How do I know if eggs are fertile?

[JeanR]

Fertile? See the birds mating--most likely fertile. Otherwise, cannot be sure until set and then candled after 4-5 days with light shells. See a red spider, then a dark blob for a few days, then cloudy. Start all eggs at the same time, so they hatch a the same time. Eggs keep for days, but may hatch best if not kept more than weeks or so. Room temp and in an egg carton, tilted end for end each day, to keep the oldest eggs Yolks from settling to the shell on one side. Europe and Britain do not refrigerate store or purchased eggs, they do not spoil (but are not washed like they are in the US--this removes the protection from the shell, that helps them keep fresh for weeks! Eggs have the best protection of any food that we enjoy--Shells!

 

[maburg81]

I have NEVER had a rotten egg in more than 50 years of poultry. This includes eggs in nests that hens"stole" outside, well hidden, and after being in the slightly protected nest, in rain and cold night, warm or hot days from egg 1 and more than 2 weeks more, as each egg was laid, then under the hen for 21 days more, before hatching. when she brought in a flock of chicks (after being sure that by then. the hen had been taken by a varmint!) Nest found, and usually every egg hatched, after being on the ground (perfect humidity) for up to 40 days. (And any egg that was infertile, clear, and did not hatch, is not spoiled, just Old! Does not mean that you did not! Don't be afraid to open a dark egg (just hope it wasn't an almost fully developed chick-air space is not always well seen). Just do it at a garbage dump or similar place, with a shovel or dirt to eliminate gunk and odor. if it IS spoiled! Good luck the next round!

Usually, it is possible to locate a hen that is laying in a "hidden" nest, as most often she will come in most every day, for feed and water, and if you are about when she comes in, she will sneak back only when she thinks you are not watching! And she can be off the nest for several hours, with not problem with the eggs setting. You may or may not be able to move her and her eggs in (at night and into a lockup, so she can't leave!) Ducks might be harder, as they do love to nest "out"!

Yes, she is staying on the nest all the time. She comes into the coop once a day, from what I've seen to eat, and then goes back out. I never saw them actually breeding but we did See the white duck trying to get on her a few times. He's even tried with our chickens lol. So idk. I'm afraid they're not fertile but I'm jist going to leave her alone for a few days more and see what happens.

 

[maburg81]

Just sounds like a nest of mixed old and new infertile eggs to me. Or if fertile not being brooded just getting warm enough to spoil. I'd just chuck them all and then check for bullseye with next fresh egg.

That's what I was thinking. My husband is quite adamant about not throwing them out until we know for sure. I think hes holding out hope for a few ducklings. Me, I'm not so positive about it.