Cockatrice egg
A cockatrice egg can be very useful, but also very dangerous.
Using a Cockatrice Egg
When thrown, the egg will stone the monster that it hits if the monster is not resistant to petrification. If wielded, the cockatrice egg will stone whatever monster you hit. After either of these, the cockatrice egg is broken and cannot be re-used.
Obtaining Cockatrice Eggs
They can be obtained by:
- wishing for them.
- laying an egg as a cockatrice.
- note that breaking your own eggs causes a luck penalty.
- polypiling stacks of meatballs obtained via the stone to flesh spell.
- in small numbers (occasionally none) in a cockatrice nest
Keeping a Cockatrice Egg
Like real eggs, cockatrice eggs need some special care. An egg that is just carried will hatch after a short while. However, an egg that has "timed out" will not hatch and can safely be carried. An egg that is inside a container will not hatch - this is where they need to be if you want them to time out. To tell when the egg has timed out, pick up more than one. If they stack in your inventory they will not hatch.