Boiling eggs??

[hd_darcy]

Since my boys collect eggs, I'm a little paranoid about them ever grabbing an egg that has been started. We have a few hens that seem to sit for a bit and then get off. I hope this isn't a dumb question, but would an egg float to the top or react differently when boiled if it were starting to devlelop? I'm paranoid I'm going to crack open an egg that has started developing...UGH.........

TIA!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

No, not until it has developed a lot. The egg loses moisture as it develops and the air sac eventually gets big enough that the egg would float, but this takes a while.

If you gather the eggs every day, you will not see any development, even if it has been under a broody all day. If you do not gather the eggs every day, you might see some development if it is under a broody.

 

[poodlepill]

Do you have a rooster? if you dont there is NO chance of developing

 

[EELover]

How long has the hen been sitting on them? I would think that if its been less than a few days, don't worry about it. Try candling them first if your worried.

 

[CricketYang]

Like everyone else says, if you gather them everyday you're fine. The hens just like to sit on the nests for a little while after laying, they probably need a moment after pushing out that monster egg! Lol

If you have a hen that's sitting on a a few eggs thatyoure looking to actually hatch, I use those gold foil stars that they give out in school. I just put a star on either end of the egg, wherever the chick won't pip or zip and my kids know not to grab those eggs when they collect them

 

[woodmort]

Eggs do not develop right away--it normally takes a chicken a couple of weeks to lay enough eggs to start the brooding process. Boiling would kill any embryo any way but there won't be a developing one unless the eggs have been under the broody for a few days. This is one of those things people not familiar with egg/chick development worry about especially if the eggs are fertilized.