Helping Hand?
Posted by casey campbell on June 8, 2006
Q: I've heard that if you find a baby bird egg if you put it in water and it floats then its alive and if it sinks then its dead. I was wondering if this was true and is there any other ways by telling if a baby bird is alive or dead in its egg.
State: Alabama
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: Actually, it would be the reverse. A typical egg should sink whether it's fertile or not (this doesn't necessarily mean there is an embryo inside though) but if that egg gets bacteria inside things change and it may actually float. As the bacteria grow inside the egg, they produce gases that force some of the water inside to leave. Less water inside the egg and lighter-than-water gases produced can cause an egg to become lighter than water and float. So, an egg that floats is probably "bad" but an egg that sinks may be fertile or may not be - one can't be sure.
John Wiessinger ( June 8, 2006)