Eating fertilized eggs.

[sixgunrich]

I havent any chickens yet, am thinkin I will get them this spring. I want to know can you eat fertilized eggs ? How do you know if they are fertile or not? Is just having a rooster around the hens all that it takes for you to expect them to be fertile? This term broody, does it mean that when the eggs are fertile the hen will lay on them? My experience with chickens is zero and I want to have them on my organic vegetable farm as my first livestock. I am thinking of Black Australorps because I want dual purpose birds that are good at foraging. Thank you guys.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Yes, you may eat fertilized eggs. Here is a great link on how to tell if they are fertile--Link to Speckledhen's egg fertility thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008

A broody is a hen that is ready to sit on the eggs and hatch them. They are not as common as they used to be due to breeding for production.