Trader Joes & Other Grocery Store Egg Hatching Club - Are you a Member

[ellandeeranch]

Honestly, I rarely see veins. It takes seriously high lumen flashlights to get that, and I'm cheap/poor. If there is a dark mass that is really growing in there, and jigging about, that's your chick.

I've seen posts here on BYC about roos that fertilize hens at 14 weeks. Crack open the eggs and look for the white bullseye. That will tell you if he's being successful.

Thanks. My question was more simple. I have a 5-month old rooster that has been raised with his four sisters. He's been doing Bible knowledge activities with them for at least 3 weeks. I moved the five of them over to the bigger coop that has 2 red stars (consistent layers) and two Americaunas (goldbrickers so far).

He's already chasing the new girls. Assuming he's not still loading the pistol biologically, how long should it be before the Red Stars are laying fertile eggs? I'd like to gather a half-dozen or so and get them in the hova-bator.

 

[Pele]

Thanks. My question was more simple. I have a 5-month old rooster that has been raised with his four sisters. He's been doing Bible knowledge activities with them for at least 3 weeks. I moved the five of them over to the bigger coop that has 2 red stars (consistent layers) and two Americaunas (goldbrickers so far).

He's already chasing the new girls. Assuming he's not still loading the pistol biologically, how long should it be before the Red Stars are laying fertile eggs? I'd like to gather a half-dozen or so and get them in the hova-bator.

It could be immediately if they're letting him mount. There's no 'loading' period required, unless you're asking how long until the hens socially accept him?

Open the eggs of the girls he is mounting. Look for this:




That white bullseye means the egg is fertlized. It's very distinct and noticeable.

 

[ellandeeranch]

I like duct tape as much as the next guy, but I suppose that egg won't hatch after I do that observation you mention!

Thanks for the quick reply.

Richard

It could be immediately if they're letting him mount. There's no 'loading' period required, unless you're asking how long until the hens socially accept him?

Open the eggs of the girls he is mounting. Look for this:




That white bullseye means the egg is fertlized. It's very distinct and noticeable.

 

[Pele]

I like duct tape as much as the next guy, but I suppose that egg won't hatch after I do that observation you mention!

Thanks for the quick reply.

Richard

No, it won't. But you will have the knowledge that your roo is doing his job, and that it is worthwhile hatching the other eggs you collect. This is a method used by breeders on a regular basis to check if the roo is being sucessful, and if it will be worth their time to collect and set eggs.

 

[Pele]

*sigh* lost the dented egg . Woke up this morning to a really icky smell, and that was the culprit. So I really am down to two eggs. The good news is that they show really nice veining.

 

[ellandeeranch]

No, it won't. But you will have the knowledge that your roo is doing his job, and that it is worthwhile hatching the other eggs you collect. This is a method used by breeders on a regular basis to check if the roo is being sucessful, and if it will be worth their time to collect and set eggs.

I cracked one egg this morning (but it was a first effort of a new hen). No obvious dot like you all show here. I'm waiting to see him mount the red stars. Haven't directly observed that yet. They still come over and squat when I come in with food or water, so they're certainly receptive.

Richard

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Honestly, I rarely see veins. It takes seriously high lumen flashlights to get that, and I'm cheap/poor. If there is a dark mass that is really growing in there, and jigging about, that's your chick.

I agree. I set mostly Penedesenca eggs and I can't see a thing in them except I can barely make out the air sac. I imagine I'd need to buy or build one of those multi hundred dollar type of candlers.
Sometimes I'll have a couple eggs from my white egg layers I can use as a guide set at the same time.

 

[kapie9969]

I just use a strong flash light.I guess in the past they used a candle? Free range might not have a rooster with them.The carton should say fertilized on it.

 

[Bettacreek]

Has anyone tried hatching eggs from Giant food stores? It's a local grocery chain, and they have brown fertile eggs, but I'm curious to see if anyone has tried it, what their hatch rate was and what they hatched.

 

[ozexpat]

I am going to give trader joe eggs a try. I just bought 2 dozen. Date is 335. Of my calculations are right then today is 342 so they are not too fresh. I will give them the courtesy 10 days in the bator. My chicken toes are crossed