I personally cut them because I feel that everything we do as a breeder is to ensure its easier and that they survive, so what's wrong with cutting them to help them out of the eggs? its not like we stick our fingers in and brake the membrane and the veins or anything like that, I just cut the shell leaving the membrane and main vein untouched. I have proven that in doing this they come out when they are ready and they don't spring out of the eggs. I am not in this to see babies unable to get out, which in previous years they have suffocated in the eggs or drowned, still having egg tooth intact on some. eggs however where very tough. this season even though I did a very wet verm/water mix and eggs suspended over it the egg container was dry as a bone and the eggs were tough as bricks day 55 so I chose to cut them, I didn't make a big hole then it was a small hole the main veins on every egg was all over the top of the eggs so I didn't think it was safe for them for me to cut to big. I waited day 60 before cutting a bigger hole.
if I was to leave eggs with mum maternal incubation its a bit more natural, I wouldn't pip the eggs as I would think if mum has done the work then she can hatch them. we do so much with keeping them alive when artificially incubating eggs, from specific methods, over water or on verm/perlite, adding F10 to the water to keep it sterile from fungus, sealed or unsealed tubs, choosing temps and even saving eggs with tearing and mould using candle wax, spray on band aid and even tinea powder. I don't think any of that is found naturally so what's wrong with if a breeder wants to cut the eggs as well? just to ensure they don't get trapped or drown.
just my 2 cents worth
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