Fertile eggs?

[tobit]

Can anyone tell me if these eggs are fertile?

Hen number 1 (Lotte)

Hen number 2 (Bertha)

Hen number 3 (spotty)

Hen number 4 (pip)

 

[tobit]

I only ever see pip (hen number 3) being mated, the rest avoid being mated

 

[sumi]

They all look fertile to my untrained eye. But do have a look here for more comparison pics:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures/0_30

 

[Bryam]

Collect a few eggs and put them in the incubator. Then you will get your answer.

 

[tobit]

Collect a few eggs and put them in the incubator. Then you will get your answer.

Sadly I only have the "natural" kind

- So it would seem a little harsh to let a broody incubate eggs for several days and then remove them!

They all look fertile to my untrained eye. But do have a look here for more comparison pics:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures/0_30

Thanks, that's also what I thought, the white dots (blastodiscs) seem very large for infertile eggs, but it's very hard to make out a white "bulls eye"...

maybe someone else will chip in too with their opinion

 

[Bryam]

I would give one of your broody hens a couple of eggs! They look fertile, so go for! Take the plunge! She won't mind! Broody hens live sitting on eggs!! Fertile or not!

Good luck!

 

[tobit]

I would give one of your broody hens a couple of eggs! They look fertile, so go for! Take the plunge! She won't mind! Broody hens live sitting on eggs!! Fertile or not!

Good luck!

Thanks! I would but I'm trying to break (unsuccessfully) my current broody hen as we dont have the space to accommodate more chickens :/

 

[Bryam]

Oh, okay so why worry about the eggs being fertile it not if you don't want to hatch any? You just want to know if your rooster is doing his job? Lol!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Agreed - they all appear fertile. Not seeing a mating is not reliable as the hen can store sperm in her system for some time so even if he only mates a given hen once in a week (or more) she can produce fertile eggs and you can see how you might miss one or two matings over a span of days.

 

[tobit]

Oh, okay so why worry about the eggs being fertile it not if you don't want to hatch any? You just want to know if your rooster is doing his job? Lol!

Well if I wanted to hatch out chicks in future, and if I wanted to sell a few as hatching eggs

Agreed - they all appear fertile.  Not seeing a mating is not reliable as the hen can store sperm in her system for some time so even if he only mates a given hen once in a week (or more) she can produce fertile eggs and you can see how you might miss one or two matings over a span of days. 

I realise this, but 3/4 of the hens actively avoid being mated - I have never seen him mate any of those 3!