fertile eggs

[trudyg]

I don't really know where to post this, but here goes. My rooster died and, a week later, one hen decided to sit on eggs. I posted, asking how long fertility lasts after the last breeding. The answer was up to 10 days. Okay, so it's been over a month since Roscoe died. I was away 2 days, so several newly-laid eggs were in the box when I got home. I cracked them for breakfast just now and every single one (3) had the bullseye thing that indicates fertility. Or is that white speck something else? Seems impossible to me, so I just had to comment.

 

[Tre3hugger]

All eggs have a whitish little circle on the yolk. Fertile eggs will have a dot within the circle.

 

[trudyg]

Yes, these have the dot. I ate them already or I'd take a picture. I'll try again tomorrow, just thought it unusual.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Def post a pic tomorrow and we can help confirm fertile or not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is possible but extremely unusual for eggs to remain fertile for a month. Highly unlikely. If you can post photos tomorrow and we can take a look at it. I suspect it is the blastoderm and not the bull's eye. This link has photos that shows you what to look for.

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

People tend to not be as amazed at nature as much as they should be. A lot of wonderous things can happen. That might be sperm remaining viable much longer than it should be. That might be parthenogenesis. This is where eggs can be fertile without a male. It has been observed in turkeys more but can happen in chickens.

https://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/turkeys-and-parthenogenesis/

I strongly suspect you are looking at the blastoderm and not a bull's eye but it would be really interesting to see a photo.

 

[trudyg]

None of the eggs I got yesterday had any bullseye. The ones the day before must have been the last of those that were still fertile. Maybe I was off on when he died, but this just struck me as so odd, that all 3 that day showed it.