I have one rooster & 1 hen, and lots of fertilized eggs, they are just as good to eat as non fertilized eggs. Sold about 10 doz to a variety of people who had incubators. About 5 weeks ago one of my BO hens went Broody, but was being pestered so much by the other hens, she left her three eggs, one was fertile.
Then she had 6 eggs, and was again being pestered, so I quick built her a broody house, and put her & the eggs in it. On Mon., Tues. & Wed. She hatched out 4 chicks,
two she kicked out a few days after she was moved. Both were fertile
My second hen who went broody, started with 6 eggs, then up to 9 eggs, last week she had 14 & when I moved her to her new broody house (also being pestered by hens) last night, she was on 19 eggs. The first 6 are due to hatch on Tues.
So unless you have a hen who is sitting on a nest & will not get off, just gather the eggs for your eating pleasure. Once you get a hen who wants to sit, make sure her nest box is low to the ground, or give her a place to brood by herself.
Fertile eggs are in a state of suspended animation until they have consistent heat from an incubator or a broody hen, then development begins. That is why I leave eggs on the counter for a week, just in case I get a call from someone wanting eggs for hatching. They can still be hatched after setting for a week. After a week I eat them or give them to my neighbors for eating.
Hope one of your hens goes broody soon.
