How to Tell a Fertile vs INfertile Egg (Pictures)

[Coop de Grass]

@Strader Those yolks are gorgeous! What breed of chicken, and what do you feed them? Curious if you add anything to their feed to enhance the color? Marigold petals?

 

[AustralorpsAU]

These two are fertile:


This one is not!

 

[FreedomFarm13]

I can't seem to decide if this is fertile or not. I need some unbiased eyes here...

All three pics are the same egg:






Ok, so what's the verdict? Should I break out the bator or make breakfast? LOL

 

[aart]

Ok, so what's the verdict? Should I break out the bator or make breakfast? LOL

Not sure if you should break out the bator or not, but yes, those look fertile to me.

 

[speckledhen]

I can't pronounce that one fertile, it's one of the oddballs, but even if it was, that one ain't making it to the bator.

 

[Speak2Erin]

A neighbors dog killed my Silkie rooster and three hens. I have one female Silkie left, so I ordered an incubator (arriving tonight) and grabbed all the Silkie eggs I had - from nests, counter and fridge. I cracked one open to make sure they are fertile. (He was so freakin' young, just recently would he have luck with two of the hens.) I think it looks fertile - and the fridge eggs will be fine, right?

 

[Speak2Erin]

May

A neighbors dog killed my Silkie rooster and three hens. I have one female Silkie left, so I ordered an incubator (arriving tonight) and grabbed all the Silkie eggs I had - from nests, counter and fridge. I cracked one open to make sure they are fertile. (He was so freakin' young, just recently would he have luck with two of the hens.) I think it looks fertile - and the fridge eggs will be fine, right?

maybe a better picture

 

[aart]

Sure looks like it's fertile.....a few days in the incy should tell the tale for sure.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, that looks fertile.

I would include the fridge eggs. People talk about the ideal storage conditions as if you have no choice. Hatch rates are better the closer you store them to ideal conditions, but those eggs can be pretty tough. People hatch refrigerator eggs all the time. Sometimes it is a total failure, sometimes you get excellent hatch rates. You might mark which eggs are from the fridge and see for yourself how it works out.

The same things for the eggs being turned or not turned while storing them for incubation. It’s better if they are turned but you will still get a lot to hatch that are not turned during storage. Same thing for storing them pointy side down. It helps for sure but plenty of eggs are not stored that way and they still hatch. Another big factor is how old the eggs are.

What I’d do is immediately take all the eggs you intend to hatch and store them in a relatively cool place with fairly consistent temperatures and not in a breeze from an air vent or in direct sunlight through a window. Store them pointy side down and turn then until you are ready to set them in the incubator.

Good luck!

 

[speckledhen]

Sorry, I've been involved in stuff all day. Yes, it's fertile. And I agree with Ridge to include the fridge eggs. I've hatched those myself. Never count them out.