How to Tell a Fertile vs INfertile Egg (Pictures)

[Cowpoke]

Need help figuring this out not sure if my eggs are fertile here's some pics

Looks to be NOT fertile!

 

[greybush]

Yea that picture is of a fresh egg I don't think it had enough time because everyone that I've cooked so far has the fertile bullseye look to them
As for them going broody I'm just talking about leaving the eggs in the nest and seeing if it motivates one Of my hens to sit

 

[Charmdbychicks]

You might try the artificial eggs that feed stores sell. They won't break if they're pushed out or spoil if they don't get collected.

 

[katjames11]

Thank you for that info, I dont have any eggs that resemble any of those markings as yet..Im begining to think Ive been sold all dud fowls as well as the rooster, no sing of brooding and no sign of mating..The Light Sussex I was told was 12 months old and would be broody and she hasnt laid any eggs at all..

 

[katjames11]

I'd like to know what makes a hen go broody..does she start once she has been mated with.. are the eggs fertile when you place them up to a light and see red specs in them.. & do I leave the eggs in the nest & hope for the best or do I move them & make another nest away from where the hens normally lay.?

 

[aart]

Thank you for that info, I dont have any eggs that resemble any of those markings as yet..Im begining to think Ive been sold all dud fowls as well as the rooster, no sing of brooding and no sign of mating..The Light Sussex I was told was 12 months old and would be broody and she hasnt laid any eggs at all..

I'd like to know what makes a hen go broody..does she start once she has been mated with.. are the eggs fertile when you place them up to a light and see red specs in them.. & do I leave the eggs in the nest & hope for the best or do I move them & make another nest away from where the hens normally lay.?

How long have you had the chicken?
Sometimes the stress of moving to an new environment can stop them from laying for several days to several weeks, give her time to settle in.

You can't 'make' a hen go broody...either she will or she won't. You'll know she's broody when she sits a nest for 2-3 days and nights.

 

[katjames11]

One lot of hens Ive had since November then the Sussex Ive had for two months & she is well & truely settled in,they all get on really well & I have two 10 week old chicks that I put in the coup 2 weeks ago with no problem being excepted by the others..

 

[farnorth]

I'd like to know what makes a hen go broody..does she start once she has been mated with.. are the eggs fertile when you place them up to a light and see red specs in them.. & do I leave the eggs in the nest & hope for the best or do I move them & make another nest away from where the hens normally lay.?

I think it is day length myself. Seems to happen spring and fall for my hens. Though it depends on the breed of chicken too....some go broody at the drop of a hat and others do only on rare occasions. No being mated with doesn't affect it at all as hens that have never ever seen a rooster will go broody.

Also, no, red specks are not an indication of fertility. Red specks can be in eggs that are not fertile. The best way to tell is that you have to crack a few open and look for white bullseye on the yolks. Just check when you are making breakfast or using eggs for baking etc. Before using them crack them into a bowl and see if you can fine a white spot on the yolk. If the white spot has a white ring around it that's makes it look like a bulls eye then they are fertile.

If one of your hens starts sitting in the nest box and does not want to move out of it then that is when she is broody. At that time it would be best to move her to a location where she won't be bothered. Give her some fake eggs or golf balls to sit on for a few days..... In the meantime gather some of your best eggs (no cracks and not dirty) and if she looks like she will stay setting then remove the golf balls and give her the eggs you want her to hatch....give them all at the same time so they will all hatch out at the same time....this is best as if you stagger the eggs she will abandon the ones that aren't hatched after she has some hatch out into chicks.

 

[farnorth]

Yea that picture is of a fresh egg I don't think it had enough time because everyone that I've cooked so far has the fertile bullseye look to them
As for them going broody I'm just talking about leaving the eggs in the nest and seeing if it motivates one Of my hens to sit

I just leave several golf balls in one of my nesting boxes. If one of the ladies feels broody she will usually pick this full looking nest to sit in. If no one is feeling broody they still will lay an egg in there with the golf balls. Using golf balls means you won't have to give up eggs or have them go bad on you....or try to figure out which eggs are old and which are fresh.

Also, try taking the pics of the yolks without the flash on. The flash reflection makes it hard to tell if there is a bulls eye in the pics or not.

 

[katjames11]

Thank you farnorth,
I got the light sussex as the man from the co-op said they are the best broody hens out there but she isnt even laying even though I have had her over 2 months,I complained and he said oh its almost winter so they wont lay when its cold...I am grateful for all your information..