are cutting eggs and popping the babies out to see what you have or moving the baby around in the egg, then how exactly are you multiplying the chances of producing non viable babies?

[grim reaper in NY]

Listen, Tampering with the natural process of reproduction? Hardly.

Do we do practice this technique with other animals or even humans? No. We do have ways of ensuring the maturity of babies in humans through modern medicine, hence allowing us to induce labor and so forth.
But, just because one snake egg pips doesn't mean all are ready to pip at the exact same time. Some may need an extra day or two to ensure or enhance their chance of survival before they attempt to enter the world.
You can say that cutting eggs doesn't harm the newborn snakes, and you might be right. But how can you say beyond a shadow of a doubt it doesn't?

[jglass38]

Do we do practice this technique with other animals or even humans? No. We do have ways of ensuring the maturity of babies in humans through modern medicine, hence allowing us to induce labor and so forth.
But, just because one snake egg pips doesn't mean all are ready to pip at the exact same time. Some may need an extra day or two to ensure or enhance their chance of survival before they attempt to enter the world.
You can say that cutting eggs doesn't harm the newborn snakes, and you might be right. But how can you say beyond a shadow of a doubt it doesn't?

Cutting eggs in snakes and inducing labor in humans is an apples to oranges comparison. Whether I cut an egg on day 52 or wait until it pips at day 55, the baby still doesn't come out until it is ready.

[JasonG]

Cutting eggs in snakes and inducing labor in humans is an apples to oranges comparison. Whether I cut an egg on day 52 or wait until it pips at day 55, the baby still doesn't come out until it is ready.

AMEN!

I agree with you 100%

[grim reaper in NY]

AMEN!

I agree with you 100%

Well, I'm obviously way off base here so I'll just shut up and apologize for posting in this thread.

[jglass38]

Well, I'm obviously way off base here so I'll just shut up and apologize for posting in this thread.

No need to apologize. You made some good points! You were on track until the cutting argument. In my opinion it just doesn't belong in a thread about culling sick or deformed animals. There have been very valuable threads about cutting and what I would agree with is that many do it incorrectly.