Eggtopsy question

[northernchic]

Maybe a stupid question, but here goes. When you do an eggtopsy on an egg, how do you know if the chick was actually alive or had passed days prior?

 

[lazy gardener]

Look at the size of the chick, and compare it to the developmental stages given in a good pictorial chart. Development follows a routine pattern, and for the most part does not vary, so if your chick is such a size and not feathered, look at the chart for the same thing, and go from there.

 

[northernchic]

Thank you.