Slit egg care?

[bait4snake]

I put a 1 inch slit in my eggs last night, and this morning no action. Last year everything hatched out ok (didn't even use my slits to get out; they made their own), but is there anything that should be done if they don't come out right away? Will the eggs dry out after a day or two?

[frankykeno]

Some of mine this year took 3 to 5 days to come out of their eggs. An experienced breeder suggested to me that during the time after they've been slit that I very lightly mist the eggs once or twice a day (and of course they are getting a bit of fresh air during that quick time the lid is off the hatching box). I kept a small mister bottle right in the incubator and gave them a quick misting on the lightest mist setting when I got up in the morning and in the middle of the evening. We had a 100% hatch rate so it seems to have helped the little ones come out nicely.

I was also taught to express a small amount of the egg "goop" when I did the cut. Makes the cut cleaner and seems to give the snakes a nice clean air space at the cut area.