How to tell if eggs are fertile?

[rsarns]

I culled my oldest rooster, he was starting to be very aggressive towards my kids and we tried everything to break him of it. I had another cockerel in the coop/run with him and the girls. He is now 6-7 months old, and in the 4 weeks since the other roo went to freezer camp, he has just began to crow. My question is, I have yet to see him mount any of the hens, however I don't spend all day out there (just 60% LOL). Is there a way to see if eggs are fertile when you crack them? I have him in with all the hens, but would like to use him to breed with a couple of my hens... What should I look for?

 

[Avalon1984]

I have the same question. Will see what others have to say

 

[egg-cellent]

Yes there is. When you crack the egg open and put it in a bowl, if you look at the yolk, a fertile egg will have a small bulls eye looking spot on it. It will be about the size of a small pea... If it isn't fertile, it will not have any spots on it..

Best of luck!
Marsha

 

[rsarns]

I checked 3 from today... no bullseye. Wonder how long before this cockerel steps up to the plate?

 

[rsarns]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008

Nice pics of a fertile egg for others wondering! Love this place!

 

[jtbrown]

I was just going to say search for the thread from SpeckledHen, that is a great thread, and you already found it. That was the easiest way for me to tell, by looking. Our cockerals have been gone for 1 1/2 weeks, and we STILL have bullseye eggs (not all just some). I am surprised, it makes no difference, just an observation.

 

[chefchick]

An infertile egg will have a small white spot on the yolk, but a fertile one will have a little ring around it like a bullseye.

 

[Avalon1984]

I wonder if there is a way to tell if it is fertile without cracking it open?

 

[egg-cellent]

Not to my knowledge, you can't tell without opening it.

 

[rsarns]

Well my young cockerel made my day today. I saw him mounting a few of the hens... he is in with my layer flock for now as the pullets I was hoping to breed him with are not of the quality I wanted. I might just try to hatch a few of the eggs from them for more layer flock anyway. Wonder what a Wheaten Marans over my cuckoo Marans will look like, or my BSL's? My other choices don't even sound good... leghorns, buff Orps, BR's, RIR's and Speckled Sussex's... Since he came out of such a nice dark egg, he should increase egg color of whatever hatches..