How to Tell a Fertile vs INfertile Egg (Pictures)

[TheOddOneOut]

Thought you'd like to see this since so many have asked how to tell if their eggs are fertilized. The first picture is an INfertile egg.

On this one, you can see the ring, indicating fertility. This is caused by cells in the center of the blastoderm dying off and leaving a cleared out area, making that bullseye appearance. Not all are as clear as this one is, but you get the idea.

**sorry for the graininess of these photos, but they were from years ago and a not so great camera.

What about eggs that are surely infertile, but have bullseyes? Got a few of those from my girls.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Looks fertile, but I have all proven hens who are 11 months old. No “hermaphrodites” either.

 

[My2butterflies]

Do any of you with bullseyes on your eggs, but no roosters have other poultry?
My guineas fertilized one of my girls when she snuck out of her fenced run.

 

[aart]

What about eggs that are surely infertile, but have bullseyes? Got a few of those from my girls.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fertile-egg-no-rooster.1261129/#post-20245231

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Do any of you with bullseyes on your eggs, but no roosters have other poultry?
My guineas fertilized one of my girls when she snuck out of her fenced run.

Yup.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fertile-egg-no-rooster.1261129/#post-20245231

Oh, wow! Shocking...but I don’t know if they’re really
fertile. Hmm.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Sometimes you can see a dot when you candle, before setting. But it does take a trained eye to see it. (not a meat dot they look diff.)

 

[Doriss]

Thought you'd like to see this since so many have asked how to tell if their eggs are fertilized. The first picture is an INfertile egg.

On this one, you can see the ring, indicating fertility. This is caused by cells in the center of the blastoderm dying off and leaving a cleared out area, making that bullseye appearance. Not all are as clear as this one is, but you get the idea.

**sorry for the graininess of these photos, but they were from years ago and a not so great camera.

 

[Doriss]

OK, I always like to save a life, so if an egg has been found to be fertile after cracking open, how do you save it and hatch it?

 

[aart]

OK, I always like to save a life, so if an egg has been found to be fertile after cracking open, how do you save it and hatch it?

You can't.