Those are some fast egg layers

[peeps7]

I have some hens that I got recently and within 24 hours one of them layed an egg. I was wondering how you know if the egg is fertile right off or even if there is a way. Anybody know?

 

[sgray136]

Rooster present = Fertile
Rooster not present = Not Fertile

 

[peeps7]

Well let me put it this way, my rooster isn't a very busy rooster.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

You cant tell if it is fertile unless you break it open.... or wait so many days then candle is what I have been told

Good luck

 

[peeps7]

Well that's alright but I was wondering, I have a silky chick and it needs some extra nutrition. Can I use brown sugar in the water instead of sugar or molases?

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

I have no clue... sorry... I dont see why not... BUT, I would wait until someone with more experiance comes along... I just dont know... sorry

 

[silkiechicken]

If your chick needs extra nutrition, sugar isn't gong to help it, no matter the type. You need vitamins and electrolytes to give "nutrition". You can use boiled eggs as a nutritious treat too. Make sure you just have free choice chick feed too.

If you really want to know if the egg is fertile, incubate it and see if it develops.

As for your rooster, I bet he's doing his job, just not in front of you. That is a good thing as that can indicate you are top rooster and won't try for "your" hens when you are present.

 

[peeps7]

thanks for the advice silkiechicken.

My chick is a partridge silkie and it really doesn't need extra nutrition I just liked the idea of having an extra boost in life.


P.S Do you raise silkies?

 

[jimnjay]

You can tell if eggs are fertile by cracking them open and looking at the blastoderm. It is the small white circle on the yolk. If the eggs is fertile it will appear to have a bulls eye appearance. There are photos of a fertile egg somewhere on this site, You might try a search.