This doesn't look good...

[PirateShipp]

So this is our first time attempting to hatch. We started with 7 eggs on the 24th. This would be day 5. I see nothing but yolk. Are they all duds? Am I not seeing something? Maybe thats NOT a rooster

 

[dorpersheep]

Personally I've never had an egg hatch that showed those white speckles throughout it. They do look infertile - but - I have a lot of trouble being 100% certain before day 8-9, a few I've put aside but left in the incubator on day 4 have come up by day 9 and are obviously developing.
But if I had to put money on it, I would say those 2 in the photos were empty, sorry. How many hens is the rooster in with, how old is he, and how long has he been with the hens for?

 

[PirateShipp]

Hmmm..most appear to have the speckles. Any idea as to what that is?
They are all about a year old. Have been together the whole time. One rooster for 4 hens.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hmmm..most appear to have the speckles. Any idea as to what that is?
They are all about a year old. Have been together the whole time. One rooster for 4 hens.

What you are seeing are the pores of the egg shell. Really porous eggs do have a lower development/hatch rate but I've hatched more than one egg that looked like that and even one or two that were even more porous. Those do look like clears, but I never remove anything before day 10 to be sure. (Unless one is smelling or has bloodring.)

This is an awesome thread for candling. I use it as a comaprison when hatching. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

 

[lazy gardener]

Give those eggs until day 7 or 8, then candle them. With your light set up, you should be able to see just fine. Some eggs are naturally more porous than others. I wish you the best. Show us a pic at day 7-8!!!

 

[PirateShipp]

We definitely left them. Still turning. Just sad that they ALL look like that. Starting to wonder if we have 5 hens instead of 4! Today we went out to check/collect and there were 5 eggs. I thought normally they lay one a day. Thought for sure we had a silkie rooster.

There are 12 more in our "purple hatch" (color we mark with for turning) The group originally posted is the "green hatch" If the second group ends up clear, I might be in the market for a rooster

They all *look* good and no smells. Tomorrow will be day 7. I might check again Monday.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

We definitely left them. Still turning. Just sad that they ALL look like that. Starting to wonder if we have 5 hens instead of 4! Today we went out to check/collect and there were 5 eggs. I thought normally they lay one a day. Thought for sure we had a silkie rooster.

There are 12 more in our "purple hatch" (color we mark with for turning) The group originally posted is the "green hatch" If the second group ends up clear, I might be in the market for a rooster

They all *look* good and no smells. Tomorrow will be day 7. I might check again Monday.

Do you know how to break the egg open and check for fertility? Silkies are hard as heck to sex if they haven't crowed, but at a year, I think you should have heard a crowing??? I just gave away 5 cockerels. One was a silkie too. I'll try to find the fertile/not fertile pics for you.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Crack open one of the freshly gathered eggs and look for the "bullseye". This should help you determine wether you are getting fertile eggs.





Hope this helps.

 

[PirateShipp]

So, I have a pair (I think) silkie hen and rooster and then 3 leghorn hens. Would it look the same with the leghorn/silkie cross?
Our thought process was purebred silkies, since folks in our area look for those to buy, then leghorn X eggs for eating.

Thanks for the pictures, might try that when I get home. I'll see if I can get pictures of the silkies as well to see if you can tell me what I have

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So, I have a pair (I think) silkie hen and rooster and then 3 leghorn hens. Would it look the same with the leghorn/silkie cross?
Our thought process was purebred silkies, since folks in our area look for those to buy, then leghorn X eggs for eating.

Thanks for the pictures, might try that when I get home. I'll see if I can get pictures of the silkies as well to see if you can tell me what I have

Would what look the same?