How long until I should get fertilized eggs?

[CluksNDucks]

I added a Roo to my girls close to a month ago and have grabbed a few eggs and stuck them in the incubator. None of my hens have seemed broody at all, in fact one doesn't lay at all (I think she was older than I was told she was because she's also a huge bird). I candled the eggs I'm testing as it's day 7 but am not sure I'm seeing anything promising. The girls love him and i know ive seen him mount a few of them several times. Thoughts?

 

[nchls school]

I added a Roo to my girls close to a month ago and have grabbed a few eggs and stuck them in the incubator. None of my hens have seemed broody at all, in fact one doesn't lay at all (I think she was older than I was told she was because she's also a huge bird). I candled the eggs I'm testing as it's day 7 but am not sure I'm seeing anything promising. The girls love him and i know ive seen him mount a few of them several times. Thoughts?

The eggs should be fertile by now. Post a picture of the candled image if you can. What breed do you have? Many breeds no longer have the broody instinct as that trait has been bred out of them so they lay more eggs.

 

[CluksNDucks]

I will try to get a photo. I've got a Barred Rock, an Australorpe, a Barred Rock/Marans, a Silver and a Golden Laced Wyandotte. My Roo is a Barred Rock/Ameraucana

 

[CluksNDucks]

In case that's confusing I've got both a Silver and a Golden Laced Wyandotte. The Golden is the one that I don't think is laying.

 

[nchls school]

At the top of this page is a box marked "breeds". It will tell you ifthe breeds you have will go broody.

 

[aart]

At the top of this page is a box marked "breeds". It will tell you ifthe breeds you have will go broody.

Might tell you what breeds are likely to go broody....but no guarantees there, it's an individual thing.

Have you looked at blastocell on the yolks when you break eggs to eat?
This thread shows a plethora of examples of fertile and non-fertile yolks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[CluksNDucks]

I tried to get photos, can't as they don't really show much more than a lit up egg. Lol I can say though that there certainly does seem to be a mass that doesn't allow light to pass through so I'm thinking they're fertile. Yay! I can post a photo of a cracked egg even though it's about a week old and has been in the fridge.

 

[CluksNDucks]

Might tell you what breeds are likely to go broody....but no guarantees there, it's an individual thing.

Have you looked at blastocell on the yolks when you break eggs to eat?
This thread shows a plethora of examples of fertile and non-fertile yolks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

Thanks, I posted my above post before reading this one. I will have to try a fresh egg to see if it's fertile.

 

[aart]

Quote: It doesn't need to be fresh...you just have to turn the yolk over with a spoon until you can see the blastocell...
then photgraph it so the reflection of your lighting isn't obscuring the blastocell...can be tricky.

 

[CluksNDucks]

So, I only have 4 chickens eggs in the bator as a test. 2 of which are I believe from my Marans and it's tough to see inside but they are the same age as the other two which are also brown but I can see into them. Only 1 of the 4 I can actually see an embryo moving around...and it's awesome!

But the others I just see a large spot that doesn't seem to be moving around. But I'll give it another week or so and see if anything develops. BUT the one with an embryo tells me that I do have fertile eggs at least.