Expert: Julia Booth - 7/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a robin Egg and I was just wondering that when they get like whiteish clear spots on them does that mean that they are getting ready to hatch?

ANSWER: My first thought is why you are in possession of a Robin's egg in the first place. My second is why you only have one of them -since they usually travel in groups of 3-6.

If you found it unattended, then chances are that it isn't fertile. The mother probably discarded it for that very reason. The changing color could mean that it's rotting and the bacteria inside it is preparing to cause the egg to explode. In which case, you want to get it outside quickly.

A Robin's egg generally shouldn't change color when it's preparing to hatch -actually no bird eggs do (reptiles, amphibians and fish are a different story). The advanced size of the baby inside it is what causes the egg to break open, that and the baby's beak.

To find out if the egg is viable, you can try something called candling -here's an explanation: http://shilala.homestead.com/candling.html

Hope that helps,

Julia


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: You see I found the robin egg in my front yard there was 2 more but they were smooshed on the ground next to the good egg and the nest was by them too. My mom and I tried to candle the egg like you said to try but we could't see through it and we tried a couple of lights and we still couldn't see through it. Also the egg is not turning colors it just got like 4 whiteish yellowish dots on it.

Answer
I seriously doubt that the egg is viable. In fact, I'd bet good money that it isn't.

I'm not sure what you're asking me now. Robin's eggs can vary in color and pattern. If you want to keep the egg, go ahead. But if you haven't been properly incubating it (assuming it's still alive) then there's kind of no point.