Do you have to candle eggs?

[Chickroo]

We just started to get our first eggs....we have 5 hens and 1 rooster all about 15 weeks... So the eggs are small but healthy. However, how do you tell which eggs are fertilized? What should we look out for? Thanks for your insights and advice.

 

[iron chicken]

if the egg is unfertile, it will not have any lines or anything. the fertile ones usualy have a little round thing that is red apart from unfertile eggs. also if you do not have an egg candler you can candle eggs with a flashlight.

 

[DanEP]

No you don't need to candle your eggs if their just for eating. there is really no difference between fertile and non fertile eggs unless you plan on hatching. As far as telling the two apart do a search on this forum for how to tell a fertile egg. It will show you what to look for.
Most people don't candle the eggs unless their incubating them and are looking for chick development. Even if your eggs are fertile they won't develop unless a broody hen sits on them or you put them in a incubator at 99-100 degrees for a few days. As long as you collect your eggs daily nothing is going to develop.

 

[Chickroo]

Thanks everyone! I don't want chicks right now....so knowing that I can just keep harvesting the eggs for food right after they are laid is good to know, and should I want more chicks in the future I now know what to look for.