Which egg is fertilized?

[ToniJo73]

So which egg is fertilized and how do you tell them apart? My hens are all egg laying and are about one year old. All of my eggs have had this 'targeting'. I just introduced a Rooster to my flock 2 days ago. He is a year and a half old. I thought it would be fun to try and see if the eggs were getting fertilized so I checked this site and then checked my eggs, but they don't look any different to me. As a matter of fact, here is two pictures of eggs. The one in the yellow bowl (bottom pic) is an egg from my flock, laid today, (sorry for the debris, my son dropped the egg). The egg in the green bowl (top pic) is store bought. Like I said before, all of my eggs had this targeting before I ever introduced a Roo. My grandparents always told me there wasn't a way to tell if an egg is fertilized until it hatches.

 

[ChucktheChick]

There is actually a way. The store bought egg is infertile. Every egg has targeting. Why? I don't know. But if the egg is fertile, there will be a tiny ring around the targeting. I can't really tell in the pic, maybe a better close up?

 

[ToniJo73]

Thanks for replying. I will try to look more closely next time and see if I can see a tiny ring around the targeting. I disposed of these eggs. If I have trouble spotting the ring, I may take better pics and repost on this new thread. Thanks so much.

 

[ChucktheChick]

Thanks for replying. I will try to look more closely next time and see if I can see a tiny ring around the targeting. I disposed of these eggs. If I have trouble spotting the ring, I may take better pics and repost on this new thread. Thanks so much.

Yep you're welcome!

 

[Melabella]

ToniJo73,

Welcome to BYC,

glad you joined us!

Here is a link to a great thread with excellent pictures to see the differences between a fertilized and unfertilized egg. You can definitely tell the difference once you break the egg open. Two days may still be a bit early for your rooster to be getting the job done with all your girls. I would at least give it two weeks before you can be sure the girls accept him, and things are up and running. Once you start seeing him cover your girls, you should start seeing plenty of fertilized eggs providing he is a fertile roo!


Here is the link, enjoy reading! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/16008/how-to-tell-a-fertile-vs-infertile-egg-pictures#post_132086

Let us know how it goes!

MB