Well, my final count looks to be 17/20. Not bad at all!
What do you guys do with eggs that aren't really viable, but aren't dead yet either? I have two remaining eggs. One I can still see a BIT of veining and movement, but the chick inside via candling appears to be too small (about 1/2 the egg) and the movement is very minimal. No internal pip. I put it back in the bator 'just in case'. It's still alive so I don't feel right tossing it.
The other one I was about to give up on when I thought I noticed a bit of pulsation - opened the top of the egg to make 100% sure and found a chick that was moderately shrinkwrapped, but had not internally pipped and still had veining in the membrane so I could not do anything. No beak visible, so it was either planning to pip on the wrong end or the beak is tucked somewhere. I think these two eggs may have been the ones incubated in my horrible hovabator so they didn't develop well. Anyways, it's still got a heartbeat although I am pretty sure it's not going to make it - and is probably not viable enough TO make it even were I to get it out - I've helped shrinkwrapped chicks on prior hatches and they peep like mad when you start peeling them out. This one, no sound, etc... and it's very small.
I'm sure it's just a poorly developed chick - I wrapped it in warm cloth and put it back in the bator - but what do you do? I figure if they aren't going to make it, at least they'll be warm. /shrug.
I love their short fat lil' beaky poo!
