how do you know

[davecash]

how do you know if an egg is fertilized or not?

 

[alex]

Well, one, if you have a rooster, first of all. Two, if a hen sitts on it non-stop. . .and when she goes to take a drink she comes back to sit on it for a long period of time...thats not the best advice, but, i hope i helped!
good luck!!!
-alex

 

[rosyposyosy]

you cant tell if its fertilized if a hen sits on it! thats just from broodiness. they will do that even if a roo isnt present. most likely if you have a roo an egg is fertilized. roos are really good at that lol. are you asking for eating or hatching? cuz pretty much if for hatching you can collect the eggs to put in your incubator and about a week in you candle the eggs to see if theirs a little baby chick in there. for eating there is no problems with eating fertilized eggs. they taste just the same. just make sure the eggs are fresh - ish

 

[Alleyoops25]

I agree with rosy, If you are collecting for eating make sure the fertilized egg aint been out in a nest being nice and warm for a long time. I found a nest that I hadnet noticed before, ( free ranging chickens) and I just collected them and the next day I crack one open in a cake mix and there was a eye ball and other little parts of a chick that had started to develop!!!!!

I was so grossed out it took me a long time before I ever ate a egg agian. I ended up selling or giving them away.
And i also agree that about the easiest and about only way to tell that a incubator egg is fertile is by letting them go for about a week and then you can candle them, and see blood viens, and some times even a little chick a swimming awway in there.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yep, exactly what alley and rosy said. If you have a roo, most likley they will all be fertile. Only true way to tell is to incubate them for a week or so and candle... and if you do that, might as well hatch them!

As for setting on eggs... a broody hen is all hormonal and will sit when ever she feels like, regardless of if she has fertile eggs or not... shoot, some just need imaginary eggs to go broody! Sitting on air, waiting for chicks to appear