We just candled our twelve eggs...been under Miss Broody since last Tuesday night. Found a great candling idea here with the light turned on and a cardboard cut-out for the hole to set the eggs on top. Worked great! What I found odd was that the one egg that was spotted inside and no life, was cold, unlike the others. Does she just know that it was a no-go? Or was it cold *because* there wasn't life? There was one other that was somewhat cool and spotted but there was obvious life inside so I marked it 'maybe' and put it back...we'll see what happens. Is that okay or am I looking forward to a stink-bomb?
Most of the time, the hen knows and will kick them out to the side. If it was cold, it probably isn't any good. Eggs that are good, hold their heat for a little while even if they were accidently edged out from under her. But you shouldn't get a stink bomb anytime soon. I keep eggs in an incubator until day 18 if I think there is even a remote chance it is still good.. And I haven't had any " bombs " yet..