odd egg question

[Ekaufee17]

So, I candled my first batch of incubating eggs yesterday (day 8 in the incubator) and have a little over 50% fertility out of a total of 40 eggs. I kept the others in there on the off chance that I missed something or they developed late (idk, I'm new at this whole incubating thing).

My question is: if and when the eggs are without a doubt unfertilized, do i throw them out? Or can they be used for other purposes? (i.e. consumption, use for feed for some of our other animals). They don't have the smell associated with rotten eggs, but I wasn't sure what the heat of the incubator did to eggs that ended up being unfertilized. Before i tossed them in the woods or the compost pile, I figured I'd check with you folks. Thanks!

 

[ChicagoDucks]

20 eggs in the compost pile is less costly than a vet bill for animals that get sick from bad eggs. I'd say toss 'em and don't take the risk.

Why do you think fertility was so low? Are your drakes molting? What's your male to female ratio?

 

[Ekaufee17]

male to female ratio is pretty much 1:1. And yes all but two of my drakes are molting. Also, I live in Western Pennsylvania and it is starting to get quite cold at night. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

 

[ChicagoDucks]

male to female ratio is pretty much 1:1. And yes all but two of my drakes are molting. Also, I live in Western Pennsylvania and it is starting to get quite cold at night. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

That makes sense. If your drakes are molting, they're probably not doing their jobs

.

I've read that spring eggs are the best for hatching, but I couldn't tell you first hand if hatching rates are better with spring rather than fall eggs.

 

[Speceider]

If they are molting, the eggs won't be fertile even if they are mating. The testes regress during molt.

Clint

 

[Ekaufee17]

oh yeah i wasn't expecting much. like i said ive got embyos forming in about half of them. im happy with that for the fall.