What Kind of Chickens Hatch Out of Fertilized Brown Grocery Eggs?

[SkyWarrior]

I was noticing that we do get fertile eggs at the local natural food store. I was curious as to what kind of birds they would use. RIR? NH? Sex-links? All very curious.

Thoughts?

 

[Illia]

They'd be the offspring of Sex-Links, in other words, they'll look like Sex-Link hens and Production Reds.

 

[LilyD]

Since sex links don't breed true they have the Potential to look like any of the birds used to make the sex links or a combination of them. They are the true mystery eggs lol.

 

[Lightfoote]

What birds they use may be a sort of "crapshoot" depending upon their source(s) of eggs.

As Illia indicated, Sex-Links or Production Reds are a fair bet, since even the natural, holistic, hippie type of people have enough brain cells to see the profit potential difference between a 3 egg/week laying hen and a 5 egg/week laying hen...That said, I doubt seriously that more than a small percentage of those eggs would be viable for hatching. Fertile eggs for eating (if properly cold-stored) have a "shelf life" of weeks, however eggs for hatching have a much more limited window, so unless those eggs made it into the market within less than 10 days of being laid, they would stand little chance of actually hatching, based upon my understanding...

There are always stories of eggs older than that hatching out healthy chicks, (after being exposed to inhospitable elements, etc...)but I would consider those anecdotal.

Lightfoote

 

[redriver]

There is a really interesting thread on hatching grocery store eggs, and the various breeds you might end up with.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=290845&p=1

 

[wolftracks]

Actually you can call the distributor and ask them what their birds are.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I would expect about 30% hatch on most store eggs that are sold as fertile.
Production reds if they come out solid red with a little black in them. Pretty much any other color if they are the mutt offspring of sexlinks.

 

[dretd]

Back when I was contemplating joining the Trader Joe's hatching thread, I contacted Chino Valley Ranchers, the source for fertile brown eggs at my local Natural Food Market. They said (mostly) they use ISA Brown hens and cover them with lightweight white Leghorn-type roos because they are smaller and don't damage the girls as much as a heavier roo plus you can see the color difference between the roos and the hens at a distance.

 

[Arielle]

Thanks for the reminder on how I can add a few Leghorns to my flock! Nice to know their are brown fertile eggs offered too. I was looking at a carton for the date--counting it on a calendar is the hard part!!

 

[cva34]

Quote:
Interesting!!! try it whatca got to loose.Let us know how it turns out.If they turn out like you want keep for eggs. If not winters comeing and soup or stew is always good...cva34