OK...be gentle...I'm new...LOL

[buzymom13]

Here's my question: I know that hens can lay without a rooster but IF you get a rooster then do you have to start checking all the eggs to see if any are fertile? If so how do I go about that? Thankx for your help...I know it's probably a dumb question but I don't know.

THankx again! BTW...my chicks are 4 weeks old now so I know I have time before we even see an egg... but I'm trying to be prepared.

 

[Chickenteacher]

What reason would you want to be checking them?

 

[bantyhen'sfriend]

Usually we find out our eggs fertility by checking for a bullseye in the ones we eat. No bullseye, no fertility. You can't check out the eggs you want to hatch though, because you can't check for fertility without breaking the egg open (unless you incubate). There is no danger in eating fertile eggs, so unless you want chicks I wouldn't be concerned about fertility. Just ahve fun with the peeps!

 

[buzymom13]

I guess I assumed everyone could read my mind....GEESH.... LOL. I didn't want to have to check them before eating them or sending them off to friends/relatives to use for eating. That was my reason for checking them. I'm new and don't want to be hatching new peeps right away. I still learning.

Thankx guys for putting up with dense people.

 

[Chickenteacher]

It's no problem....we have all learned the same way......Eating a fresh fertile egg tastes exactly the same as eating a nonfertile fresh egg, delicious!........no problemo......

 

[krcote]

I think what the OP is asking is if they are fertile can be eaten? Like she would like to know how to check before consuming? Or that baby chicks will form within the day before you collect?
Fertile eggs are just the same as infertile. Eat the eggs like you normally would!

 

[loopy12]

No need, as long as you collect your eggs once a day you won't find any horrible surprises in them when you eat them, fertile or not. Only becomes an isuue if you've had eggs sat on for 3+ days then you'd see a network of blood vessels.
For your own curiousity you can look at the eggs as you use them and note if they were fertile or not. Fertile ones have a dot in a circle on the yolk, infertile just a dot.
Hope that helps!

 

[BarkerChickens]

The only difference between a fertile egg and a non-fertile egg is a single cell. You won't know the difference when eating it. As others said, the bulls-eye is the visual tell-tale sign, but not it won't make a difference in the taste. If you are worried about chicks, it isn't an issue unless you have a hen go broody (sits on a nest for the purpose of hatching chicks). The hens sitting on the nest for a few to lay an egg, won't be long enough to cause the egg to develop.

Don't worry about asking questions! Many of us are "new" to chickens (not raised with them). We all had to learn this stuff at some point.

 

[buzymom13]

WOW...Ok...now I feel more comfortable about the whole do I "rooster" or don't I "rooster"....LOL.


THankx guys for all the insight! I love this website/forum. I'm learning so much!

e

 

[Keri78]

Unless your looking for the little "bullseye"...you would never eve see it! It's not like your going to crack open an egg and say "AHHH what's that"!!! It takes really staring at the yolk and inspecting it to discern if it's truly fertile or not. Roos are sooo cool..they add so much personality to your flock...I vote "Go for it"!!! People have eaten fertilized eggs for years back in the day when almost everyone lived on a farm and had a flock of chickens in their backyard! Lots of times, even today at the grocery store you can find fertilized eggs in your carton!

There's a whole thread on here dedicated to "Trader Joe" eggs and people successfully hatching them! Plus...without a Rooster...how can you ever proceed to the next level of this crazy chicken addiction....oh...I mean..."hobby"!!!

You NEED a Roo so you can hatch out some cute little balls of fluff and replace your older hens in a few years as they slow down! Plus there is JUST NOTHING sweeter than a Mama Hen & her babies!!!