Can a dented but not cracked bird egg hatch?

A dented bird egg is unlikely to hatch.

The eggshell is made of calcium carbonate, which is a hard and brittle material. When an egg is dented, the shell may crack or shatter, which can damage the embryo inside. Even if the shell does not crack, the dent may still cause the embryo to develop abnormally.

In addition, a dented egg may not be able to properly exchange gases with the environment. This can lead to the embryo suffocating or developing respiratory problems.

For these reasons, it is unlikely that a dented egg will hatch.