Hen and Roo ages for fertilized eggs

[asaxton]

I have several hens and roosters that are 8 months old. Two separate areas with hens and roo in each. No more than 5 hens per rooster. All of the hens are laying very well for us. Is there an age that they all must be to start getting the fertilized eggs? We eat the eggs all the time and don't recognize anything that appears to be fertilized. I saw the great pics of the fertilized eggs. We would like to hatch some of the eggs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

They should be plenty old enough for fertilized eggs. Could you try posting pictures of the eggs so the experts on here can look for the bulls eye. Sometimes a little experienced help can really come in handy.

 

[asaxton]

OK. Three pictures of one egg. Just a random draw. Hopefully there is enough detail in the picture. Thank you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Your detail looked great. Nice photos. I did not see a bull's eye. The front left on 1 and 3 looks like it may be where one might develop, but I did not see the halo. It is possible it was on the underside of the yolk, not visible to the camera.

 

[speckledhen]

Honestly, there is too much glare on it to tell anything. It's so challenging to take a non-glarey pic of an egg! If you could try different lighting, that might help some. I can't see the blastodisc at all.

 

[asaxton]

Tried another egg but I am not sure it is any better. I wouldn't want to try to incubate them and them not be fertilized. I can't imagine that this would be a great adventure. If they aren't fertilized, is there something I should be doing to try to increase the chances that they will be? The breed is Dominique's. I have two coops set up. One with 3 hens and 1 rooster, the other with 6 hens and 1 rooster. I have seen both of the roosters at least attempting the feat.

 

[speckledhen]

Let me ask you something....do you see a white dot of any type in the pics you took/on the eggs when you look at them? I don't see one, which would tell me that it's on the bottom of the yolk. Very carefully, take a spoon and turn it over till you see that dot/circle. That's what we need to see.

 

[asaxton]

Thank you for your patience. We were able to flip the egg over and found this:

 

[Ridgerunner]

I trust SpeckledHen more than me on this topic, but that looks like you are going to hatch eggs soon. Congratulations.

 

[Smokin Silkies]

YAY Its FERTILE!!!