Can you tell if an egg is fertilized

[CHRISTINEMASON]

Let me give you a quick background. Short story. My friend, Lana and I always wanted chickens. I have a coop in my yard (prior owners) and Lana lives 1 mile away. On a whim, we decide that we're finally getting chickens. We have 12 and they are 3 weeks old today. Like a proud Mumma, we have:
Big Bertha, Mr. Schneider, Cupcake, Mase, Rosie, Brownie, Ice Cream, Gladys, Mabel, Stella, NitWit and one un named still. Not sure if we have a rooster yet or not.

I have a ? and I am embarrassed to even put it in print b/c it's so ridiculous. How do you know if an egg is fertilized? I expect we'll get a lot of eggs eventually and if we do have a rooster how will we know?

I am reading books left & right & honestly, cannot find the answer to this ?.

 

[chicmom]

Hello!

Good question.....When you crack one of your eggs open, you will see a very small white shadow of a speck. (Or dot.) This is often called the bullseye, and it indicates the egg is fertile.

Just to clarify, this white, shadowy speck will be on the yolk.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

This is what you're looking for.

Some clearer photos can be found here: How to Tell a Fertile vs INfertile Egg (Pictures) .

 

[greymane]

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[The Red Rooster]

The only way (that I know of) is to crack the egg open and see if you can see a little dot somewhere in the yoke.

Good luck and

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

the blastoderm on fertile eggs is also often called a bullseye

 

[Kevin565]

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined.