End of Incubation, Were The Eggs Even Fertile?

[VintageLilFarm]

I am nearing the end of the incubation period for the eggs I currently have going. Last week, I broke open 9 eggs that were obviously clear during candling, with no chick development. When I broke them open, I could not even see a red dot, or anything that looked like they were fertile. Two days ago, I broke an egg that was stinky, and there was a definite something in it (along with disgusting liquid), which leads me to believe it was fertile and/or had an embryo that was a "quitter".

My question is, when the incubation is done, and certain eggs don't hatch, when I break them to see what went on, will there be some indication, even though they will be over 3 weeks old, whether they were fertile or not? If the eggs are just egg looking and I see no red or any other variance, is this indicative of it never having been fertilized to begin with? Were the eggs I broke open (and saw nothing inside) conclusively never fertile, or can the signs disappear within the 21 days of incubation?

 

[Danielle2006]

When you candle the ones you have left do you see any blood veins and movement in the eggs?

 

[Danielle2006]

The ones you broke open sound like they were not fertile unfortunately but the signs don't disappear over the time of incubation they just turn into a nasty mess unless they died very very early on but you should still see a red ring inside the egg when candling if it did

 

[VintageLilFarm]

When you candle the ones you have left do you see any blood veins and movement in the eggs?

Yes, I know which ones look alive at this point. I just want to try to find out of the ones that do not hatch, which ones were never fertilized vs. which ones may have been damaged in transit vs. other factors.

 

[VintageLilFarm]

The ones you broke open sound like they were not fertile unfortunately but the signs don't disappear over the time of incubation they just turn into a nasty mess unless they died very very early on but you should still see a red ring inside the egg when candling if it did

Thank you! That is very helpful. This is what I suspected, but wanted to confirm.

 

[Danielle2006]

Thank you! That is very helpful. This is what I suspected, but wanted to confirm.

You're welcome! Good luck with the hatch.