I live in Indiana....................

[Myles]

I treated myself to a nice incubator and egg turner for Christmas (actually from my wife).
I have 10 chickens in which 2 are roosters. They were all born late last spring so they are all young, although almost fully grown.
When can I expect to get fertile eggs? Easy answer is when you see them going at it. I have seen that once, but the coop is 100 feet from the house and I only see them when I feed them or go to visit. It's winter time, so visits will be fewer. Will the hens sit on the eggs only if they are fertile? is springtime the best time to expect fertile eggs? They don't sit on them now. They have 9 nesting spots, but they choose to hang out on the rafters if they are not outside in the run. They do lay the eggs in the nests though.
I'm sorry about all the questions, I did a search but did not find much. I may have been a little impatient too.

 

[GrannysRoost]

Quote:
Treating oneself is the way we do it to! Most of mine are from that time and roo does his deed now, I have had chicks and now in the bator growing and some ready to hatch in the last few months. Have you checked the eggs, cracked to check for bullseye? The hens won't get broody unless they want to... I would check a few eggs, and use that bator you were gifted!

 

[Sphinx]

My rooster that hatched in mid-March fathered chicks in August. So, I'd guess that as long as your roosters are with your hens full time, all of your eggs are fertile now.

 

[Myles]

But is the winter as good as any season?

 

[Pele]

You don't have to witness matings to prove fertility. Just crack open some eggs, and pay attention to your breakfast

Fertilized eggs have a sort of bullseye mark on them. It'll be white, and central on the yolk. It's very small, but very visible.

Once your morning eggs start having those, start cooking your eggs in an incubator instead of on the stove

 

[Myles]

Quote:
Thanks for the great info.
Will this "bullseye" be on all eggs no matter what? I get my eggs typically a couple hours after they are laid and they go right into the fridge.

 

[Myles]

.

 

[joneus]

Quote:
Thanks for the great info.
Will this "bullseye" be on all eggs no matter what? I get my eggs typically a couple hours after they are laid and they go right into the fridge.

Some of mine dont have anything (not even the little white disc that are supposed to be there whether they're fertile or not), but you'll know the bullseye when you see it. It will be a tiny little bullseye in the yolk (smaller than a pencil eraser), concentric rings and all. Just take a good look at them when you open the eggs.

Hens will sit on the eggs when they're fertile, when they're not fertile, and when the eggs dont even exist at all. (<-- so says the Mama from New England with a pullet who has decided that she MUST sit on her imaginary eggs in the middle of December

)

 

[dirtsaver]

Welcome to BYC Myles! To answer your question on timing.....most people hatch eggs in late winter/early spring so the chicks are fully feathered and ready to start out own their own when the temps get warm enough the chicks can survive comfortably.

You didn't say what part of Indiana you live in but there can be a few weeks difference between the ends of the state.

 

[cmom]

My birds fertility goes down in cold weather and hot weather. I don't know if it's because the boys are shooting blanks or just not into it but I do notice a drop in the fertility.