How long before giving up on an egg in the incubator?

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

Hi guys,

I have a 6 weeks old fertilized egg, my hen had a chick about 3 weeks ago and just neglected this one so I put it in the incubator. Here's a picture from 3 weeks ago, clearly a rooster .

Today however, it's completely solid "dark" when I candle it.

I'm super Pro-Life so don't want to discard it! Also depressing to think about cracking it to see what's inside.

Any hope?

Thanks!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The change on contents is due to decomposition of the contents

 

[sawilliams]

Wait what? Your hen had 3 egg hatch but had a 4th egg that was a late lay by another hen? and that egg was what a few days to a week old when the others hatched? And has been in the incubator for another 3 weeks?

Is there movement? When do you think it was closest to 18days? I think your pushing the line of it was that developed 3 weeks ago and still hasn't hatch. If you can't see movement through candling you need to float test the egg.

And a rooster? I'm not even going there.

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

If I'm understanding your timing correctly, it sounds like its waaaaay over the due date? Isn't it 21 days for chicken chicks? It had already been on the nest how long? Just trying to see the picture clearly...