Is this duck egg fertile or just cracked?

[Samaria M]

Hi all!

I just bought a dozen duck eggs from a local farmer and there were a few abnormalities (oblong/flat-shelled, pimpled, etc)... but I saw this one that appears to be either cracked or mended, or fertile. I can’t tell if these lines are veins or just thinner cracks than the main one up top.

When I move the egg I can see what I imagine is the watery white moving around what I think is a big air bubble - you might be able to see the outline of the bubble in the pics.

Does the egg appear fertilized? Cracked? Should it be thrown out?

Thanks!

 

[Jener8or]

You won't be able to tell if it is fertilized unless you crack it open and look at the yolk. There shouldn't be any veins in it either, until you have incubated it for a few days. I think the lines are just a porosity in the egg shell, and for whatever reason they look like squiggly veins/cracking. I wouldn't throw it away! I'd throw it in the incubator!

Does the air cell look like it's at the top of the round side? (Using a flashlight in the dark makes it easier to see.) If not, I would store it pointy-side down for a few hours/half-day or so (a day probably couldn't hurt) before incubating, to see if the air cell will migrate back to the right spot (I couldn't really tell where it was by the pictures). Good luck with your hatch!

 

[MGG]

Hi all!

I just bought a dozen duck eggs from a local farmer and there were a few abnormalities (oblong/flat-shelled, pimpled, etc)... but I saw this one that appears to be either cracked or mended, or fertile. I can’t tell if these lines are veins or just thinner cracks than the main one up top.

When I move the egg I can see what I imagine is the watery white moving around what I think is a big air bubble - you might be able to see the outline of the bubble in the pics.

Does the egg appear fertilized? Cracked? Should it be thrown out?

Thanks!

Looks like it's just a shell abnormality. Veins will be unmistakable.
Example.

How long has your egg been in the incubator?