Fertilized Eggs

[divingmama2]

Hello All! After starting my own backyard flock with 5 chicks earlier this year, my chicks have finally matured and are starting to lay eggs, yay! Only problem is that it turns out one of my hens is actually a rooster. I did not intend to raise chicks, I only want to have eggs. My question is this, if I collect the eggs daily and if they are by chance fertilized, can I prevent further development of the embryo by refrigerating? Or is there something else I should do?
I am contemplating finding a new home for my Roo to prevent any "accidents".
Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated!

Laura

 

[BantamLover21]

As long as you collect the eggs each day, they will not develop. Fertilized eggs only really begin to develop when they are sat on by a hen (or put in an incubator) for several hours, at the proper conditions (99-103 degree F. temperature and 50% humidity). So unless your hens decide to go broody without you noticing, your eggs will be just like unfertilized eggs.

 

[Peeps61]

X2. I had a rooster for over a year with no egg "problems". It was nice to have the option of putting them in an incubator, but we never did. They were fertile too! I could see the bullseye mark on the yolks when I cooked with them.

 

[divingmama2]

Thanks for the reply. How do you deal with some of the "courting" behaviors of your Roo? My Barred Rock Roo chases after the hens and plucks out a beak full of feathers. I have heard this is typical "courting" behavior, but the hens seem less than pleased about this new development. Also, they are in a pen during the day when I am at work and while there is a fair amount of room, it's hard to escape an overly amorous rooster. Any thoughts?

Thanks again!

 

[divingmama2]

Thanks so much for the info! It is really helpful!