Eggtopsy

[Bantam girls]

My 4 eggs were supposed to hatch today. One hatched yesterday morning and she is doing great. All the eggs were alive and well Thursday when I candled them. If I still have nothing tomorrow night I am going to perform an eggtopsy. What exactly am I looking for?

 

[Year of the Rooster]

From what I have read, DO NOT open them. Wait at least a few days after the expected arrival. Sometimes there are late hatchers.

 

[gabrielle1976]

IF today was day 21 , LEAVE THEM IN THE BATOR for another 3 days at least.

THey may surprise you

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

I've done this before and found it very helpful. Sad and gross, but helpful.

What I learned, based on the "eggtopsy" and further research, was that my humidity was too low and my peeps were being shrink-wrapped by the membrane.

Best of luck!

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

I would wait a couple of more days. If you must, I would candle them first to look for movement or chicks pipped into their air cells, etc... Some kind of progress first.
Only if you are 100% sure they are dead should you open them up.
I usually use a small plate and a butter knife. Tap the knife on the big end of the egg a few times until it's slightly smashed in a space about __ big. Then I use my fingernails and pick off the shell pieces. You'll open the eggs into the aircell this way. You can usually tell pretty quickly if the chick is dead or not.
I sure hope you get at least one more chick so yours isn't lonely.