I saw above a very interesting remark about fertile eggs vs. unfertile

[007Dawn]

Is there a way to tell if they are fertile or unfertile BEFORE you crack them open?

Very cool posting from about the fertile eggs though!

Thank you!

 

[speckledhen]

No. You have to open them or incubate a few days to know.

 

[gritsar]

This thread tells you how to tell a fertile egg:

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

There is no way that I know of to tell before you crack them open. If you have a roo and not an extraordinary number of hens to that one roo, you can assume they are fertile. I have 14 hens and only two that never lay fertile eggs. Those two hens also never show any damage on their backs from a the roo's mating. I just assume they are very dominant and don't allow the roo to mate them.