Newbie Question

[mc79]

One of my silkies turned out to be a cockerel, so he is the lone male of the flock. We've never had a rooster before so we thought we would try hatching some babies when the time comes. We will be buying an incubator and a candler soon. Here's my question: When I incubate an egg and check it after 7 days or so and see that it is NOT fertile, is that egg still edible (after being heated for so long)? Is there a point where it's too late too take them out of the incubator and refrigerate them?

 

[Pat Mcaffee]

I recommend not pushing it. It could have started to rot and it if you're dedicated to hatching, you're dedicated to hatching, not eating that one egg.

 

[chicksonline]

I don't put eggs in the fridge anyways but if you want to tell your cockerel is doing his job in the first place take the eggs and open them if there's a white dot in the yolk they have been fertile they are still edible but if your going to hatch them then hatch them and the cockerel doesn't go round all of your hens so find out which ones he is mating with before you start!

 

[AlleysChicks]

I wouldn't eat an egg that's been in the incubator. You'll have other eggs to eat I'm sure.

I'd check them when you crack them to make sure you actually have fertile eggs before you start incubating.
I would gather eggs for 10 days then put them in the incubator all at once. I also wouldn't toss eggs until day 10. Sometimes the veins are very tiny and you may toss a viable egg. (I've done that before and slapped myself)

 

[mc79]

I'm pretty sure he's already mating with my other silkie. He is still a bit intimidated by the other hens who are bigger than him (3 RIR's, 1 Naked Neck, 1 Silver-Laced Wyandotte, 1 Leghorn, and 1 Jersey Giant). I don't know that he will ever fertilize any eggs from those gals, but I'm sure they would make some interesting babies if he does! Thank you all for the info!

 

[AlleysChicks]

Look for bullseyes when you crack eggs open. You may be surprised. My tiny old English jumps on the Easter eggers. I've only seen it a few times but he usually runs from them.