How you know if an egg is fertile or not

[CayleeMarie03]

Okay I was wondering if when you first get the eggs that are might be fertilized from your chickens. Like the very first day you collect them. Is there any way to tell if they are fertile or not?? I think I read somewhere that once you collect your eggs and you don't know if they are fertile or not if you candle them you can tell by like the air bubble i think if they are fertilized? Is this true?

 

[weimarmama]

To tell if they're fertile or not, you can crack one open and look for the bullseye. Check out this post that has great pics comparing fertile and infertile eggs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures

 

[CayleeMarie03]

The eggs are not all from the same chicken so i don't want to take the chance as i crack open the only fertile one! This will be my first time hatching chicks!! I am pretty nervous!

 

[weimarmama]

The only other way to check for fertility is to incubate them. Then in a few days, candle the eggs and look for veins.