How accurate is smelling an egg to see if its stil viable?

[NorthernChick1]

Im on day 21 for my broody and her clutch of 5. I never checked her once since i gave her the eggs. She got up today and while she was busy i caefully picked 2 up and smelled them. They smelled fine (like a warm egg, not like a rotten egg.

How long does it take for an egg to rott under a hen? This is my first time ever and im so inpatient. We had very cold nights and im scared they wouldnt of made it through the past three nights.

I decided to take a risk and bring her, her nest in a cage in my basement earlier and she is fine.

So basically my question is if on day 21 they smell fine should i be confident ill get hatched chicks within 1 to 2 days from now?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Viable and rotten are two different things. An infertile eggs or even a quitter won't necessarily rot.
So smelling isn't reliable at all. It will only tell you if it is rotten. It won't tell you if it is viable.
The time frame could be a few days to a couple months before the egg explodes. It just depends on how soon bacteria invades it.
An egg that doesn't smell, could just as easily be infertile, meaning no chicks are forthcoming. Candle to see if they have developed.

 

[Skippersnh]

Remember the first 24 hours is day zero

 

[NorthernChick1]

Remember the first 24 hours is day zero

Yep i took that into consideration. Thanks!

 

[NorthernChick1]

Viable and rotten are two different things. An infertile eggs or even a quitter won't necessarily rot.
So smelling isn't reliable at all. It will only tell you if it is rotten. It won't tell you if it is viable.
The time frame could be a few days to a couple months before the egg explodes. It just depends on how soon bacteria invades it.
An egg that doesn't smell, could just as easily be infertile, meaning no chicks are forthcoming. Candle to see if they have developed.

Thanks!
I can candle them on day 21?
If i do, am i looking for complet darkness?

 

[Skippersnh]

Yes you can and yes complete darkness except air cell
Make sure there's none with blood rings

 

[NorthernChick1]

So i checked 3 out of the 5. Two are pretty clear i dont think theres anything going on. I picked up the third, its very dark but the air sack seems to take 1/3 of the egg? Anyways when i put the candler on the egg it started chirping!!!! Yay!

 

[NorthernChick1]

The other 2 i didnt bother checking. Im just happy to know one is alive! I didnt remove any. I will wait to see how it plays out and ill take em out at the very end.

 

[Mama fluff]

Any babies yet?