Are fertalized eggs any diffrent from unfertilized?

[Maderia4]

This is my first attempt at raising chickens. I obviously don't know much about chickens other than how to keep them happy. I'd love to have a rooster but I would hate to crack open an egg and see the beginnings of a chick. If the eggs are collected daily then refrigerated will they be the same as unfertilized?

Also, my hens are 3 months old. How would I introduce a rooster? I'm not sure I even know where to get one.

Keep on clucken!

Maderia4

 

[Fred's Hens]

You'd never know the difference. If you bought organic, free range eggs at a better supermarket, you've probably eaten dozens and dozens of fertilized eggs. It's a speck so small it is extremely hard to even see.

The only way you're going to get chicks to grow is for your hen to go broody and sit on the eggs for 21 days. Very rare with most egg laying breeds.

Or, you incubate them in an incubator. That's it. That's the only way you'd ever get the embryo to grow. Those of us who WANT to incubate chicks are not always successful, LOL.

 

[Maderia4]

Thanks Fred,

Now I just have to find a rooster.

maderia4

 

[A Chicken Owner]

You'd never know the difference.  If you bought organic, free range eggs at a better supermarket, you've probably eaten dozens and dozens of fertilized eggs.  It's a speck so small it is extremely hard to even see.

The only way you're going to get chicks to grow is for your hen to go broody and sit on the eggs for 21 days.  Very rare with most egg laying breeds.

Or, you incubate them in an incubator.  That's it.  That's the only way you'd ever get the embryo to grow.  Those of us who WANT to incubate chicks are not always successful, LOL.

I doubt there are fertile eggs in supermarkets but I could be wrong.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I doubt there are fertile eggs in supermarkets but I could be wrong.

We have several threads here on BYC dedicated, actually, to hatching eggs from Markets, similar to Trader Joe's and many other markets that sell free range eggs.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/628411/experienced-trader-joe-hatchers

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...cery-store-egg-hatching-club-are-you-a-member

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/633722/hatching-store-bought-eggs-whole-foods-vs-trader-joes

And many, many more. Do a simple search and you'll find over a 100 threads dedicated to the subject.

 

[Roxannemc]

A few ppl say they hatched from Trader Joe eggs.

Don't think the more commercial are fertile as they stay in a factory like setting to lay Pretty gross 100s cramped together in a big room inches apart no roo around for sure ...(see You tube).
There will be no baby if the hen doesn't sit on it and raise the temp to over 90 degrees
You would have to miss collecting the eggs for about a week for a chick to show up well

Anyway IF you have A ROO....... opened you can tell if its fertile as it will have a donut shape white area or some of mine in addition to the white Dot THING in the egg will have a large 1/4 inch white spot not a dot of a spot. Those are fertile.
I dont like the idea either of a chick I n there so I pick out the white spot LOLIm a finiky egg eater!.
Sort of sad but you cant raise every egg to a chick and it doesnt develop until its heated to about 90.DEGREES anway

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

My eggs are purchased by a supermarket... and most of them are fertile.

Here's a great old thread with wonderful photos of fertile and unfertilized eggs. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures