Help

[Kaleb stuckwish]

I got 4 eggs today and i don't know if they are alive or even fertile can u help me!!!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm sorry, I don't fully understand your question.

Do you mean you got 4 eggs today...have you set them yet? An egg has to be held at about 100 degrees F before it begins any growth.

The only way to know if an egg is fertile before setting it is to crack it open and check for the "bullseye" on the yolk (which is the blastoderm carrying the DNA for growth).

Obviously if you want to hatch the eggs, cracking them open is counterproductive.

So, you will need to set them either under a hen or in an incubator. Then check them about day 3 to see if there is growth. Checking again day 5 and even day 10 can tell you if they are continuing to grow.

I'll link an excellent candling chart below so you can see the appropriate growth.

Be aware that if you are using low tech (like most of us) meaning a Dollar Store LED flashlight and the egg cupped in your hand, you will only see the vein roadmap in the first few days, then by day 5 to beyond you will see dark blob with lighter shell. The blob will keep growing, and you often see some veins radiating out of that. That tells you you've got a live chick growing.

Good luck with your egg incubating!

LofMc

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/