bad eggs

[kscottjoyce]

Since we can candle eggs to know they are good or bad, I am wondering how a hen knows if her eggs are good or bad?

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Experienced hens will kick out clear or dead eggs out of the nest in process of incubation.

Most likely they sense the temperature difference between live embrio and dead egg.

 

[calgal98]

They may also have a more keen sense of smell?

 

[youngbiddy]

Quote:
Birds have less of a sense of smell than mammals, it must be the difference in temperature.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The shell of a 'bad' egg has a different sound, they sound like porcelain, a very 'hollow' sound. I'm sure this is how the hen knows when one of the eggs goes bad.

 

[panner123]

BE CAREFUL!!! You are questioning Mother Nature. Actually, the hen will not kick the egg out until it has not felt movement in that egg and all the rest are kicking up a strom. Simular to a miscarrage in a human.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Then why is it that some will kick eggs out early in incubation? Surely they can't feel any movement in them then.