Welcome to the world of chickens, Amazing chicken keeper.I cannot wait until spring. They are fertilized, and I don't want to destroy potential baby chicks. I have eight chickens, which are all very friendly towards newcomers. I have integrated into the flock before. I am not worried at all about space, because my coop is very large. right now, I only have three eggs, but i know more are coming from my chickens.
Fertilised is not the same as alive and kicking. A fertile egg is no more than an eggcell that has the potential to grow into something that could be a chick after a 3 weeks hatch.
You can eat these eggs just as well as unfertilised eggs.
I would wait till spring to hatch a few eggs if you want more chickens. Spring is the best and easiest season to grow up as a chick.
Did you know that every egg that hatches has the same chance to become a pullet as a cockerel? Think ahead about what to do with all the cockerels that hatch.