A broody will tap on the egg with her beak.
We can tap with our fingernail and listen. Sometime a tap, tap, tap.....
My biggest fear also is throwing one that is still alive.
I bought a stethascope. I use a cloth on the listening end and on my fingers to put it against the egg. Then I tap. If there is a chick still alive, and you hold really still, and you have the listening end covered as well as your fingers that hold that end....oh, and make sure the tubes are not hitting anything you can hear a chick inside. I could be wrong, but I think that maybe they can't peep if they are not through the air cell....? someone can correct me.
But I exhaust all things before I give it up. I hatched 38 of 40 my last hatch. I tapped. I listened. And finally I gave up. BUT....I also threw the eggs as far out into the woods as I possibly could and would have fallen out if I heard a peep!!! Worst thing that I can think of to happen!
We can tap with our fingernail and listen. Sometime a tap, tap, tap.....
My biggest fear also is throwing one that is still alive.
I bought a stethascope. I use a cloth on the listening end and on my fingers to put it against the egg. Then I tap. If there is a chick still alive, and you hold really still, and you have the listening end covered as well as your fingers that hold that end....oh, and make sure the tubes are not hitting anything you can hear a chick inside. I could be wrong, but I think that maybe they can't peep if they are not through the air cell....? someone can correct me.
But I exhaust all things before I give it up. I hatched 38 of 40 my last hatch. I tapped. I listened. And finally I gave up. BUT....I also threw the eggs as far out into the woods as I possibly could and would have fallen out if I heard a peep!!! Worst thing that I can think of to happen!