/ Register

  1. Check out our Random Pics Page here, or learn more about it here.

Can anything else make an egg look fertile?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by amysflock, Jul 27, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jul 27, 2008 #1
    amysflock

    amysflock Songster

    112
    0
    129
    May 8, 2008
    Tenino, WA
    We have 11 hens, two in one coop and nine in the other. Of the flock of nine, I get no more than 8 eggs on any given day (less lately, as it's been hot).

    In that flock I have 4 black australorps, 1 yellow and white Easter Egger, 1 Rhode Island Red and 3 red stars. No one has the makings of a roo...no spurs, no one's bigger, has larger tail feathers, and no one crows.

    And yet...this morning we cracked about 8 eggs from the fridge, and all the brown ones (which can only come from this flock as my other two hens are Easter Eggers) looked fertile, with that characteristic white spot on the yolk!

    How is this possible? These chickens are all about 15 months old, and no one has ever showed "male" signs. Is there anything else that can look like a fertile spot but really be something else? (None were bloody like capillaries were developing, but I've also never seen anyone get broody to get a fertile egg to that point.)

    I'm so confused!
     
  2. Jul 27, 2008 #2
    arlee453

    arlee453 Songster

    3,768
    11
    221
    Aug 13, 2007
    near Charlotte NC
    It's the bullseye AROUND the white spot that indicates fertility.

    However the USDA says there is no way to tell by looking at the yolk that the egg is fertile. Not that I'm a-saying that the USDA has it all right all the time...

    At any rate, do a search for 'bullseye' and you'll find a thread or two or three where folks have posted pics of what to look for.

    I've read the posts and looked at my eggs and [​IMG] ??

    Only way to know for sure is to incubate them and see if you get any development after a week.
     
  3. Jul 27, 2008 #3
    steffpeck

    steffpeck Songster

    1,957
    2
    196
    Mar 25, 2007
    Erda, UT
    I believe all eggs have the white spot on them. If they have a ring around the spot, kind of like a bulls eye, that is what you look at to see if it is fertilized or not.

    There is a good thread on here that shows pictures of fertilized and non- fertilized eggs. I will find it and post it on here.


    Here is the link. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2008
  4. Jul 28, 2008 #4
    amysflock

    amysflock Songster

    112
    0
    129
    May 8, 2008
    Tenino, WA
    Ah, no bullseye, just the white spot. That explains it...they're not fertile!

    Thanks!
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by: