Chicken newbie here....question about eggs

[CrystalMosko]

Hoping I'm post in the correct forum! So, I purchased 11 pullets from a local poultry farm here in North Idaho. I ended up with 2 roosters, both are Red laced Wyandottes. I was strongly encouraged to keep one. I was told that they protect and can also break up hens (if there is a fight). Since I'm SUCH a newbie I'm a little scared about cracking into a fertilized egg. My girls are only about 12 weeks old and aren't laying just yet. I've been reading and reading and everything just says to gather often. Is that all there is to it? ANY help or tips are appreciated! =)

 

[Aunt Angus]

Lemon-Drop....thank you! Yes, the thought of cracking into a developing egg is a completely traumatizing thought! I was completely ready to give away the roosters (and I still might) for this ONE specific reason. I'm not entirely sure as to the best way to 'store' the eggs, as if it's poopy I'll REALLY want to wash it. Love my little flock and can't wait to see eggs! While (at 12 weeks) they are still young, I'm eager to see them lay. =)

If you collect frequently, your eggs will be cleaner. You can always just wash the eggs and refrigerate them if they're gross. They will still last a long time - a couple of months.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So collecting them daily is the fix?

Yes depending on storage.

And they do not need to be refrigerated, correct?

A little complicated. The fertile egg will not develop as long as it is kept below a certain temperature. It will not hatch as long as it is not kept within a very few degrees of incubating temperature. That's around 99.5 Fahrenheit. But the embryo can develop to the point it is noticeable at lower temperatures, it just will not hatch. The warmer it is the faster it develops.

Some experts say don't store it above 80 F. I don't think an egg will develop enough that you will notice any development that low, it probably has more to do with storing it to hatch it later. I don't have anything to really base this on other than my thoughts, but I'd think you'd be OK storing a fertile egg on your counter in the mid 80's F. If you store it in your refrigerator that egg is not going to develop at all.

Sometimes you can find stuff in the egg when you crack it that has nothing to do with it being fertile, but many people get confused about that. Due to the way an egg is put together inside the hen's body, you can get what are called bloody spots or meat spots in the egg. When the yolk is released to start making an egg a blood vessel may break, putting blood on the yolk. Or when it is going through her internal egg making factory assembly line some other material may get in the egg. That's why I always suggest we crack our eggs in a separate bowl before we use them.

There is a risk that our eggs could go bad. If bacteria gets inside the egg it can multiply and you get a "rotten egg". If you've ever smelled that you don't forget it. About the last thing a hen does when laying an egg is to put a layer we call bloom on the egg. That's why a newly laid egg looks wet, bloom comes out wet but it quickly dries. This bloom acts as a bacteria barrier to help stop bacteria getting inside the egg. It is really effective as long as it is intact. A hen can hide a nest, lay eggs for two weeks, then incubate them for three weeks without bacteria getting inside. But if the integrity of the bloom is compromised (it gets scratched or you wash it off) bacteria can get inside and multiply. A dirty egg can have the bloom compromised.

The warmer the egg is stored the fasten bacteria can multiply if it does get inside. Your refrigerator will keep it cool enough that the bacteria cannot multiply. Your counter is probably going to be warm enough that it can.

If you are going to store a fertile egg on your counter I'd want room temperature to be below 80 F in an abundance of caution. If you are going to store any egg on your counter, fertile or not, don't wash it or otherwise compromise the bloom. If it is dirty, wash it and store it in your fridge.

How long would they need to be 'sat' on?

For the embryo to develop to the point you would see something if you crack the egg, over a day but less than two full days. So collect them daily and you will be fine.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

If you collect eggs daily, there shouldn't be an issue. If you accidentally forget, you can candle them (shine a bright flashlight through the egg to spot development) quickly to double check.

You can eat fertile eggs (I do), a fertile egg means they have the potential to develop, but haven't begun to. You just don't want to eat a developing egg. I mean... you could... but please... don't...

They won't start developing unless they are either in very, very warm weather for a few days, (like 100 degrees out) or a hen has been sitting on them (gone broody), or they're incubated.

 

[CrystalMosko]

I totally agree with the other posts! If you get any eggs that are a bit soiled, you can always leave them unwashed until you want to use them, then wash and use them. And welcome to BYC!!!! Happy chicken journey!!!!

Thank you! I'm truly enjoying my journey so far! I've wanted chickens about 10 years now and am FINALLY there! =)

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hoping I'm post in the correct forum! So, I purchased 11 pullets from a local poultry farm here in North Idaho. I ended up with 2 roosters, both are Red laced Wyandottes. I was strongly encouraged to keep one. I was told that they protect and can also break up hens (if there is a fight). Since I'm SUCH a newbie I'm a little scared about cracking into a fertilized egg. My girls are only about 12 weeks old and aren't laying just yet. I've been reading and reading and everything just says to gather often. Is that all there is to it? ANY help or tips are appreciated! =)

If you collect your eggs daily, you're fine. They only develop if a mana is sitting on them, really.

And welcome to chickening!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you Aunt Angus! So collecting them daily is the fix? And they do not need to be refrigerated, correct? How long would they need to be 'sat' on?

A fetus will start developing very quickly as it only takes about 3 weeks for them to fully develop and hatch.

They don't need to be refrigerated if they aren't washed. When chickens lay the eggs, there is a protective coating called the bloom that seals the pores in the egg shell, more or less. This keeps germs and whatnot from getting to the embryo. It also keeps fresh eggs fresh. If you wash the eggs, that bloom is removed, so you need to refrigerate them after washing.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Welcome from Southern Idaho!

 

[CrystalMosko]

If you collect eggs daily, there shouldn't be an issue. If you accidentally forget, you can candle them (shine a bright flashlight through the egg to spot development) quickly to double check.

You can eat fertile eggs (I do), a fertile egg means they have the potential to develop, but haven't begun to. You just don't want to eat a developing egg. I mean... you could... but please... don't...

They won't start developing unless they are either in very, very warm weather for a few days, (like 100 degrees out) or a hen has been sitting on them (gone broody), or they're incubated.

Lemon-Drop....thank you! Yes, the thought of cracking into a developing egg is a completely traumatizing thought! I was completely ready to give away the roosters (and I still might) for this ONE specific reason. I'm not entirely sure as to the best way to 'store' the eggs, as if it's poopy I'll REALLY want to wash it. Love my little flock and can't wait to see eggs! While (at 12 weeks) they are still young, I'm eager to see them lay. =)

 

[picklestheduck]

I totally agree with the other posts! If you get any eggs that are a bit soiled, you can always leave them unwashed until you want to use them, then wash and use them. And welcome to BYC!!!! Happy chicken journey!!!!