Newb so be gentle... Fertilized?

[scubaforlife]

In april I went to the feed store and got 12 chicks, all sex linked for laying hens. Then I got 3 straight runs. 2 are roosters. I noticed today that my biggest roo is working my golden comet hen over pretty hard. I am curious, should I put her eggs under my broody Silkie? I don't know how to tell if the egg is fertilized, or even if this roo is old enough.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[1lpoock]

The only way to tell if you eggs are fertilized is to
1. Put them under a broody hen or in an incubator, then candle them on about Day8, If you see veins, it is fertile.
2. Or you can simply crack the egg open and if you see a white bullseye on the yolk...it is fertile.

 

[elmo]

I think the only way to tell whether eggs are fertile is to candle them, but I think you have to wait a bit after incubation starts in order to be able to see the development of the chick inside the egg that marks a fertilized egg.

You could always try getting your silkie to brood the eggs and if she cooperates, candle them after a week or so.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Quote:
Welcome, newbie!!

 

[farmin'chick]

Welcome! You know that GC's are cross bred Rhode Island Red Rooster on a Delaware hen, so the girl babies are red and the boys look like Delawares, more or less. Since they are hybrids, you will be getting unpredictable breed of chicks, even if the rooster is GC. If you want mixed breed babies go ahead and try it!

 

[ChooksChick]

Here is a link to a fantastic thread discussing fertile eggs and pics to show the difference.

You'll need to crack one open to look at it, but that's just breakfast!

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