Yea SimplySplendidSilkies, Chicks hatching has to rank quite A bit above infomercials.
Joebryant, I've never liked the carton method. I think by standing them on there end you trap the moisture in the egg where it is. When the chick pips the air sack the water does not run in to the sack an away from the chicks mouth like it does naturally when its on it side. I think that makes drowning more common because the chick has to hold hes head up from its first breath till it hatches to keep from breathing in that moisture. I also assume that there is moisture in the lungs that they have to get out first anyway an sitting up may make that harder.
Wish I could say that I had this great genus moment an came up with hatching at a 45* angle but really its that way because it keeps the eggs in the best view for the cameras. Looking at it now though there may be something to hatching this way.. Still hatching the natural angle, no egg soccer, no one sitting on the top of other eggs and the chicks can get out very easy. Would have to cut the cartons in to strips to do it in a foam incubator though.