Long Story short, I have a double yolker. I candled repeatedly throughout incubation and both embryos were alive and moving. I couldn't see much by day 18 because it was a dark egg but both appeared to still be moving. Started researching the hatching process and was dismayed to find that chances for this egg are pretty much 0 unless I intervene. Found a thread in this forum that advised intervening late day 19 or early day 20; otherwise, chicks could drown. Well, we're already in late date 20 / early day 21 but incubator went out for about 7 hours at one point so I figured close enough. I've read that Bacitracin helps keep membrane moist but I don't have any so I opted for coconut oil for it's breathability and antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Anyhow, I made a small pip in the area with the air sac but no beak was visible. I made another pip towards the pointy end and prayed I'd find a beak with my first attempt. Had hoped to expose both beaks, moisten membrane, wrap area except for beak in saran wrap and place back in bator. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a beak. They're all feet! and there are so many vessels and whatever else that is inside an egg that I couldn't see much. Not sure why they recommend days 19/20...thinking another 12 to 24 hours would have been key. But as it is, I have a completely shell-less egg now that is all membrane with a little light chick and a little dark chick inside. I wrapped the egg in a wet paper towel and placed under a vent in my bator so that I can pipette water in to keep it moist. The chicks were both moving but barely. I went into this knowing I'd lose them with a 2% chance I could save one or both so that my heart doesn't break. But I'm wondering if you guys can guide me in any way to make that 2% a reality. I didn't see any spots where any beak worked at anything. I did feel a few bumps that I hoped were an egg tooth but on closer inspection, I'd see the little nails of feet peeking through windows between vessels and yolk or whatever that is. Any thoughts?
Is there a way to feel for an egg tooth? What would it feel like? Hard and pointy? Cartlidgy and nubby? Could it be that they haven't turned their beaks under their wings yet because of lack of space?
