Cage free fertilized?

[Hamin]

Hi, I just bought this cage free large eggs from local store, and I searched the internet that it might be fertilized. How can I test that cage-free eggs are fertilized?

 

[PirateGirl]

Hi, I just bought this cage free large eggs from local store, and I searched the internet that it might be fertilized. How can I test that cage-free eggs are fertilized?

For what purpose? For incubation? Or so you know when cooking them? It makes a difference if you need to know without cracking it open?

They can be eaten safely either way, and if coming from the store, probably haven't been kept at the proper temperature for incubation.

 

[junebuggena]

Cage free does not mean fertilized. It just means the hens are kept in a big warehouse rather than in tiny cages. If they were fertile eggs, they would have that somewhere on the label. If it's not mentioned, then they aren't fertile.

 

[PirateGirl]

This pic is pretty good...
http://horseshoe.farm/eggs-fertilized/

 

[Hamin]

Cage free does not mean fertilized. It just means the hens are kept in a big warehouse rather than in tiny cages. If they were fertile eggs, they would have that somewhere on the label. If it's not mentioned, then they aren't fertile.

If it's not mentioned "fertilized" where can I buy them?

 

[Hamin]

For what purpose? For incubation? Or so you know when cooking them? It makes a difference if you need to know without cracking it open?

They can be eaten safely either way, and if coming from the store, probably haven't been kept at the proper temperature for incubation.

Um... for incubation

 

[Windus]

Um... for incubation

They have probably been refrigerated and if they are more than 5 days past laying they would not be worth your time trying to incubate them.

 

[Hamin]

They have probably been refrigerated and if they are more than 5 days past laying they would not be worth your time trying to incubate them.

They had been refrigerated for 2 days

 

[junebuggena]

If you want fertilized eggs for incubation, you'll have to find a breeder. If you aren't picky about breed, you may be able to find someone local with a backyard flock with a rooster. Ebay is a popular source for hatching eggs, but it's buyer-beware. Shipped eggs are gamble. Sometimes a long trip by mail will render the eggs unhatchable, even if very well packed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where did you get those cage free eggs? If from a farmer's market or something like that talk to the people you got them from. I don't know what country you are in but here in the States it is really highly unlikely any store bought cage free eggs are fertile or, even if they were, they are probably unhatchable because of the way they have been stored. The only way to know for sure is to incubate them but you are almost certainly wasting your time and the eggs. There is a thread on here where people have hatched eggs they got from Trader Joe's. You might search for that thread to see how that goes or what to look for.

Not knowing where you are located some of these suggestions may not be available to you to find hatching eggs. You could search for your state or country thread in the "Where am I? Where are you!" section on this forum and try chatting with your neighbors. Who knows what is just down the road from you? Here in the States you can chat with your county extension office, there is a really good chance they can find someone that can help. You can go to chicken shows and chat with the people there. Or find out who runs the chicken show at the county fair, they should have local contacts. Craigslist or something like it is an option. Chat with the people at the feed store, they may know someone or at least have a bulletin board you can post a message on. You can go to the "Buy, Sell, Trade" section of the forum and read ads or post your own. Hatch rate is more uncertain with shipped eggs but a lot of people hatch shipped eggs. It's usually better to get them local if you can but it's an option, otherwise that section would not have that much activity.

Before you hatch eggs you need to know what your goals are for the chicks. Why do you want them; eggs, pets, meat, or something else? That will have a big influence on what breeds or types you get. Also you will hatch some cockerels. You need a plan for how you will handle them. Get your facilities ready long before you think you will need them. Life has a way of messing up schedules when it comes to building coops and runs.

Lots of people find fertile eggs to hatch, some just have to work harder than others. Good luck!