Fertile Or Not?

[colbyatwest]

Hi, I have some questions on how you can tale if your eggs are fertile or not? For the last two year I have hatched R.I.R.. And this year I plan to do the same, but we just got a new rooster. Our rooster we saw "on top" of our girls, so we knew the eggs were fertile. I know you can candle after about two weeks, but what can you do to tell if they are ferile, before setting them?
-Thanks, Colby

 

[marlene]

you can crack a few open and look for the bullseye. If you search on here, you should be able to find some posts that people have posted with pictures of fertile eggs with the bullseye.
Hope this helps.

 

[Fly Be Free]

Saw this just this morning. It's a great pic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621551/bullseye-question

 

[colbyatwest]

Thanks that really helped alot

 

[cmom]

Remember since you boy is new it will take 2 to 3 weeks for his sperm to make it's way to the eggs. A hen can keep sperm from any other roos for up to 3 weeks.

 

[stargazingmommy]

Saw this just this morning. It's a great pic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/621551/bullseye-question

and I'm still not sure HOW that happened with no rooster exposure since last summer, and the chick was only 2 wks old then.

 

[Lollipop]

Remember since you boy is new it will take 2 to 3 weeks for his sperm to make it's way to the eggs. A hen can keep sperm from any other roos for up to 3 weeks.

In reality, it only takes 2-3 days for the eggs to be fertile from a new rooster. It does take 3 weeks or so for the hen to be free from the influence of the old rooster. I'm sure that's what you meant to say, but I thought I'd better clear that up.........Pop

 

[bluestar.ranch]

interesting, nature can be unpredictible nice find