Is something wrong with this egg?

[LittleBoPeep1]

It is day 24 for my broody hen sitting on her eggs. One hatched on day 19, but there is one that has not hatched yet. I took a quick pic of the egg and it seems odd to me. Is the egg dead? The hen is still sitting on the egg.

 

[sourland]

Day 24 ? That's not a viable egg.

 

[chuckachucka]

If the hen is still sitting on the egg, how is she looking after the chick that hatched five days ago? They usually abandon the late eggs. Have you tried to float test?

 

[WVduckchick]

I can't tell if the light area is air cell, or clear cavity under the air cell. Almost looks like it has drawn down, close to hatching, but if that is clear fluid, then the chick quit several days ago. Is there a chance it was added to the nest late?

Do not float it. Smell it... If it doesn't stink, just leave it with the broody. She will get off it when she knows its not going to hatch. If it stinks, toss it.

 

[chuckachucka]

I can't tell if the light area is air cell, or clear cavity under the air cell. Almost looks like it has drawn down, close to hatching, but if that is clear fluid, then the chick quit several days ago. Is there a chance it was added to the nest late?

Do not float it. Smell it... If it doesn't stink, just leave it with the broody. She will get off it when she knows its not going to hatch. If it stinks, toss it.

Curious, why do you say not to float it? I've had broodies sit more than three weeks on eggs Tha turned out to be infertile with zero development, so I never trust a hen to know when to give up on an egg.

 

[chuckachucka]

also imo its not a good idea to leave the egg with the broody any longer because of it is dead she's just wasting her time and should be with the chick that did hatch now.