Not even sure these are fertilized eggs. Help!

[HilaryAkin]

We got rid of our rooster a week ago and within a couple days one of my hens went broody. I left her with three eggs but not sure they’re fertilized from when the rooster was around. I have a pic of the 3 eggs I’ve left her with. It’s been about 6-7 days now. They all look the same to me in the pics. No idea if I’m doing it right. All I can say is that when I moved them there was a dark mass that would move around to the top as I rolled them. The third seemed to have a small dark mass too that would pop up when I rolled it but couldn’t catch pic of it.

Are these viable? If not, I’ll just get my broody hen off of them. Kind of hoping they are as they’re the last chance of fertilized eggs since rooster is gone. Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

Look infertile to me

 

[NatJ]

All I can say is that when I moved them there was a dark mass that would move around to the top as I rolled them.

That might be the yolk.

Try candling an egg that was not under a broody, and see if it has the same mass. Any egg that's been in the fridge or on the counter should be fine for that, although it's helpful if you use one with the same color shell because shell color can make it look a bit different.

If you find the very same thing in an egg that has never been incubated, that helps know what it is

The third seemed to have a small dark mass too that would pop up when I rolled it but couldn’t catch pic of it.

Are these viable?

Have you looked for pictures of developing eggs online? At that stage, I would expect a developing egg to have something that looks rather like a spider (dark blob with veins sticking out in several directions.)

Sometimes a brighter light helps, or doing the candling in a darker room.

If you decide to throw out the eggs, I suggest you crack each one open and look. That way you can be sure whether it was developing or not, which helps you learn for next time.

 

[HilaryAkin]

That might be the yolk.

Try candling an egg that was not under a broody, and see if it has the same mass. Any egg that's been in the fridge or on the counter should be fine for that, although it's helpful if you use one with the same color shell because shell color can make it look a bit different.

If you find the very same thing in an egg that has never been incubated, that helps know what it is


Have you looked for pictures of developing eggs online? At that stage, I would expect a developing egg to have something that looks rather like a spider (dark blob with veins sticking out in several directions.)

Sometimes a brighter light helps, or doing the candling in a darker room.

If you decide to throw out the eggs, I suggest you crack each one open and look. That way you can be sure whether it was developing or not, which helps you learn for next time.

Great, suggestions! Thanks