Can An Egg Become Infertile?

[popcornpuppy]

If an egg is fertilized it develops the doughnut shaped ring on the yolk, I understand this. But, does anyone know if that formation remains for a specific amount of time and does refridgeration have an affect? if an egg is saw three weeks old, and refridgerated will you still be able to tell?

 

[faykokoWV]

I think an egg can be fertilized but still not develop into a chick if the proper care isn't taken. I'm not sure if that's what you are asking. I think if it was fertilized, then development stopped the ring would go away.

 

[Judy]

It won't become infertile, but it will be less likely to grow and hatch successfully as it ages. I don't know whether the doughnut appearance changes with storage. I do know people have refrigerated eggs for a week then incubated and had at least a decent hatch (they must be left at room temp for a half a day or so before starting incubation.) Actually, I believe some who sell hatching eggs refrigerate them for a few days while collecting them to sell.

 

[dancingbear]

I'm not sure you'd call it "becoming infertile", but, yes, the cells in the germinal disc can die, and then the egg won't hatch. I don't think the bull's eye disappears, though. I suppose it might if you wait long enough, it might spread out and sort of get distorted.

 

[popcornpuppy]

Thank You, the nature of my question was if the bullseye would dissappear or not. because there is no way to tell if it was there in the first place, an older egg without a bullseye may not mean that the egg was never fertile. I was curious because if I open an older egg say two weeks, and there is no bullseye does that mean that the eggs ar not fertile or that the bullseye has just gone away due to the death of the first cells.
I know this is a tough question but thought someone may know..